Iron deficiency anemia is a common nutritional deficiency that is seen in both developing and developed countries. Women of childbearing age, children, teenagers and the elderly can be at a higher risk of developing low iron levels and stores. Eating a diet low in iron, increased bleeding and malabsorption of the mineral can lead to using your iron stores to maintain red blood cell health.
Fatigue
The first effect of iron deficiency anemia is fatigue. This results from your red blood cells not being able to carry the full amount of oxygen to your tissues. Red blood cells that contain iron have to recirculate to your lungs to pick up more oxygen to redistribute to tissues that are lacking sufficient oxygen. Because your red blood cells have to work harder by recirculating in your body more frequently, you experience fatigue and tiredness as a result of your oxygen delivery capacity being diminished. Low oxygen can also cause you to feel dizzy upon standing or moving suddenly, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Nails and Gums
To preserve oxygen capacity to vital organs, your nails and gums become brittle and start to receed. In severe enough cases of iron deficiency, your nails and gums can turn yellow and you can develop cracks in the corners of your mouth states the website Medic8. Your tongue may become smooth and you may loose your taste buds, leading to decreased appetite and taste sensations.
Body and Organs
Growing infants, children and fetuses are very susceptible to iron deficiency anemia. The lack of iron not only delivers less oxygen to the growing brain of children, infants and fetuses, but if iron levels are low enough, the heart can be compromised. According to Medic8, severe iron deficiency can lead to the development of heart murmurs in fetuses, infants and children. A heart murmur compromises blood circulation to all tissues of the body and can hinder the growth of long bones, brain development or cognitive learning and muscle development.
Infections
Iron plays a critical role in the maintenance of your immune system. When iron is deficient, your immune system isn't able to attack foreign particles in your body that can make you sick. Therefore, iron deficiency in anemia leads to a higher risk and development of infections. According to researcher Ceyda Ekiz with the Istanbul School of Medicine, iron helps your immune system produce molecules that kill certain pathogens and also serve as a co-factor for certain antibacterial properties of the immune system.
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