Pale skin, along with fatigue for no noticeable reason, is one of the classic symptoms of Anemia, which results from the lack of enough iron in the human body. People who are required to bring out maximum output from their bodies are athletes, and fatigue is the last thing an athlete can afford.

Iron deficiency can occur due to various reasons, but only a couple of them are avoidable. Bad eating habits with not enough iron in your diet, chronic blood loss, pregnancy, and vigorous exercise are chief reasons behind iron deficiency.

In the case of athletes, they have to work out for multiple hours with way more intensity than laymen. This causes them to go through lots of sweating; also, the profession they are pursuing is likely to cause them injuries and gastrointestinal bleeding also, in a few cases. This can add up and result in iron deficiency as strenuous exercise, excessive sweating, and gastrointestinal bleeding are to blame for possible iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency is not uncommon among sports personas, female athletes especially get targeted by iron deficiency. Endurance athletes, owing to factors such as sweating because of exercise, hematuria, and gastrointestinal bleeding are also vulnerable to iron deficiency. These factors contribute to increased iron loss. Physical activity triggers hematological adaptations to fulfill the heightened oxygen transport demands and induces inflammation, which can hinder iron absorption after exercise.

What Iron Deficiency can do to Athletes?

Lack of iron in the body is likely to result in fatigue, decreased performance, struggle in recovery, with a higher risk of infections, causing panic overall. Iron absorption is carefully regulated to prevent toxicity, with hepcidin playing a crucial role. Elevated hepcidin levels, affected by exercise-related inflammation and circadian rhythms, can significantly disturb iron uptake. Athletes who are especially restricted by a vegan diet to a vegetarian diet are at even higher risk as nonvegetarian food options are rich in iron.

Screening Process

In order to diagnose iron deficiency and/or anemia, one needs to go through blood tests, especially the Complete Blood Count (CBC) test. To further confirm iron deficiency and anemia, levels of serum ferritin, iron, total iron-binding capacity, and/or transferrin and hemoglobin are measured.

One can have iron deficiency but without anemia, if ferritin levels are low (<30 mg/L) but hemoglobin levels are normal (>130/120 g/L in men/women); on the other hand, low ferritin levels along with low hemoglobin levels are known to identify iron deficiency and also anemia.

Low iron in an athlete’s body can wreak havoc, especially if he or she is supposed to have a competition or performance in the near future. Low iron triggers chronic fatigue and lack of cognitive functions too, and both are essential for sports activities.

Lifestyle and food habits are the first couple of things to pay attention to once you get diagnosed with Iron Deficiency. Supplements are usually advised to be taken for better iron absorption in the body. Apart from oral supplementation, athletes can consider intravenously/intramuscularly supplementation too.

For athletes, it is advantageous to include fish, whole grains, meat, and green vegetables in their diet along with food rich in vitamin C. Usually, a dose between 40–60 mg of elementary iron daily is given to athletes with iron deficiency.

Solutions

Very often, the nutritionist or doctor will suggest you consume a glass of orange juice or lemonade after taking the iron supplement since iron gets the best absorption results in combination with Vitamin C. Additionally, one should avoid caffeine if iron deficiency is something you fight with. Some of the supplements cause upset stomach, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Iron deficiency is becoming pretty common among sportsmen due to their lifestyle. However, anyone can face such a deficiency. Lack of enough Iron in the body stops you from functioning in your day-to-day life. Regular iron screening can help athletes keep an eye on their iron levels and prevent performance declines.

Iron deficiency can deteriorate an athlete’s strength, ability, and overall performance. Routine tests will allow early detection, thus enabling timely intervention and appropriate management.

By following scheduled iron screenings and taking supplements according to a doctor’s advice, an athlete can enhance his or her performance tenfold. With that, a combination of healthy food habits and the ability to tackle stress will do wonders for an athlete’s performance.

Have you ever found that even spending several hours in sleep has not given you enough energy to strike off even one activity from your to-do list? If that is so in your case, it is probable that you may have an iron deficiency that is well known to cause a lack of energy. Unluckily for many individuals, iron deficiency is much more common yet it hardly gets diagnosed.

There are millions of people suffering from iron deficiency or anemia. It is not so much of a disease that attacks you but sneaks up on you gradually, causing feelings of exhaustion, and even dizziness. So, what are the causes of iron deficiency in adults? Do you belong to that set of people that may get attacked by it? And finally, how to cure the symptoms?

Why Does Iron Matter So Much?

Before talking about why iron deficiency arises, let’s consider why iron is so necessary to us. Iron is necessary for hemoglobin formation, a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen to all of your body’s tissues. If your iron level decreases to lower levels, your body cannot transport enough oxygen to tissues. This leads to fatigue, weakness, and the onset of other wretched symptoms.

Here’s the catch: Our body cannot make iron. We have to get it from food or supplements. And if you aren’t getting enough or if your body isn’t absorbing it properly, you’re at risk for iron deficiency anemia.

