The average adult should consume between 8 and 18 mg of iron on a daily basis, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Your body uses dietary iron to create hemoglobin, the substance responsible for transporting oxygen throughout your body. When you do not get enough iron in your blood, you may develop a medical condition called anemia, also known as iron deficiency. Several side effects may alert you to an iron deficiency.
Fatigue
One of the most common symptoms associated with iron deficiency, fatigue is typically a lack of energy that is either mental or physical, or both. A feeling of drowsiness is not the same as fatigue, although you may feel the need to sleep when you are fatigued. Fatigue may also be accompanied by apathy. In general, you may experience fatigue as feeling weary, run down, tired, listless or exhausted.
Dizziness
Dizziness is another common iron deficiency symptom. It is often referred to as vertigo, the medical word used to describe the sensation of spinning when you are standing still. You might also have the sensation of being still while the objects around you are spinning. Do not drive or operate any type of heavy machinery while you are experiencing a dizzy spell.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is a scary side effect that often accompanies anemia, but how it actually feels varies among individuals. You may experience the feeling of being winded, as though you have just completed a run, or you may need to purse your lips to breathe properly. Fast breathing and the need to use the muscles in the chest and neck to breathe are also common experiences.
Other Symptoms
A number of other symptoms may also accompany an iron deficiency, including a loss of color or paleness in the skin, cravings for foods you would not normally crave, headaches, cold feet and hands or an unusually fast heartbeat. Contact your health-care practitioner if you experience any of the symptoms of anemia.
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