Dr. Kahlen Pihowich, ND

Iron is important for your body. It’s an essential part of Hemoglobin, which is what helps your body transport oxygen to tissues. Hemoglobin is what makes your red blood cells so red when it binds with oxygen.

Paleness

Becuase low iron leads to low hemoglobin production cells can look paler than normal when your iron is low – if your cells look pale this can reflect your own complexion making your skin look slightly blue, yellow or grey, depending on your skin colour. Afterall it’s the red blood flowing through your skin that gives it a glow.

Fatigue

Your cells need oxygen to produce energy and without hemoglobin transporting it you can feel lethargic. Lethargy feels like your limbs are heavy, as your nervous system and muscles work harder to move you.

Shortness of Breath

Because your system is having a harder time getting oxygen to tissues, your body might compensate. You might feel oxygen hunger or shotness of breath with exertion, like when walking up stairs for example. Your body compensates in other ways as well.

Rapid Heart Rate

Another compensatory method your body uses is increasing heartrate, so the blood cells you do have can cover more ground and re-oxygenate quicker. This can feel like a fast heartrate, or even some heart flutters.

Correcting Iron Deficiency

Iron is tricky to supplement – the body often doesn’t want to absorb too much, even if it needs it, as too much iron too quickly can make inflammation or even infection worse so it manages how much iron it uptakes at one time. Iron from meat is already heme-iron and doesn’t seem to cause as much trouble in the blood and appears to absorb much more readily. Eating enough red meat can be tough though, so finding a good supplement for you could be a bit of trial-and-error; You don’t want it constipating or irritating your bowels, but sometimes it’s hard to avoid. There can also be bowel issues that make absorbing iron harder in a different way. It’s important to test if you’re uncertain – iron deficiency can lead to a type of anemia (not enough blood) but there are other things (B9 and B12) that can cause other forms of anemia. If you’re worried your family doctor can check your blood-iron ; ND’s can also do the same though the cost is out-of-pocket. A good ND can also help determine the best kind of iron for you and help correct any bowel issues that might be getting in the way. Pop in for a visit if you’re looking for help, I always love meeting new patients.