Iron deficiency is a common concern in women. About 30% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 suffer from anaemia, and 37% of pregnant women also have it, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) statistics. Iron deficiency often goes unnoticed, especially in the initial stages. Dr. Pedi Mirdamadi, a licensed naturopathic doctor and holistic nutritionist specializing in functional medicine in San Diego, has explained the 3 crucial signs of iron deficiency that even doctors tend to overlook. “While most doctors only check iron levels, that may not be enough when it comes to addressing these symptoms. This is because it’s as equally as important to check ferritin or the storage form of iron. Because having low ferritin despite normal levels of iron can still be contributing to these symptoms,” he said. Let’s take a look.
What is iron deficiency
Iron deficiency occurs when the body lacks sufficient iron. Iron plays a crucial role in the production of red blood cells. These red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the body. Iron deficiency impairs the body’s ability to produce enough hemoglobin, which results in a condition called iron deficiency anemia. Now let’s look at the 3 common signs of iron deficiency that even doctors tend to overlook.
Chronic fatigue
Feeling constantly drained is a crucial sign of low iron levels, yet it is often missed in diagnosis. Dr. Mirdamadi notes that low energy should not be dismissed. As chronic fatigue is a symptom of many health concerns, chances of it getting mistaken for other ailments are possible. Some even attribute exhaustion to stress or lack of sleep. The most important thing to understand is that chronic fatigue is never a good indicator of health.
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
One common complaint people with iron deficiency have is lightheadedness or dizziness. If you feel lightheaded while standing up quickly or during physical activity, it could be due to iron deficiency. When the iron levels in the body is low, hemoglobin production is affected, which limits the transport of oxygen to the cells. This sign is often mistaken for dehydration.
Cold hands and feet
Women often complain of cold hands and feet, even in warm environments. This could be a crucial sign of low iron. A deficiency in iron affects circulation and the body’s ability to regulate temperature. People often miss this symptom or attribute it to poor circulation, without investigating iron levels.
“Low iron levels can be so easily missed because most doctors assess iron status by looking at a blood count and serum iron. Ferritin is the storage form of iron and is very important to measure if there are any symptoms of fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, or easily bruising,” the doctor notes.
