Feeling Meh? Maybe it’s Low Iron…
Feeling fatigued, lethargic and maybe even a bit dizzy? Perhaps you’re experiencing brain fog, increased anxiety and shortness of breath when walking up stairs? How about your hair, skin and nails - not looking as healthy and strong as they once were?
If this sounds like you, then you may be iron deficient! Iron deficiency is incredibly common, especially in menstruating women, pre-school aged children and the elderly.
If you suspect that you may be iron deficient based on the following signs and symptoms, please don’t delay in seeking testing and treatment. You also want to ensure that the underlying cause as to why you are iron deficient is investigated - in many cases there is so much more to it than just insufficient iron in the diet.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF IRON DEFICIENCY:
Mood changes
Poor concentration
Fatigue & lethargy
Reduced physical performance
Less resistance to infection
Cardiovascular & respiratory changes
Pale inside lower eyelid, mouth, palmar creases and/or nail beds
Brittle, thinning hair
Ridged, spoon-shaped, thin, flat, brittle nails
Reduced thyroid function & ability to make thyroid hormones
Difficulty maintaining body temperature in cold environments
Why is iron so important?
It is important that iron deficiency is rectified as a priority, because of the key role iron plays in ensuring oxygen is transported throughout the body for our daily functioning. It is required to form a protein called haemoglobin that is found in red blood cells, which actually gives them their red colour. Iron is also required for another protein called myoglobin that provides oxygen to the muscles. This is why low iron can leave us feeling fatigued, weak, breathless, foggy-headed and result in a pale appearance - you need that circulating oxygen!
Iron is also important for growth & development, immune function, thyroid hormones, neurotransmitter production (eg. serotonin & dopamine), cellular energy, formation of procollagen & elastin, as well as many other metabolic and enzymatic processes in the body.
TEST, DON’T GUESS WHEN IT COMES TO IRON
Iron deficiency and iron overload can present with overlapping symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, mood changes, brain fog and hair loss - making it difficult to confidently assess without testing. Haemochromatosis is a genetic condition that results in iron overload and in those not yet diagnosed, their symptoms could be mistaken for deficiency symptoms. It is important to confirm deficiency via blood testing, as iron supplementation has the potential to cause significant harm in haemochromatosis, including organ damage.
Iron deficiency is confirmed by low ferritin and/or transferrin saturation on blood tests, which are usually completed in conjunction with a range of other tests that assist with assessment. Iron deficiency anaemia is a further manifestation distinguished by additional impacts on red blood cells, which is primarily characterised by a low haemoglobin result.
NEED ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING FATIGUE & LOW IRON?
If you’re wondering what tests to get, how to read them for optimal ranges and which supplements are best suited to you - start with the Humble Guide to Iron eBook to get your foundations right and then book your appointment for personalised advice and a tailored treatment plan from Mel!
Want to learn more? Click here to get your copy of the Humble Guide to Iron eBook!
