Introduction
Iron is an important trace element in the body and plays an essential role in the formation of red blood cells and oxygen transport. In addition, iron strengthens our immune system and keeps us powerful. A manifest iron deficiency can cause various symptoms such as fatigue, brittle nails and hair loss. The individual symptoms are described in more detail in the following text.
The typical symptoms
While latent iron deficiency is often only visible in the blood in the form of a lowered ferritin concentration and is often asymptomatic, manifest iron deficiency can have a wide variety of symptoms: Here you will learn how to treat anemia
- Skin and mucous membrane dry skin recurrent aphthae of the oral mucosa diffuse hair loss brittleness of the nails decline of the mucous membrane of tongue, esophagus and throat (Plummer-Vinson syndrome)
- Dry skin
- Recurring aphthae of the oral mucosa
- Diffuse hair loss
- Fragility of the nails
- Decrease of the mucous membrane of the tongue, esophagus and throat (Plummer-Vinson syndrome)
- Nervous system Headaches Concentration difficulties Fatigue Dizziness and easy excitability. Abnormal cravings for food are rare, e.g. on lime or earth (piquancy).
- Headaches
- Concentration difficulties
- Tiredness
- Dizziness and easy excitability.
- Rarely are abnormal eating desires e.g.
on lime or earth (Pikazismus).
- Symptoms of anemia due to iron deficiency Pale skin and mucous membranes Pale skin and mucous membranes Difficulty breathing under stress Increased heart rate Dizziness
- Pale skin and mucous membranes
- Difficult breathing under stress
- Increased heart rate
- Swindle
- Dry skin
- Recurring aphthae of the oral mucosa
- Diffuse hair loss
- Fragility of the nails
- Decrease of the mucous membrane of the tongue, esophagus and throat (Plummer-Vinson syndrome)
- Headaches
- Concentration difficulties
- Tiredness
- Dizziness and easy excitability.
- Rarely are abnormal eating desires e.g. on lime or earth (Pikazismus).
- Pale skin and mucous membranes
- Difficult breathing under stress
- Increased heart rate
- Swindle
In case of latent iron deficiency, the clinical symptoms occur before the onset of anemia. This disease is then called sideropenia. The symptoms affect the skin and mucous membranes as well as psychological and neurological symptoms.
In particular, the various skin appendages are affected: Finger– and toenails form grooves or are called hollow nails. The hairs of the scalp can also fall out more often and the oral mucosa tears. The Plummer-Vinson syndrome describes a defined combination of symptoms of iron deficiency.
This includes atrophy of the mucous membranes of the tongue, upper throat and oesophagus. This results in a painful burning of the tongue and pain in the area of the mouth and esophagus during the swallowing process. In addition to these skin and mucous membrane symptoms, unspecific psychological and neurological symptoms can also occur.
These can be headaches, easy excitability, concentration disorders and the symptom of picacifica. This refers to an unusual hunger for lime or soil, for example. All these symptoms can occur as part of iron deficiency, but also together with the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.
These include a paleness of the skin and mucous membranes due to the insufficient number of red blood cells. However, pale skin is physiological in many people and therefore cannot be used as the sole diagnostic criterion. It is possible that a form of respiratory distress may occur due to the insufficient number of red blood cells and thus too few oxygen carriers in the blood.
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