Associated symptoms
Accompanying symptoms of iron deficiency during pregnancy are the consequences of reduced blood formation. Since less oxygen can be transported, the heart has to beat faster, which is noticeable by palpitations. However, it is important to know that, despite a slight iron deficiency, the iron still available is initially passed on to the child.
Therefore, when the mother experiences the first accompanying symptoms, the iron supply to the child is usually still sufficient and no harm to the child must be expected at first.
- It can also lead to restlessness with trembling legs and sleep disturbances.
- In some cases accompanying symptoms are memory and concentration disorders.
- The growth and stability of the nails can also be affected. These become brittle and so-called hollow nails develop.
- Increased hair loss is not untypical for iron deficiency.
With a pronounced iron deficiency, hair even falls out.
- In addition, open, rough corners of the mouth can develop (so-called corner of the mouth rhagades) and there is increased inflammation and aphthae in the oral cavity. Aphtae are painful ulcers, which can occur mainly in the mouth area, but also sometimes on the genitals.
- Furthermore, the susceptibility to infections is increased because the immune system can no longer function properly.
- In rare cases, iron deficiency can also lead to Plummer-Vinson syndrome. In this clinical picture, the mucous membrane of the mouth and also that of the esophagus perishes.
Consequently, these patients report swallowing difficulties and a burning sensation in the tongue.
Dizziness is also one of the typical symptoms of iron deficiency. Iron is needed in the body for various processes. For example, if there is a lack of iron, the body has to rely on its own reserves.
These iron reserves are stored in the red blood pigment haemoglobin. However, the breakdown of the iron from haemoglobin then disrupts another important mechanism. The iron is not only stored in hemoglobin, but also plays an important role in the transport of oxygen in the blood.
The breakdown of the iron can therefore result in a reduced oxygen supply to individual organs. This then manifests itself in the brain with the symptom of dizziness. In addition, the heart has to beat faster to keep the blood supply in the body high enough to compensate for the reduced oxygen transport.
For these reasons, dizziness can be caused by iron deficiency during pregnancy.
- Dizziness due to iron deficiency
- Dizziness during pregnancy
Many of the iron preparations cause constipation in addition to other complaints of the gastrointestinal tract. These occur particularly when, for example, the iron tablets are taken on an empty stomach, as should be the case in order to achieve the best possible effect.
For this reason, there are iron tablets with many different binding agents and herbs, so that in case of side effects and digestive problems, another product can be used. Against constipation, one can try taking vitamin C at the same time, for example by drinking orange juice.The vitamin C helps in the absorption of iron and can thus lead to a reduction of constipation. In addition, the digestion can be stimulated with flea seeds or lactose.
