Symptoms of iron deficiency in women

Overview Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues. As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body can't produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). As a result, iron deficiency anemia may leave you tired and short of breath. You can usually correct iron deficiency anemia with iron supplementation. Sometimes additional tests or treatments for iron deficiency anemia are necessary, especially if your doctor suspects that you're bleeding internally. Symptoms Initially, iron deficiency anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. But as the body becomes more deficient in iron and anemia worsens, the signs and symptoms intensify. Iron deficiency anemia signs and symptoms may include: • Extreme fatigue • Weakness • Pale skin • Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath • Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness • Cold hands and feet • Inflammation or soreness of your tongue • Brittle nails • Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch • Poor appetite, especially in infants and children with iron deficiency anemia When to see a doctor If you or your child develops signs and symptoms that suggest iron deficiency anemia, see your doctor. Iron deficiency anemia isn't something to self-diagnose or treat. So see yo...

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that must be obtained through diet or a supplement. Having too little B12 can cause fatigue, anemia, and neurological problems. Vitamin deficiencies may sometimes go unnoticed, yet they can have a significant effect on our health. Among the more common deficiencies is vitamin B12. Here’s what vitamin B12 deficiency looks like and what you can do about it. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. It’s an Vitamin B12 is primarily involved in the production of red blood cells, the maintenance of a healthy nervous system, and the metabolism of proteins and fats. It also contributes to DNA synthesis and supports brain function. A deficiency in • Fatigue and weakness: B12 deficiency can cause general fatigue, lack of energy, and muscle weakness. • Anemia: Without enough B12, the body may produce larger, irregularly shaped red blood cells, leading to • Neurological problems: B12 is vital in maintaining a healthy nervous system. Deficiency can lead to symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, difficulty with balance, muscle weakness, memory problems, and • Digestive issues: Some individuals with B12 deficiency may experience digestive problems like loss of appetite, • Tongue inflammation: B12 deficiency can cause inflammation of the tongue (glossitis), leading to a swollen, red, or sore tongue. First signs of vitamin b12 deficiency Fatigue and weak...

Stage 2: The body does not have enough iron to build new red blood cells. Instead, the body uses zinc. Blood work may still show normal hemoglobin levels, but transferrin saturation levels (a measure of how much iron is being held in the body) are low, and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), which helps use zinc In RBCs, is high. You may feel fatigued and dizzy at this stage, although you may not have any symptoms. • Being underweight. Calories from any source do not affect iron absorption. Still, people who are underweight are often iron deficient because there isn't enough iron in their diet. • Erythropoietin is a hormone produced by the kidneys. It plays an important role in stimulating red blood cell production. You may need erythropoietin replacement to stimulate red blood cell production if you have kidney disease. Dialysis does not correct this hormone problem. • Some cancers, especially those that involve white blood cells, are associated with low RBC levels. Most cancer treatments also suppress the production of RBCs. The lack of RBCs doesn't decrease iron levels, but it prevents the iron in the body from doing what it is meant to do. Diagnosing Iron Deficiency A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that counts your platelets and your red and white blood cells. This test can only suggest iron deficiency anemia, because there are also other causes of anemia. Your doctor will try to identify the cause based on your medical history and exam. Dietary Supplements Most mal...

Anemia occurs when there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body’s organs. As a result, it’s common to feel cold and symptoms of tiredness or weakness. There are many different types of anemia, but the most common type is iron-deficiency anemia. You can begin to ease symptoms of this type of anemia by adding iron to your diet. Overview What is anemia? Anemia happens when you don’t have enough How does anemia affect my body? When someone develops anemia, they’re said to be anemic, meaning they have symptoms of anemia, like being very tired or feeling cold all of the time. Anemia affects different people in different ways: • Newborns: Some infants are born with low red blood cell counts. Most newborns don’t need medical treatment for anemia, but some with severe anemia may need blood transfusions. • Infants: Infants may get less iron than they need when they start eating solid food. That’s because the iron in solid food isn’t absorbed as easily as iron in breast milk or formula. Infants with anemia may appear lethargic. • Children: Children do a lot of growing between birth and age 2. Children going through growth spurts need more iron. Children with anemia may develop related problems such as delayed development of motor skills and issues with learning. • Women who are pregnant: Women who are pregnant may develop iron-deficiency anemia, which may increase the chance of complications such as premature birth or giving birth to babies with low birth ...

Iron is very important in maintaining many body functions, including the production of hemoglobin, the molecule in your blood that carries oxygen. Iron is also necessary to maintain healthy cells, skin, hair, and nails. Iron from the food you eat is absorbed into the body by the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract; the body only absorbs a small fraction of the iron you ingest. The iron is then released into the blood stream, where a protein called transferrin attaches to it and delivers the iron to the liver. Iron is stored in the liver as ferritin and released as needed to make new red blood cells in the bone marrow. When red blood cells are no longer able to function (after about 120 days in circulation), they are re-absorbed by the spleen. Iron from these old cells can also be recycled by the body. Iron deficiency is very common, especially among women and in people who have a diet that is low in iron. The following groups of people are at highest risk for iron-deficiency anemia: • Women who menstruate, particularly if menstrual periods are heavy • Women who are • People who have undergone major surgery or physical trauma • People with gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease (sprue), inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, or Crohn disease • People with peptic ulcer disease • People who have undergone bariatric procedures, especially gastric bypass operations • Vegetarians, vegans, and other people whose diets do not include iron-rich foo...

• Certain forms of anemia are passed down through your genes, and infants may have it from birth. • Women are at risk of iron-deficiency anemia because of blood loss from their periods and higher blood supply demands during • Older adults have a greater risk of anemia because they are more likely to have kidney disease or other chronic medical conditions. There are many types of anemia. All have different causes and treatments. Some forms -- like the mild anemia that happens during pregnancy -- aren’t a major concern. But some types of anemia may reflect a serious underlying medical condition Anemia Symptoms The signs of anemia can be so mild that you might not even notice them. At a certain point, as your blood cells decrease, symptoms often develop. Depending on the cause of the anemia, symptoms may include: • Dizziness, lightheadness, or feeling like you are about to pass out • Fast or unusual heartbeat • • Pain, including in your bones, chest, belly, and joints • Problems with growth, for children and • Shortness of breath • • Cold hands and • Tiredness or weakness Anemia Types and Causes There are more than 400 types of anemia, and they’re divided into three groups: • Anemia caused by blood loss • Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production • Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells Anemia Caused by Blood Loss You can lose red blood cells through bleeding. This can happen slowly over a long period of time, and you might not notice. Causes can...