Symptoms
- Fatigue and weakness
- Pale skin or nail beds
- Breathlessness on exertion
- Headaches
- Craving ice or unusual foods (pica)
Iron deficiency anaemia: symptoms, causes & treatment
Low iron causes tiredness, breathlessness and pale skin — common in menstruating women and after blood loss. Needs blood tests to confirm before treatment.
Editorial information by Kaiser Khan. Not clinically reviewed.
Why it happens
Heavy periods, pregnancy, poor dietary intake, coeliac disease, or slow blood loss from the gut. Men and post-menopausal women need investigation if iron is low.
Treatment
Iron tablets after confirmed deficiency — with investigation of underlying cause via GP. Online blood tests can check levels before GP review.
Self-care that helps
Iron-rich diet (red meat, pulses, leafy greens) with vitamin C to aid absorption; avoid tea with meals.
When to get help
Black stools, significant blood loss, fainting or iron deficiency in men — urgent GP assessment.
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