Have you been feeling unusually run down and tired lately? Are you easily distracted and struggling to find the energy to complete simple daily tasks? While there are any number of conditions which might cause such fatigue, a common culprit is iron deficiency, also known as anemia. One of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the United States, iron deficiency affects more women than men, due to the fact that women regularly lose blood through their periods.
Anemia happens when your body does not have enough iron to produce the necessary amount of hemoglobin – a vital component of red blood cells, which functions as a transportation system, spreading oxygen throughout your body.
Without enough hemoglobin, your red blood cell count drops, and your body doesn’t get enough oxygen, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.
Iron deficiency isn’t always caused by a problem with your diet. Although some people are at risk for dietary iron deficiency – especially people who don’t eat meat or enough leafy greens.
Iron deficiency can also be caused by blood loss, insufficient red blood cell production, surgery and certain medications, or a body’s inability to absorb iron(1).
In these cases, iron supplements are often prescribed to help the anemic individual get their iron levels back up to where they need to be.
Because fatigue can be such a general symptom, it’s important to know other signs of iron deficiency as well. Here are some common signs of anemia:
1. Unusual Cravings
Do you have the urge to chew on ice? What about a compulsion to consume dirt? If you’re experiencing either of these cravings, or cravings for other unusual substances like paper, you may have an iron deficiency. This symptom is known as pica, and it can be hard to catch – many people with pica are embarrass