What are the consequences of iron deficiency anemia?
If anaemia is caused by iron deficiency, the red blood pigment haemoglobin is reduced. Hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen in the body, it is loaded with oxygen molecules in the lungs and releases them back into the organs. There, oxygen is needed to produce energy.
The heart muscles have the highest oxygen demand, followed by skeletal muscles, brain and kidney. These organs are the first to react and are very sensitive to a decreasing oxygen content in the blood. The first consequences of iron deficiency anemia are therefore decreasing performance, both in physical and mental work.
Those affected often feel weak and tired despite sufficient sleep. A lack of oxygen in the brain also leads to headaches and dizziness. The body reacts to the decreased oxygen level by increasing the heart and breathing rate.
In this way, the remaining hemoglobin is transported faster through the body and is loaded with oxygen in the lungs again more quickly. However, increased work of the heart and respiratory system means that more energy and oxygen are consumed – a vicious circle. These articles may also be of interest to you:
- Consequences of iron deficiency
- The consequences of anemia
A typical symptom of iron deficiency anemia is hair loss.
Iron is an important component of various enzymes involved in metabolic processes, growth and regeneration. The hair root cell is one of the fastest dividing cells in the human body and therefore needs a lot of iron and energy. In iron deficiency anemia, the body lacks iron and oxygen and thus the necessary energy for rapid cell division.
If a hair root cell is not sufficiently supplied, it dies and the hair falls out. In general, the hair becomes increasingly thin and brittle. If iron deficiency anaemia is left untreated, the haemoglobin value (Hb value) continues to drop. If this happens slowly, the body can adjust to a certain point.Hb-values between 6-8 g/dl can be partially compensated well. If Hb values are below 6 g/dl or if complications such as a strongly increased heart rate (tachycardia), a strong drop in blood pressure (hypotension), a falling blood pH value or ECG changes have already occurred before, foreign blood must be supplied to the body in the form of a blood transfusion, as the situation can be life-threatening and decompensate (derail).
