Iron Deficiency Signs to Avoid

The body requires a range of nutrients and microelements to ensure vital processes. The lack of even one of them can lead to a cascade of adverse changes that affect both the health and appearance of a person. This also happens in the case of iron deficiency, the lion's share of which is part of the blood (about 70%), and the remaining percentage is distributed between the spleen, liver and bone marrow. The lack of this microelement can manifest itself in the form of a number of symptoms, which estet-portal.com will talk about in this article.

Functions and lack of iron – what leads to the development of a deficit?

To understand how dangerous iron deficiency is for the human body, it is necessary to outline the main functions of this trace element. They are:

• participation in metabolic processes;
• formation of hemoglobin and myoglobin;
• oxygen transport;
• normalization of the thyroid gland;
• participation in the metabolism of B vitamins;
• presence in the composition of certain enzymes;
• organism growth;
• regulation of the immune system;
• toxin neutralization;
• normalization of the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

For what reasons can the body lack iron?

1. Insufficient consumption with food (mainly meat, fish, eggs, cottage cheese) for a long time.
2. Blood loss (from menses, ulcers, etc.).
3. Inability to absorb iron.

High risk of iron deficiency in:

• pregnant women;
• blood donors;
• vegetarians;
• children.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?

Very often the symptoms of iron deficiency are ignored or mistaken for other disorders. Therefore, if the following signs appear, estet-portal.com recommends that you consult a doctor and find out exactly the cause of their occurrence.

1. Excessive fatigue

If the cells do not receive enough oxygen, this affects the level of energy produced. Accordingly, if the energy is not produced enough, you will constantly feel tired.

2. Frequent infections

Because one of the functions of iron is to keep the immune system functioning properly, low iron levels can make the body vulnerable to infections. This is due to a lack of oxygen to produce enough white blood cells.

3. Pale skin

Hemoglobin gives the pink tint to the skin. Accordingly, the pallor of the skin is due to a lack of this iron-containing protein, which gives the blood a red color.

4. Swollen tongue

In conditions of lack of oxygen, the muscles can grow and cause pain. Very often, the muscle that undergoes such changes is the tongue, but swelling and soreness in other muscles is not excluded. Cracks in the corners of the mouth – also quite common in iron deficiency.

5. Perversion of Appetite

Scientists have not yet found the reason for the desire to eat inedibles with a lack of iron, but this phenomenon is quite common and in some cases can be dangerous to health and life.

6. Hair loss

In iron deficiency, hair falls out due to insufficient oxygen supply to the hair follicles. Therefore, they go into an inactive phase, and the hair falls out. Of course, hair falls out in absolutely healthy people, however, one of the possible causes of excessive hair loss may be a lack of this trace element.

Also possible in conditions of iron deficiency:

• dizziness;
• depression;
• nail brittleness;
• cognitive decline;
• nervous disorders;
• decreased thyroid function;
• digestive disorders.

If you notice the above symptoms, you should not engage in self-diagnosis – entrust this matter to a specialist. If your guess about iron deficiency is confirmed, the doctor will recommend the safest and most effective way to compensate for the deficiency of this trace element, based on the characteristics of your particular case.