Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Iron deficiency is a specific type of anemia. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Iron-deficiency anemia occurs when there is not enough iron in the body to make hemoglobin and red blood cells. It is usually caused by loss of blood, or less commonly, by impaired absorption of iron from food.
Fatigue
The most common symptom of iron deficiency anemia is fatigue of varying degrees depending on the severity of anemia, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Fatigue and weakness are due to the decreased ability of the blood to carry oxygen.
Difficulty Exercising
People with iron deficient anemia often have difficulty exercising. This is due to the decreased oxygen delivery to exercising muscles. Muscles also need iron to store and use oxygen.
Shortness of Breath
A deficiency of iron results in less hemoglobin to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. This can cause difficulty breathing. It is worse during exercise, which increases the requirement for oxygen delivery. When iron deficiency anemia is severe, shortness of breath also occurs at rest.
Dizziness
People with severe anemia often feel dizzy, especially when standing up. Dizziness, irritability and poor concentration reflect the reduced oxygen delivery to the brain.
Heart Problems
When there is not enough iron to make hemoglobin, red cells carry less oxygen.
As a result, the heart has to work harder to pump more blood with less oxygen throughout the body. This can cause a pounding and rapid heart beat, a roaring sound in the ears and chest pain. In people with underlying heart disease, the impaired oxygen delivery to heart muscle may cause heart failure or a heart attack.
Skin and Nail Changes
People with untreated iron deficiency may develop thin brittle nails, cracks at the sides of the mouth, and occasionally, hair loss. Less commonly, the nails may acquire a spoon shaped deformity that is particularly characteristic of iron deficiency anemia.
Sore Tongue
Iron deficiency can cause a sore tongue often with a burning sensation. It is sometimes associated with difficulty swallowing and a dry mouth due to reduced saliva production. These symptoms occur because iron is required to maintain the rapid turnover of the cells lining the mouth and tongue. When iron is deficient the lining becomes thin and inflamed.
Pica
Pica is an irresistible desire to eat unusual nonfood substances such as ice, clay, dirt, or chalk. Pica can be a symptom of iron deficiency anemia. An unusual craving to eat ice is particularly characteristic of iron deficiency, and resolves after treatment with iron supplements.
Restless Legs
Restless legs syndrome is a disorder that causes discomfort in the legs only at rest. The unpleasant feelings are immediately relieved by movement. People often have difficulty sleeping because of the strong urge to move their legs. Iron deficiency is a possible cause of restless legs, and treatment with an iron supplement can relieve the symptoms.
Beeturia
In rare cases of iron deficiency anemia, the urine turns red after eating beets. This condition is called beeturia, and it happens when there is not enough iron to decolorize the red pigment found in beets.
Bleeding
Some symptoms are due to the underlying blood loss responsible for iron deficiency. For example, red blood in the stool or black tarry stool is a sign of bleeding from the intestines or stomach. Patients with cancer of the intestines frequently have blood in their stool. Heavy menstrual bleeding is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in young women.
References
- "The American Journal of the Medical Sciences"; The Pathophysiology of Glossal Pain in Patients with Iron Deficiency and Anemia; Tokio Osaki, Eisaku Ueta, Kazuhiro Arisawa, Yuka Kitamura and Noriko Matsugi; Nov. 1999
- "American Journal of Medicine"; Pica and Food Craving in Patients with Iron-Deficiency Anemia: A Case-Control Study in France; Adrien Kettaneh, Virginie Eclache, Olivier Fain, Christelle Sontag, Michele Uzan, Lionel Carbillon, Jerome Stirnemann and Michel Thomas; Feb. 2005
- "Age Ageing"; Iron Status and Restless Leg Syndrome in the Elderly; S. O'Keeffe, K. Gavin and J. Lavan; 1994
- "American Family Physician"; Iron Deficiency Anemia; Shersten Killip, John M. Bennett and Mara D. Chambers; Mar. 2007
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