Iron Deficiency Symptoms: Common Signs Plus Treatment Options

Iron deficiency symptoms can include extreme fatigue, weakness, headaches, pale skin, shortness of breath with exertion, and trouble concentrating. Other signs include brittle nails, restless legs, unusual cravings for non-food items, and changes in taste.

Iron deficiency symptoms typically arise from inadequate dietary iron or blood loss, such as heavy menstrual periods or hemorrhage. This lowers hemoglobin levels in red blood cells, impairing oxygen transport throughout the body.

To confirm iron deficiency, clinicians typically order blood tests measuring hemoglobin and iron levels, including ferritin, serum iron, and transferrin. Treatment typically starts with iron-rich foods like red meat, eggs, tuna, seeds, spinach, and broccoli. Iron supplements may be added if levels do not improve with diet alone..

Main symptoms

The most common symptoms of iron deficiency include:

1. Extreme fatigue or low mood;
2. Irritability;
3. Restless legs;
4. Pale skin or washed-out appearance of the inner eyelids;
5. Weakness;
6. Accelerated heart rate;
7. Cravings for non-food items;
8. Difficulty concentrating;
9. Headaches;
10. Brittle and/or deformed nails;
11. Shortness of breath, especially with exertion;
12. Changes in taste or a smooth tongue;
13. Loss of appetite;
14. Hair loss or hair that is brittle and breaks easily;
15. Decreased exercise tolerance;
16. Chest pain, in more serious cases.

If you notice these symptoms, consult a doctor for blood tests to check your iron levels. Blood work can confirm iron deficiency and guide effective treatment.

Confirming a diagnosis

To diagnose iron deficiency, a healthcare provider first assesses signs and symptoms, then orders blood work to evaluate hemoglobin levels, which may be low due to iron deficiency.

A provider will also order blood work to check specific iron levels, such as serum iron, ferritin (the protein that stores iron), and transferrin (the protein that transports iron to tissues).

The healthcare provider will combine this information to assess the severity of iron deficiency and check if storage and transport proteins are working properly. This confirms the diagnosis and determines the treatment plan.

Treatment options

To relieve symptoms of low iron, it is important to add iron-rich foods like red meat, eggs, tuna, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, bananas, broccoli, and spinach to your diet.

In some cases, a healthcare provider may also recommend iron supplementation particularly in cases of low iron levels that do not improve with diet changes alone. The provider may prescribe one or two iron supplements per day for several months until levels normalize.