
Common signs of iron deficiency anemia include:
- Headaches
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sensitivity to cold / cold hands and feet
- Desire to chew ice
- Short attention span
- Brain Fog
- Fatigue
- Heavy periods - (Bonus! - Improving iron status can make periods less heavy! Score!)
- Dizziness
- Restless leg syndrome
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Hair loss (Ferritin should be >75 for optimal hair maintenance)
If an iron deficiency is discovered, it’s important to note that the next step is not to just supplement iron. I prefer to ask WHY. Why are you anemic? My starting list to investigate usually includes: heavy menstrual periods, a vegetarian diet or a diet low in high iron foods, celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, digestive issues (constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain), and/or chronic infections. It is possible to have multiple issues contributing at once. Supplementing iron should always be done with care. It is possible to supplement too much iron. I like to monitor ferritin and other iron markers while treating with iron and getting to the root cause of the issue. Talk to your doctor to see if checking for an anemia could help you.