There are several reasons for iron deficiency in adults. However, in all cases, it finally comes to one of these categories:

Blood Loss

Loss of blood is one of the leading causes of iron deficiency in adults, especially among women. Iron levels can drop considerably with heavy menstrual periods over time. And it’s not just menstruation — internal bleeding from ulcers, gastrointestinal conditions (like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) or even regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs– (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can lead to blood loss.

Even minor but persistent bleeding can cause a slow but steady loss of iron stores, making it difficult for your body to keep pace.

Inadequate Iron Intake

Are you not eating enough iron-rich foods? That could be a reason. The human body depends on dietary sources of iron, and if you aren’t eating enough, your levels can be reduced. It is especially common among vegetarians and vegans who do not substitute meat with other sources of iron, such as lentils, beans, tofu, or fortified cereals.

Foods high in iron include:

• Red meat, poultry, and fish
• Leafy greens (spinach, kale)
• Beans and lentils
• Fortified cereals and grains
• Nuts and seeds

Eating iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources (such as oranges or bell peppers) can enhance absorption, while too much dairy, coffee, and tea can diminish it.

Poor Iron Absorption

Even if you’re getting enough iron, your body may not be absorbing it adequately. Some medical conditions — like celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or previous gastric bypass surgery — can hinder the absorption of iron.

Certain medications, including proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) taken for acid reflux, reduce stomach acid levels, which are necessary for iron absorption, as well.

Increased Iron Needs

Pregnant women require greatly increased levels of iron to help sustain their own bodies as well as to act as a crucial building block for their child to grow and become stronger. Iron deficiency and/or anemia can develop rapidly if they’re not getting enough iron from their diet or prenatal vitamins.

Athletes, particularly endurance runners, may have increased red blood cell turnover and lose iron in sweat, and thus, may have higher iron requirements as well.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Anyone can develop an iron deficiency but some people are at greater risk than others. The following are the main risk factors for iron deficiency:

Women on Periods
Women with heavy periods face an increased risk from loss of blood month to month.

Pregnant Women
Iron needs are heightened by pregnancy. If not managed with iron-rich foods or supplements, deficiency can occur.

Frequent Blood Donors
Giving blood regularly can result in a low iron level if the body doesn’t have sufficient time to restore its iron stores between donations.

Vegetarians and Vegans
Because plant-based diets don’t contain heme iron (the type of iron that is easily absorbed, and is found in animal products), vegetarians and vegans must take extra care to monitor their iron intake.

People with Chronic Illnesses
Diseases such as kidney disease, cancer, or heart failure can affect iron levels, either by raising the need for iron in the body or reducing the body’s capacity to properly use stored iron.

Symptoms of Low Iron

• Iron deficiency does not always present obvious symptoms at first, but as it advances they may travel from this list and include:
• Extreme fatigue and weakness
• Pale skin (look at your inner eyelids — if they’re pale rather than red, chances are you’re low on iron)
• Dry cough and dizziness
• Cold hands and feet
• Brittle nails and hair loss
• Strange cravings (such as ice, dirt, or chalk—this condition is known as pica)

If any of this resonates, it’s time to have your iron levels checked.

How Is Iron Deficiency Diagnosed?

Iron deficiency anemia can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. Your doctor will probably test your hemoglobin and ferritin levels (a marker of stored iron). If they’re low, your doctor might suggest dietary changes, supplements, or additional tests to help identify the underlying cause.

Iron Deficiency Treatment Options

Iron deficiency is treated by increasing the body’s total iron reserves. If you’re diagnosed with low iron, these are steps to raise iron levels in an ideal way:

• Dietary Adjustments:
  Include iron-fortified food in your meals and increase vitamin C foods for proper iron assimilation.
• Iron Supplements:
  Your doctor might prescribe iron supplements but take these with caution as too much iron might cause digestive side effects or poisoning.
• Treating the cause of deficiency:
  If deficiency results from heavy periods, other illnesses, or digestive conditions, treating the cause of deficiency is needed.

Where to Get Help in Mississauga

If you suspect iron deficiency while residing in Mississauga, go visit a Family Doctor in Mississauga who can perform iron deficiency testing and start the treatment then and there. You can also visit a Walk-in Clinic Near Square One Area for easier/quick access. In the case of blood work, a TB Skin Test as well as a TB skin test in Square One at most clinics providing lab services.

Final Thoughts

Iron deficiency is not just about feeling tired, it can affect your overall health and well-being. The good news? It’s treatable. You can develop high energy and maintain a goal of good health by eating iron-rich foods, having knowledge of your risk factors, and receiving regular examinations.

If you think you might be iron deficient, don’t just brush it off! A blood test and some lifestyle tweaks can go a long way. Stay strong, stay vibrant, and get your health on—you got this!