The many faces of iron deficiency

MANILA, Philippines - Women of today are part of the so-called the “slash” generation. From sister/team leader or mother/teacher/manager these multi-tasking women are entrusted with several titles and roles that require more of their time, energy and innate ability to nurture those around them.

But because of the demands of their careers and personal lives, women tend to neglect their own health. 

Our body needs specific vitamins and minerals to stay in tip-top condition. Although needed in minute quantities on a daily basis or in larger doses in certain instances, these essential substances ensure that all our systems work properly and remain in perfect balance. 

According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional disorder in the world, particularly among women and children. In fact, three out of every five women of reproductive age are prone to iron deficiency.

UST OB-Gyn department head Zaida Gamilla revealed that a lot of women already have symptoms of iron deficiency and don’t even know it.   

Iron is a necessary element for optimum health. It is a critical element for producing hemoglobin, a protein that helps red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout your body. Without it, everything suffers — and can lead to anemia. 

Signs of iron deficiency 

Feeling tired and exhausted: This is the most common symptom of iron deficiency, but also possibly the most difficult one to detect. 

“Because women are so used to doing a lot of work they often think their exhaustion is just part of their daily lives,” says Gamilla. 

“But if your normal level of fatigue is coupled with feeling weak, irritability or inability to focus, it may be due to the lack of iron. Iron deficiency causes less oxygen to reach your tissues, so your body is deprived of the energy it needs.” 

Paleness or Pallor. You’ve already put on makeup and lipstick and still people keep say you look pale. There is a reason why looking pale and sickly have been used interchangeably. Hemoglobin gives blood its red color so the lack of it deprives you of that rosy healthy hue. If the inside of your lips, gums and bottom eyelids are less red than usual, low iron may be to blame. 

Shortness of breath:  If you notice yourself getting out of breath doing things that you’d could normally do easily such as climbing a flight of stairs or doing your usual chores it may be due to iron deficiency.

Heavy menstrual periods: In women of child-bearing age, the most common causes of iron-deficiency anemia are heavy menstrual bleeding or blood loss during childbirth.

Tingling or a crawling feeling in the legs: About 15 percent of people with restless leg syndrome have iron deficiency and the lower the iron levels, the worse the symptoms. 

Headaches and dizziness: Because of the lack of oxygen those who suffer from iron deficiency anemia experience headaches and dizziness “To check if the dizziness is from anemia, while doing your work try to lift up your head, if you feel dizzy at the slightest motion then you may have anemia.

Other signs of iron deficiency also include anxiety, strange cravings for non-food items such as dirt, ice and clay; swelling or soreness in the tongue; cold hands and feet; fast or irregular heartbeat; brittle nails and in severe cases loss of hair. 

Sangobion Go Love Life!

“We need to listen to our bodies, when these signs of fatigue, paleness and lack of focus and energy start to show, it could be symptoms of iron deficiency,” Gamilla advised. 

As a necessary element for optimum health, iron is needed to supplant blood loss during menstrual cycles, cure bouts of dizziness caused by anemia, correct weariness and fatigue, help gain more focus and concentration, and aid in periods of gestation, lactation, pregnancy and periods surrounding childbirth.

Iron-rich food such as red meat, egg yolk, legumes and green leafy vegetables should be part of one’s diet. And for vegetarians who may lack iron in their diet she advised taking iron supplements. 

Sangobion helps restore the iron reserves in the body and unlike ferrous sulfate, it is more easily absorbed by the body and has a less metallic aftertaste. Sangobion also contains Sorbitol, a known anti-constipating agent since ordinary ferrous sulfate can contribute to constipation. What’s more, it contains vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B12, copper sulfate, and manganese sulfate. It also comes in a convenient chocolate-scented capsule. 

As part of its integrated Go Love Life! campaign, Sangobion organic iron furthers its iron deficiency awareness by letting women know the importance of taking good care of their health first in order to better take care of their loved ones. 

Sangobion is available in major drugstores nationwide. For details, visit www.sangobion.ph.