If left unchecked, low iron levels can lead to iron deficiency anemia—a condition where you don’t have enough red blood cells to deliver oxygen to your body’s tissues. Women, children, vegetarians, and athletes are at the greatest risk, and recovery can take months. The biggest challenge with iron deficiency is the sneaky symptoms that easily go unnoticed.
FATIGUE AND WEAKNESS
When day-to-day activities, such as grocery shopping or walking the dog, become more tiring than usual and fatigue sets in easily, don’t overlook your iron levels! About 75 percent of the iron in your body is found in the hemoglobin and myoglobin responsible for keeping your muscles, organs, and other tissues oxygenated.
POOR CONCENTRATION
Brain fog, mental fatigue, clouded thinking. We all suffer from these issues on occasion. It’s when poor concentration begins to affect your performance at work, at home, or on the road that you need to take notice.
UNUSUAL CRAVINGS
Do you crave handfuls of fresh soil or cups of ice cubes? Don’t feel embarrassed. These unusual compulsions, known as “pica,” are often caused by your brain needing more iron—and they’re more common than you may think.
PALENESS
Don’t shrug off paleness as a result of too much time spent indoors. A change in skin tone can also be a sign of iron deficiency anemia. When iron is low, red blood cells can’t form properly, and they become small and paler in color.
MIGRAINES
Almost 20 percent of women suffer from migraine headaches regularly. While many of us blame common triggers, such as poor sleep and weather changes, there’s a direct link between women’s iron status and the susceptibility to migraines.
