Iron Deficiency: Iron is a mineral that strengthens the body. If for some reason your body is deficient in iron, it may cause a number of diseases. This can affect many organs of the body. Iron deficiency leads to low hemoglobin and anemia. Iron is essential to replenish the oxygen deficiency in the body and maintain the right flow. If there is significant iron deficiency in the body it can cause diseases like anemia. This can make you feel fatigued and weak.


During pregnancy, there is a significant deficiency of iron in the body. Iron is also essential for the proper development of the baby in pregnancy. If the body is deficient in iron for a long time, it can adversely affect your health. Let us know what are the diseases caused by iron deficiency and their symptoms. 



Iron Deficiency Symptoms (Iron Deficiency Symptoms)


1 Iron deficiency causes fatigue, headache, dizziness.
2 This causes shortness of breath and discomfort.
3 Hair loss occurs when the iron content in the body is low.
4 Irritability in nature and the skin color begins to fade.
5 Due to iron deficiency the skin becomes dry and the nails turn whitish in colour.
6 You may experience chest pain and palpitations
7 Sometimes iron deficiency can cause your hands and feet to go cold. 
8 In some cases iron deficiency also affects thinking ability.
 
Iron deficiency diseases  


1- Anemia Iron deficiency leads to anemia in the body. Women are more prone to anemia. This can also be due to lack of iron rich foods in diet, and excessive bleeding during periods and pregnancy. When you are suffering from anemia, you experience fatigue, difficulty in working and maintaining body temperature. It also affects your immune system. 




2- Lung problems: People who complain of anemia i.e. iron deficiency in the body may suffer from heart and lung problems. Iron deficiency causes a number of complications in the heart and lungs. Due to palpitations, there may be a risk of heart failure at times. 


3- Weakness and fatigue- Iron deficiency in the body prevents the formation of adequate count of hemoglobin in the body. This can make you feel tired and weak throughout the day. Sometimes due to increased difficulty, it can affect your day to day working. In such a situation, you may face difficulty concentrating. Low hemoglobin prevents adequate oxygen supply from reaching the muscles and tissues which makes you feel tired. 



4- Pregnancy- During pregnancy women can suffer from iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can cause a variety of problems in the baby during birth. Iron deficiency also puts the baby at risk of premature birth. Iron deficiency in pregnancy increases the risk of low weight, improper mental development and iron deficiency in the baby. 


5- Hair and skin diseases- Iron deficiency also leads to hair and skin problems in the body. Deficiency of iron causes dryness and blemishes on the skin. This makes the skin dull and faded. Iron deficiency leads to hair loss and dandruff problems. Iron deficiency also leads to greying of hair.

 
6- Heart disease- Hemoglobin begins to go down when the body is deficient in iron. This leads to a lack in oxygen supply to the different organs of the body. Iron deficiency reduces oxygen supply to the heart. In such a situation, the heart has to work harder. Prolonged iron deficiency increases the risk of developing heart disease. 


Main Sources of Iron (Food Source Of Iron) 


Vegetarian sources of iron- To make up for the iron deficiency vegetarians can eat things like bottle gourd, pumpkin seeds, capsicum, green leafy vegetable, spinach, potatoes, beetroot, pomegranate, beans, and rajma. You must also include raisins and other nuts in the food. 


Non-vegetarian sources of iron- Non-vegetarians can eat seafood like fish to overcome iron deficiency. You can also eat meat, chicken, mutton, and egg.


Disclaimer: ABP News does not confirm the methods, treatments, and any claims mentioned in this article. These should be considered as suggestions only. Kindly consult a doctor before following any of the above-mentioned treatments/medications/diets.