Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is an insufficient amount of iron in the blood. This is a result of a lack of red blood cells carrying inadequate counts of hemoglobin to body tissues. When someone doesn’t have enough iron, there isn’t enough oxygen being transported through the bloodstream, causing extreme fatigue.

Common symptoms include:

• Seeing stars when standing up too fast
• Fatigue
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Random cravings for ice
• Cold extremities

In order to be in control of an iron deficiency, supplements can be taken each day to get hemoglobin levels back to normal. What would be even better and dispersed into the bloodstream faster would be foods that contain iron such as –

• Red meat
• Green vegetables
• Beans
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds.
• Eating/drinking things infused with Vitamin C will aid the absorption of iron.

An appointment can be made with a physician to get blood drawn to determine red blood cell counts and iron levels.With extreme fatigue as the most common symptom of iron deficiency anemia, you can imagine how it must affect exercise. Not only are you more prone to dizziness and exhaustion, but you also struggle with an irregular heartbeat. Most people who have this anemia don’t even know that they have it. If you find yourself struggling for energy in the gym, you see stars when standing up too quickly, or you think any of the other symptoms listed above could apply to you, consult with a doctor immediately. Now that you know more behind iron deficiency anemia, I hope this builds awareness to this common health condition.

Hugs,

The UFit Team