Iron
Iron is one of the important minerals in every cell of the human body. It is therefore an important contributor to the body’s vital functions. For example, iron is part of the hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the entire body. Iron helps the muscles to store and benefit from oxygen. Many enzymes that help the body digest food and interfere with many important reactions contain iron. When iron is removed from the body, many of the body’s functions are affected.
Iron deficiency
Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia, a condition in which the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells that can carry oxygen to the tissues of the body. As the name suggests, anemia is caused by hypoproteinemia, Iron is due to insufficient iron. Without sufficient iron, the body can not produce enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen. As a result, iron deficiency causes multiple symptoms such as fatigue, fatigue and shortness of breath.
Causes of iron deficiency in the blood
If an individual does not eat enough iron-containing food, or if he or she has suffered a bleeding that causes him to lose a large amount of blood, it may discourage the body’s ability to produce hemoglobin, thus risking anemia ). There are many reasons that lead to iron deficiency, some of them related to the lack of adequate sources of water, others due to the inability of the body to absorb iron from digested food, and finally may be related to certain health conditions, where iron deficiency include the following reasons:
Blood loss
The loss of blood means the loss of iron. Blood is made up of red blood cells, iron is one of its components, so women who lose a lot of blood during the menstrual cycle are more at risk of iron deficiency anemia, as well as people who lose Blood is slowly and chronically present in the presence of a specific disease, such as the presence of a peptic ulcer, a hernia, or colon cancer, or a tumor in the colon or rectum. Gastrointestinal bleeding can also result from regular use of some painkillers – especially aspirin – which can cause hemorrhage if used incorrectly.
Iron deficiency in diet
The iron is taken from the food being consumed, so eating a small amount of iron may lead to iron deficiency over time. In contrast, there are many foods containing iron, such as meat, eggs, green plant leaves, and iron-fortified foods.
Inability to absorb iron
Iron is absorbed from digested food in the small intestine, so some small bowel disorders may cause digestive problems. These include Celiac disease, which affects the ability of the small intestine to absorb nutrients from digested food, And therefore may lead to iron deficiency anemia, as well as in cases where part of the small intestine is removed, as the efficiency of the small intestine is affected by the absorption of iron and other nutrients.
Pregnancy
Without iron supplementation, iron deficiency anemia can occur in many women during pregnancy, because their bodies need to maintain iron reserves for increased need, given the increased blood volume during pregnancy and the fetus’s need to provide hemoglobin for growth. There are many factors that increase the risk of iron deficiency, as iron deficiency is more common among females, vegetarians, and blood donors, children and infants.
Symptoms of iron deficiency in the blood
Symptoms and symptoms of iron deficiency vary depending on the severity of the anemia, how fast it is developing, and depend on age and health status as well; in some cases you do not feel any symptoms, in other cases may be affected by human health and productivity, and ability to exercise daily activities, The most common:
- Unusual fatigue: Feeling very tired is one of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency. More than half of people with iron deficiency complain of this. This is due to the low amount of oxygen that reaches the body’s tissues and thus is not provided with the energy necessary to perform its vital activity.
- paleness: Dehydration may appear on the body in general, or it may be in specific areas such as the face, lower eyelid, or nails, and the cheek is a sign that the body has a moderate or severe deficiency in iron. This is due to the lack of hemoglobin in the red blood cells, as it gives the blood red color, so the blood becomes less red when iron deficiency, making the skin appear less fresh, so that the skin does not appear rosy in people with iron deficiency.
- hard breathing: As previously mentioned, iron deficiency is associated with low hemoglobin levels in the blood, making the body unable to transport oxygen to the muscles and tissues efficiently, and showing shortness of breath in the form of difficulty in normal breathing in the practice of daily activities such as stairs, or walking.
- Headaches and vertigo: Headaches and dizziness are one of the symptoms that may indicate iron deficiency in the blood, as the lack of hemoglobin is linked to the lack of sufficient amount of oxygen to the brain, and this causes the swelling of blood vessels and feeling of pressure.
- Heart palpitations: In the case of iron deficiency, the heart needs to work more and more vigorously to transfer oxygen to the organs of the body, which may lead to irregular heartbeat, or even the occurrence of heart murmur (Heart Murmurs), or myocardial infarction, or heart failure (English: Heart Failure).
- Dry and damaged hair and skin: Drought and damage to hair and nails occur due to lack of oxygen that reaches through the blood circulation, and in severe cases of iron deficiency in the blood up to the incidence of hair loss.
- Swelling and ulceration of the mouth and tongue: The ulcerated tongue, swollen, or crevices at the corners of the mouth may be signs of iron deficiency anemia, as hemoglobin decreases lipoprotein, and myoglobin may cause ulcers and some swelling. Myoglobin is found in the red blood cells that support and promote muscle function, including the formation of the tongue.
- Leg restlessness syndrome: People who suffer from iron deficiency anemia have a greater chance of experiencing restless leg syndrome. This syndrome produces a strong desire to move the legs during rest and often occurs at night. More than 25% Of those with this syndrome have iron deficiency as well, and the greater the deficiency, the worse the symptoms faced by the person.