What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Iron-Deficiency
Anemia?
The signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia
depend on how serious the condition is. Mild to moderate iron-deficiency anemia
may have no signs or symptoms.
When signs and symptoms do occur, they can range
from mild to severe. Many of the signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia
apply to all types of
anemia.
Signs and Symptoms of Anemia
The most common symptom of all types of anemia is
fatigue (tiredness). Not having enough hemoglobin in the blood causes fatigue.
Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to
the body.
Anemia also can cause shortness of breath;
dizziness, especially when standing up; headache; coldness in your hands or
feet; pale skin, gums, and nail beds; and chest pain.
If you don't have enough hemoglobin-carrying red
blood cells, your heart has to work harder to circulate the reduced amount of
oxygen in your blood. This can lead to
arrhythmia,
heart
murmur, an enlarged heart, or even
heart
failure.
In infants and young children, signs of anemia
include poor appetite, slowed growth and development, and behavioral
problems.
Signs and Symptoms of Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia may
include brittle nails, swelling or soreness of the tongue, cracks in the sides
of the mouth, an enlarged spleen, and frequent infections.
People who have iron-deficiency anemia may have
unusual cravings for nonfood items such as ice, dirt, paint, or starch. This
craving is called pica (PI-ka or PE-ka).
Some people who have iron-deficiency anemia develop
restless
legs syndrome (RLS). RLS is a disorder that causes a strong urge to move
your legs. This urge to move often occurs with strange and unpleasant feelings
in your legs. People who have RLS often have a hard time sleeping.
Iron-deficiency anemia can put children at greater
risk for lead poisoning and infections.
Some signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia
are related to the condition's causes. For example, a sign of intestinal
bleeding can be bright red blood in the stools or black, tarry-looking
stools.
Very heavy menstrual bleeding, long periods, or
other vaginal bleeding may suggest that a woman is at risk for iron-deficiency
anemia. |