The Iron Deficiency Signs Many People Miss with Dr. Baylie Pritchard, ND скачать в хорошем качестве

The Iron Deficiency Signs Many People Miss with Dr. Baylie Pritchard, ND

Many people are told their labs are “normal,” yet they’re dealing with symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, anxiety, or heavy periods. Iron may be part of the reason. Iron is essential for oxygen delivery in the body. It helps red blood cells transport oxygen from your lungs to every tissue in your body. When iron levels drop, oxygen delivery decreases — and that can affect energy, focus, and overall wellbeing. Low iron can show up as: Fatigue Brain fog Hair loss Shortness of breath Anxiety or heart palpitations Cold hands and feet Restless legs Heavy periods Poor exercise tolerance And importantly — you can experience these symptoms before you are technically “anemic.” One reason iron deficiency is often missed is that many labs only check hemoglobin, which tends to drop later in the process. A more complete picture includes markers such as: Ferritin (iron storage) Serum iron Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) Transferrin saturation Hemoglobin and hematocrit Ferritin is often the most helpful early marker. Many labs consider ferritin normal down to very low levels, but clinically many people begin experiencing symptoms when ferritin drops below about 40–50. When iron deficiency is identified, treatment depends on severity and the underlying cause. In some cases we use oral iron supplementation, while in others — especially when levels are very low or absorption is an issue — IV iron can help restore iron stores more quickly. Just as important as treating low iron is asking why it became low in the first place. This might include looking at: Heavy menstrual bleeding Digestive health and nutrient absorption Diet and protein intake Chronic inflammation or infections Other sources of blood loss Iron deficiency is often a clue that something deeper in the body needs attention.