What Are The First Signs Of Iron Deficiency?
Feeling persistently exhausted despite getting enough sleep? Noticing your hair is thinning, or your nails keep breaking? These symptoms might not just be signs of stress or ageing – they could indicate your body is running low on iron.
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide, affecting around 1.2 billion people globally. The challenge is that many people don't realise they have low iron until it has progressed to full anaemia.
Signs of Low Iron to Watch For
Persistent fatigue and weakness that doesn't improve with rest
Pale skin, particularly noticeable in your inner eyelids and nail beds
Frequent headaches and dizziness
Shortness of breath during normal activities
Unusual cravings for ice, dirt, or starch (called pica)
Why Is Iron So Important for Your Health?
Iron is essential for producing haemoglobin – the protein in your red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout your body. When your iron levels drop, your cells cannot receive adequate oxygen to function properly. This is why the signs of iron deficiency can affect everything from your energy levels to your cognitive function.
Your body stores iron as ferritin, which acts as a reserve. When you want to understand your true iron status, checking what is ferritin can reveal deficiency before it appears on a standard blood test.
The Most Common Signs of Low Iron
Persistent Fatigue and Weakness
This is different from typical tiredness at the end of a long day. Iron deficiency fatigue is a deep exhaustion that persists even after a full night's sleep. You may find yourself struggling to complete basic tasks or needing to rest after minimal exertion. This occurs because, without sufficient iron, your tissues and muscles are deprived of oxygen.
Pale or Washed-Out Appearance
One helpful self-check is to examine your inner lower eyelids – if they appear very pale rather than a healthy pink, this is a telltale sign of low iron. You might also notice your skin looks less vibrant than usual, your lips appear pale, or your nail beds have lost their pink tinge.
Shortness of Breath and Rapid Heartbeat
Does climbing stairs suddenly feel much more challenging than it used to? When your haemoglobin is low, your heart has to work considerably harder to pump oxygen-depleted blood around your body. This can leave you breathless during activities that previously never bothered you.
Persistent Headaches and Dizziness
Low iron means less oxygen reaches your brain, which can trigger frequent headaches or episodes of light-headedness. Some people describe feeling mentally "foggy" or struggling to concentrate, as iron deficiency genuinely affects cognitive performance.
5 Weird Signs of Iron Deficiency You Might Not Expect
Craving Ice or Non-Food Items
While this sounds unusual, it is surprisingly common among people with iron deficiency. Called pica, this condition creates strong cravings to chew ice, or even non-food items like dirt, clay, or laundry starch. Scientists are not entirely certain why this happens, but it is one of the more unexpected signs of iron deficiency.
Restless Legs Syndrome
That irresistible urge to move your legs, particularly at night? Some research has shown that up to 43% of people with significant iron deficiency suffer from restless legs syndrome. The uncomfortable sensations often improve when iron levels are restored.
Brittle, Spoon-Shaped Nails
Your nails can become thin, brittle, and develop a spoon-like indentation in the centre (koilonychia). This happens because your body prioritises iron for essential functions, leaving your nails undernourished.
Frequent Infections
Iron plays an important role in immune function. When you are deficient, your white blood cells cannot work as effectively, making you more susceptible to colds, flu, and other infections. If you find yourself constantly getting sick, low iron could be a contributing factor.
Sore or Swollen Tongue
Iron deficiency can cause glossitis – inflammation that makes your tongue appear pale, smooth, and swollen. You might also experience cracks at the corners of your mouth or difficulty swallowing.
What Causes Iron Deficiency?
Several factors can deplete your iron stores:
Heavy menstrual bleeding is the leading cause in premenopausal women.
Pregnancy dramatically increases iron requirements.
Dietary gaps, particularly in vegetarians and vegans, as plant-based iron is not absorbed as efficiently as iron from meat sources.
Digestive conditions such as coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, or having undergone gastric bypass surgery can interfere with iron absorption.
Regular blood donation can gradually deplete iron stores if you are donating frequently without adequate dietary intake.
When Iron Deficiency Becomes Anaemia
If iron deficiency continues without treatment, it progresses to iron deficiency anaemia. Understanding what is anaemia helps you recognise when your signs of low iron have reached a stage requiring medical intervention.
At this point, symptoms intensify: your fatigue becomes debilitating, and even small tasks leave you completely drained.
What to Do If You Recognise These Signs
It is important not to ignore persistent signs of low iron – they will not resolve on their own. The first step is getting properly tested. A comprehensive iron panel should include serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, and a full blood count.
If you are diagnosed with iron deficiency, treatment options range from dietary changes and oral supplements to iron infusions for more severe cases. Many people want to know how long does an iron injection take to work – typically, you will start feeling better within days to weeks, though full restoration of iron stores takes longer.
You Deserve to Feel Your Best
The good news is that iron deficiency is treatable. You do not have to accept exhaustion, brain fog, or any of these symptoms as your new normal. With the right testing and a personalised treatment plan, you can restore your energy and vitality.
At Evergreen Doctors, we specialise in uncovering the root causes of symptoms such as chronic fatigue and unexplained health issues. Our functional medicine approach looks beyond standard blood tests to understand your unique biochemistry and create targeted treatment plans designed specifically for you.
You deserve to feel energised and well. If you are experiencing signs of low iron or other persistent health concerns, our team is here to help you understand what is really happening in your body.