Author: Nikolay Grinko. Perhaps you feel a little out of place lately? Maybe even your doctor can't figure out why. It happens, doesn't it?
Here is a small recommendation - find out all the signs of iron deficiency in the body and ways to solve them.
Iron deficiency is the most common malnutrition in the world, affecting more than 30% of the world's population!
So the medical scientific and practical journal "Attending Physician" reports that in the regions of the Russian Federation there has been a clear trend towards an increase in the frequency of iron deficiency states (YDS) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in women, especially pregnant women, and young children.
There is an effect of iron deficiency anemia on the development of pregnancy, and then on the passage of childbirth, on possible pathologies of the fetus and newborn child.
Of course, most people suffering from nutrient deficiencies are in third world countries, but this, as we have seen, is also significantly common in industrialized countries. And the main reason for this is our improper diet, which leads not only to iron deficiency but also to serious diseases.
Women need to be especially vigilant when it comes to their iron levels.
Just think about it! ... According to the WHO, 700 million people in the world (up to 20% of the population) suffer from iron deficiency. Most often this ailment occurs in children, adolescents and women of childbearing age. Overt or latent iron deficiency is recorded in 30% of all women and half of young children. The frequency of iron deficiency in pregnant women ranges from 21 to 80%.
This should be alarming ...
If you have iron deficiency, it can significantly affect your quality of life and your overall well-being. But once you know what it is, all the symptoms and causes of it, you can easily solve this common problem of nutrient deficiencies, including iron.
What is iron deficiency?
In simple words, this is a lack of the mineral iron in the body. But why is it so important?...
Iron is needed to produce hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body and carbon dioxide.
If you are deficient in iron, your body needs to work harder to get the energy you need to transport the same oxygen. Imagine, you need to provide them with every cell of your body.
Otherwise, the lack of iron in the body will eventually lead to a decrease in the production of red blood cells and iron deficiency anemia. And that's not all.
According to the site about a healthy lifestyle, the most famous consequence of iron deficiency is anemia.
First of all, its lack negatively affects the immune system, a person begins to get tired faster, children's ability to learn deteriorates, endurance decreases. As reported by the researchers, in many cases, stomach cancer has been linked to a lack of iron in the body.
But what then is the daily dose and causes of iron deficiency in the body?...
Daily dose of iron in the body
As indicated by the journal of medical care, the daily rate of iron for a person is calculated based on the individual characteristics of his body: weight, sex, age, state of health. Below are approximate calculations:
The daily need for iron in children depends on their age:
- in the first year of life - from 4 milligrams per day at the age of 0-3 months to 10 milligrams at the age of 7-12 months;
- at the age of 1-6 years - 10 milligrams;
- at the age of 7-10 years - 12 milligrams;
- at the age of 11-17 years - 15 milligrams in boys and 18 milligrams in girls.
The daily need for iron in an adult varies significantly depending on gender:
- for men - 10 milligrams per day;
- girls and women of the childbearing period in connection with regular menstrual blood loss need to receive 18-20 milligrams of iron;
- during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the need for this element increases almost twice.
Causes of iron deficiency in the body
One of the clinics in the United States, as well as the medical portal EuroLab list the following main causes of iron deficiency in the human body:
- Blood loss – this can occur as a result of gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic ulcer or colorectal cancer; or because of heavy menstrual periods.
- Not having iron in your diet is if you don't get enough iron from the food you eat.
- The inability to absorb iron is an intestinal disorder such as celiac disease or related to bowel surgery. They can also affect your body's ability to absorb nutrients from digested food.
- Pregnancy is probably the most joyful reason for many women. But remember that during pregnancy, women should consume more iron than usual to raise their level and that of the baby. This is very important!
Well, as if everything is probably clear, except for the most important - how to understand that you suffer from iron deficiency, what are the main signs of iron deficiency in the body?
Let's figure it out together...
Signs of iron deficiency in the body
So, let's list some of the signs of low iron levels, or iron deficiency anemia.
Fatigue
Are you exhausted, feeling weak and often irritable?
I'm not saying that you may not get enough sleep because you went to bed late. This refers to continuous fatigue, which lasts several weeks or even months.
Prolonged fatigue is one of the main symptoms of iron deficiency.
Fatigue occurs because the body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to its parts and organs.
Of course, fatigue can be a consequence of many other causes besides iron deficiency. This can be: abuse of alcohol, medications, too much caffeine consumed, psychological stress at work or depression, as well as other medical problems.
Fatigue can also be a consequence of a lack of such an important mineral as magnesium, which is involved in most biochemical reactions in the body. A lack of this mineral can often lead to even death.
But, fatigue can also be caused by an excess of iron in the blood.
Do you want to eat sand?
It is usually associated with pregnancy, although in fact it is common among young children.
Although this craving for sand has not been fully investigated, but experts are already making some conclusions that this is a lack of iron in the body (anemia) or zinc. Many forums point to the same reasons.
Skin and Eye Problems
It turns out that sometimes pale skin can tell you that you do not have enough iron in your body.
Anemia is one of the most common causes of pale skin.
In some cases, due to iron deficiency, you may suffer from cracking of the skin near the corners of the mouth or even an irritating skin condition that causes itching.
Iron deficiency can even affect the color of your eyes!
According to research published in the Journal of General Medicine, pale eyes are one of the most correct signs of anemia, even if other symptoms are absent.
Restless legs syndrome
As the medical journal points out, restless legs syndrome has several names that you may also encounter: Willis' disease, Ekboma disease.
