Iron is an essential mineral for red blood cell health. It helps transport oxygen throughout your body, supports connective tissue, and promotes muscle metabolism. Without enough iron, you might start to experience fatigue and other health issues.
Iron deficiency can occur if you have a condition that impairs your body’s ability to absorb iron, like celiac disease, or if you don’t eat enough iron-rich foods. Noticing the signs of iron deficiency early on is crucial to prevent it from progressing and leading to more severe complications like heart problems, pregnancy complications, and developmental delays.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency. You may feel weak and tired for no apparent reason, even if you’re getting enough sleep. This happens because when you lack iron, there isn’t enough hemoglobin to transport oxygen to all of your tissues, causing fatigue.
Iron deficiency is also linked with sleep disorders like insomnia and restless leg syndrome, which can disrupt sleep and exacerbate feelings of fatigue.
While there are other reasons for fatigue, many people with iron deficiency experience this symptom. Feeling fatigued, along with other iron-deficient symptoms, might indicate you’re dealing with a deficiency.
A lack of iron can sometimes result in cold fingers and toes, even in a warm environment. Similar to fatigue, this symptom is related to the role of hemoglobin in the body.
Without enough hemoglobin, your blood circulation decreases, and adequate oxygen doesn’t reach your extremities. You may generally feel colder than people around you, not just in your hands and feet.
You may be low on iron if your skin is paler than usual. Unusual paleness is another sign of decreased blood circulation, which can happen when your body isn’t producing enough red blood cells due to iron deficiency.
This symptom can present differently depending on skin tone. Paleness may be more evident in lighter skin tones, visible across the face. In darker skin tones, abnormal paleness may be easier to detect in the inner mouth and lining of the eyes.
Another common symptom of iron deficiency is dizziness or lightheadedness. This happens because when your body is low in iron, it lacks enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the brain and other organs.
Lightheadedness is another symptom that isn’t specific to iron deficiency. It could indicate a wide range of issues and various levels of severity. Consider whether you’re experiencing this symptom in combination with other symptoms or signs of iron deficiency.
When your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen, a headache can follow. Iron deficiency can also cause your blood vessels to swell, which could create pressure that leads to a headache.
A recent study found a strong link between iron deficiency anemia and chronic daily headaches. Migraines were also common among study participants with iron deficiency.
Having brittle nails can be another indicator of iron deficiency. If the iron deficiency progresses, you may also develop koilonychia, a condition where your nails curve inward and have raised ridges, similar to spoons.
Koilonychia affects about 5% of people with iron deficiency. It may happen due to abnormalities in blood flow to the nails and mechanical pressure that causes the outer portions of the nails to grow upward.
Iron deficiency can also lead to hair thinning and loss due to a lack of nutrition and blood flow, which your hair needs to grow. Research shows iron deficiency is a frequent cause of hair loss.
Iron deficiency can cause pica—eating or craving non-nutritive substances like ice, dirt, uncooked rice, or paper. In the United States, an estimated 25% of people with iron deficiency experience pagophagia—craving ice.
This symptom occurs most often in pregnant people or preadolescents. There’s no known cause of pica or explanation for why it’s often linked with iron deficiency.
Consider contacting a healthcare provider if you notice any of the above signs or symptoms of iron deficiency. You should also talk to a doctor if you notice blood or a black tar-like appearance in your stool.
Your healthcare provider can check for iron deficiency using blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and a reticulocyte count. These tests check your red blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and more, which can help diagnose anemia.
Your doctor may also check your serum iron level, total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin to diagnose iron deficiency.
If you have iron deficiency or are at risk of developing it, there are ways to improve your iron levels.
Eat More Iron-Rich Foods
To prevent or manage iron deficiency, start by incorporating iron-rich foods into your diet. Good sources include:
- Beans
- Dried fruit
- Eggs
- Lean red meat
- Salmon
- Iron-fortified grains
- Peas
- Tofu
- Dark leafy greens
Pairing these foods with sources of vitamin C helps your body absorb more iron, especially from plant-based sources like oranges, tomatoes, or strawberries.
Consider a Supplement
Taking an iron supplement under the guidance of a doctor may help keep your iron levels within normal range.
Your doctor can help determine an appropriate dose of supplemental iron based on your current iron levels and any existing health conditions. Restoring iron levels to the normal range can take 3-6 months of supplementation.
Iron supplements often cause side effects like nausea, diarrhea, or constipation. If you experience these, your doctor may suggest pairing a supplement with food or lowering the dose.
Seek Further Treatment
In severe cases of iron deficiency, you may need intravenous iron or a blood transfusion.
If the iron deficiency is caused by internal bleeding or kidney disease, interventions like surgery or medication may be necessary to address the underlying cause.
Iron deficiency can cause symptoms like fatigue, cold hands and feet, dizziness, headaches, and ice cravings. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, consider speaking with a healthcare provider. They can perform a blood test to make a diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan.
To prevent or manage iron deficiency, eat plenty of iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, dark leafy greens, beans, and fortified grains.
