Signs & Symptoms of Deficiency
People with iron deficiency most commonly complain of extreme tiredness and fatigue, especially towards the afternoon and even just after waking up from a good night’s sleep.
Breathlessness, a racing heart (palpitations), restless, twitching or aching legs, brain ‘fog’ (difficulty concentrating), dizziness and wanting desperately to eat ice are also common.
Many people with iron deficiency complain of their hair falling out in the shower or when brushing it, and of ridging of their nails, as well as lack of libido. In severe cases, iron deficiency is associated with depression, anixiety and repeated infections and illnesses.
Symptoms of long covid B12 and iron
| Long Covid – nhs.uk website | Pernicious anaemia – PAS website | Iron deficiency – Patient survey |
|---|---|---|
| Fatigue | Fatigue | Fatigue |
| SOB | SOB | SOB |
| Palpitations | Palpitations | Palpitations |
| Feinting | Dizziness, feinting, vertigo | Dizziness, feinting |
| Difficulty sleeping | Sleep disturbance | Difficulty sleeping |
| Brain fog | Brain fog/decreased mental concentration | Brain fog |
| Pins and needles | Paraesthesia: abnormal sensation, typically tingling or pricking (‘pins and needles’) | Pins and needles |
| Joint pain | Burning legs and/or feet | Pain in muscles and joints |
| Depression and anxiety | Depression and anxiety | Depression and anxiety |
| Tinnitus | Tinnitus | Tinnitus |
| Nausea, loss of appetite | Nausea, loss of appetite | Nausea, loss of appetite |
| Bloating, abdo pain | Diarrhoea, stomach problems | Bloating, abdo pain |
| Postural hypotension (drop in blood pressure upon standing) POTS | Postural hypotension (drop in blood pressure upon standing) POTS | Postural hypotension (drop in blood pressure upon standing) POTS |
| Cough | ||
| Change in taste | Sensory loss (loss of taste, smell or hearing | |
| Fever | Fever | |
| Numbness in hands and feet, reduced skin sensation | ||
| Impaired fine finger movements | ||
| Balance problems/loss of sense of position | ||
| Hair loss | Hair loss | |
| Glossitis (pain, redness, swelling in mouth and tongue) | ||
| Headache | Headache | |
| Restless legs | ||
| Pica |
