A new study found 29 percent of American adults have absolute or functional iron deficiency. And, one in three of us have an undiagnosed iron deficiency.
The study used medical data from more than 8,000 people. Doctors don’t regularly test for iron deficiency, so it’s underdiagnosed, but it can have serious side effects.
“This is a common yet underappreciated public health problem,” said study co-author Leo Buckley, a clinical pharmacology specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “What’s unique about our study is we were looking at regular people who would not otherwise have been screened or tested.”
An absolute iron deficiency is when the body lacks enough reserves of iron. The condition is most often seen in women, children, vegetarians and vegans. Functional iron deficiency is when the body has enough iron but cannot access it. The condition affects both men and women. Iron deficiency occurs when the body doesn’t absorb iron, the diet lacks iron, the body burns more iron than is typical or a person bleeds more than is usual.
Probably the most overt signs of iron deficiency are the urge to eat ice or clay. If a person has a sudden bizarre craving, they are likely to realize something is going on with their body. Other symptoms are more subtle.
Constant fatigue or weakness can be symptoms of a lack of iron. When you lack iron, you can’t produce as many red blood cells. Without as many red blood cells, you don’t get as much oxygen to all the parts of your body. The shortage of iron and red blood cells can also cause shortness of breath, a fast heartbeat or chest pains.
When you don’t have enough oxygen, other problems arise. Headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness and mental fog are common. Your hands and feet may be cold without enough oxygen. And you can appear paler than you should because melanin starts with iron.
People with an iron deficiency can suffer from a lack of appetite. However, eating more iron-rich foods can be one of the best ways to fix the problem. Meat, seafood, peas, beans, leafy greens, raisins and other dried fruit, apricots, nuts and iron-fortified foods can help. You can also add an oral supplement to help boost your iron.
Iron deficiency is very rarely life-threatening. However, it significantly impacts a person’s quality of life. It’s also incredibly preventable with diet and supplements. If you have any signs of iron deficiency, you should talk to your doctor about getting tested. In the meantime, eating more iron-rich foods may be beneficial.
