You’re not sick, you just lack iron

Do you ever find yourself with a handful of tasks to do for the day, only to find all your energy gone by the first or second task? You may think that your exhaustion is a sign that you may be catching a flu, so you take a painkiller or two and hope that the fatigue goes away. Except that it comes back, leaving you to wonder what exactly is causing you to be so tired all the time. Well, that extreme tiredness, weakness and headache could be telltale signs of iron deficiency.

Iron is your best friend

Iron is crucial in helping your body produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen around your body, giving you the energy and the brain function to do all your daily activities, while also providing your immune system with a boost to help fight infections.

People are considered “iron deficient” when the iron supply in their body is too low. This could be caused by the lack of iron-rich foods in your diet, chronic blood loss, or the body’s inability to absorb iron.

Anyone can be at risk for iron deficiency, but individuals who are most vulnerable to it are women, especially those of reproductive stage, children, and the elderly. Iron deficiency has a significant impact on one’s quality of life in a number of ways, such as decreasing physical performance as well as cognition. So, if your tasks require strenuous labor or brainpower, then iron is your best friend.

Here are signs to watch out for:

• Tiredness and weakness. This is the most common symptom of iron-deficiency anemia. Due to the lack of hemoglobin, your heart exerts more effort to move oxygen-rich blood around your body. This lack of hemoglobin also causes less oxygen to reach your muscles, depriving them of energy which is crucial in performing day-to-day activities.
• Susceptibility to infections. As mentioned previously, iron is needed for the body to strengthen its immune system, hence, iron deficiency will make you more susceptible to getting sick.
• Reduced mental performance. Iron continues to be important as it affects how well adults perform cognitive tasks; hence, iron deficiency may result in cognitive impairments, impacting attention span, intelligence, sensory perception, as well as those relating to behavior and emotions.

If you are suffering from these symptoms, you may take Sangobion’s Anemia Meter, an online anemia risk assessment questionnaire. But remember: do not self-diagnose yourself. It’s still best to consult your doctor if you suspect yourself to have iron deficiency.

Keep your day free from fatigue and dizziness, and your blood powered to win by taking supplements like Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+) and joining Sarah Geronimo in the 30-Day Power Challenge, where you can accomplish activities like exercising, eating healthy, and getting proper rest.

 If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

ASC Reference No.: P106P112521SS

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Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like Sangobion Philippines.