Iron deficiency: If you experience frequent exhaustion and paleness, see an internist

Eisenmangel causes tiredness and exhaustion Rapid exhaustion, tiredness and paleness are possible signs of iron deficiency and should be taken seriously by those affected. These deficiency symptoms do not only occur during pregnancy or after childbirth, as is often assumed.

Eisenmangel causes tiredness and exhaustion. Rapid exhaustion, tiredness and paleness are possible signs of iron deficiency and should be taken seriously by those affected. These deficiency symptoms do not only occur during pregnancy or after childbirth, as is often assumed. In theory, iron deficiency can affect any woman who tends to have heavy or long periods, or even chronically ill people, e.g. patients with kidney disease. Regular blood loss due to nosebleeds, stomach ulcers or reduced iron absorption in the small intestine also lead to iron deficiency.

Insufficient iron reserves can also be caused by diet, for example by a purely vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, which avoids animal products, which are often a good source of iron. "It is particularly useful for these risk groups to have their iron levels checked regularly by a specialist - at the latest, however, if there are signs of exhaustion, paleness, increased infections or brittle hair and nails, those affected should go to the Doctor ", recommends Dr. Reinhold Lunow, medical director of the practice clinic Bornheim.

Many people know the hemoglobin (Hb) value as a synonym for iron levels. Hemoglobin is the red blood pigment, its value corresponds to the number of red blood cells, which are an important component of the blood and ensure the transport of oxygen in the body. However, for the early detection of iron deficiency, it is not enough to determine just this one blood value. Because: If the Hb value is low, the Eisenmangel often already pronounced. Then there is already anemia, a type of anemia in which the body has too few red blood cells or too few are produced. If the anemia is pronounced, the affected person experiences not only the typical symptoms such as fatigue and paleness, but also Headache, dizziness, shortness of breath and palpitations even with minimal physical exertion.

Blood test reveals iron deficiency

Determination of a blood value is often not sufficient

In order to detect iron deficiency before these limiting symptoms occur, it is important to have the condition of the iron stores checked regularly by a specialist. "It is only when these are empty that the Hb value slowly falls, ie the onset of anemia cannot be ruled out with a normal Hb value. The Hb value therefore reacts with a delay to iron deficiency and does not indicate the current iron status," explains Dr. Lunow.

In order to be able to diagnose iron deficiency at an early stage, the internist determines the so-called ferritin value from the blood sample in addition to the Hb value. From this value, the specialist can determine whether the iron stores are well filled. If this is not the case or if the Hb value is already low, the internist initiates appropriate treatment: Iron deficiency can be treated by taking iron tablets daily or, in the case of severe undersupply, by a one-off iron injection, which is nowadays well tolerated.

It is also important to eat a balanced diet and, for example, to regularly eat red meat rich in iron. It is also important to give emotional and physical Stress to avoid it as much as possible and to allow yourself to have periods of rest again and again. In this way, those affected will quickly feel their energy returning.

Provided by: www.internisten-im-netz.de