7 Symptoms Of Lack Of Iron That Are Rarely Aware Of, Hair Loss To Fatigue

Illustration of hair loss is a sign of iron deficiency. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Did you know, many people experience iron deficiency. Women in America now consume almost 10% less iron from food than in 1999, and men are around 7% less. This makes the number of people who lack iron even more, according to a 2021 study in The Journal of Nutrition.

The researchers suspect that this is possible because many people try to eat less red meat and more low-iron protein such as chicken. They also said that many foods that should be rich in iron, such as beef, nuts, and apricot actually contain less iron, due to modern farming methods that reduce iron levels in the soil.

People who avoid or limit the consumption of enriched grains (such as bread, breakfast contracts, and pasta) can also lack iron. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), these foods account for about 50% of iron intake.

Laurie Tansman, a clinical nutritionist at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, said the most at risk of iron deficiency were people with high iron demand. NIH explained that women who are menstruating need twice as much iron as men because of blood loss.

Then, pregnant women need more than 50% additional iron to meet the needs of developing babies. Vegetarians and vegans are also at higher risk, because plants mostly contain non-heme iron, which is not easily absorbed by the body than iron from the meat.

The problem is, this lack of iron is not easily recognized. Symptoms can appear slowly when the level of iron in the body begins to decline.

"I've seen people suffering from iron deficiency anemia for years before finally starting to interfere with their daily activities," said Thomas DeLoughery, a professor of medicine from Oregon Health and Science University.

Here are 7 signs to note if you are short of iron, as reported by the Eating Well page.

1. Fatigue

Tireness is one of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency, it can even appear even though new iron levels have decreased slightly, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to ensure that fatigue is caused by low iron, because there can be many things. According to a 2021 review at Deutsches Badminton International, the most common cause of persistent fatigue is depression, excessive stress, sleep disorders, and sleep-related respiratory problems.

If the recent level of fatigue changes drastically, or accompanied by other symptoms on this list, iron levels may be low and should be immediately examined.

2. Always feel cold

If you feel that your hands and feet are always cold, it could be a sign of less bes. According to a study by Cureus in 2022, one explanation is that iron is important for thyroid function. Lack of iron inhibits thyroid efficiency, even though the thyroid hormone helps regulate body temperature.

3. Short Breath

If you are easily breathless even though you are diligent in sports, it could be because of low iron. Iron helps transport oxygen throughout the body. Without iron enough, the body will find it difficult to follow the cardio routine, according to a review study in 2023 published in Nutrients.

4. Easily Angry

So being more sensitive to small things is one of the symptoms that you may find in iron deficiency. Although further research is needed, a 2020 study in the Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology found that teens with iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia tend to be more easily angry than their peers who are healthy.

5. Hair loss

Hair always goes through a growth cycle, and it's a normal part of the process. If you lose about 50 to 100 hairs per day, it's still safe. But if it's more than that, it could be a sign of low iron hazard, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Some women who experience hair loss turned out to be deficient in iron, and many studies attributed low levels of iron to hair loss conditions such as alopecia. A 2022 review study on Skin Appendage Disorders shows the possibility that women with hair loss could benefit from higher iron levels.

6. Depression

Iron is very important for producing neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. Low iron levels can affect this neurotransmitter content and have an impact on mood and symptoms of depression / anxiety, according to a review study in 2023 published in Antioxidants.

7. Inflammatory

Both celiac and inflammatory bowl disease (IBD) can inhibit the absorption of nutrients, in particular how much iron is absorbed from food in the small intestine. These conditions include inflammation, and chronic inflammation encourages excessive production of compounds called hepcudin.

According to a review of Clinica Chimica Acta in 2021, at healthy levels, hepcudin helps the body maintain appropriate iron levels. However, too many hepcudins can cause iron deficiency. So, if you have an intestinal inflammation condition, you should talk to the doctor about iron levels.