15 Causes & Common Triggers Of Low Iron (You Should Know)

Iron deficiency or low iron is characterized by insufficient iron in the body. This condition is most commonly seen in infants and toddlers between 6 months and three years old. Other common symptoms of iron deficiency include pale skin, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headaches, and shortness of breath.

Low iron may signify a more severe condition, such as anemia or liver or kidney disease in adults. Other symptoms might also appear in this case, such as dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin). If a person experiences any of these symptoms regularly or has other concerns about their health and well-being, it’s essential to consult a doctor for an evaluation. First, they may administer a simple blood test to determine if they are deficient in iron. If so, a doctor will likely recommend a supplement or multivitamin that contains iron.

Before going to the possible treatments for this condition, it’s essential to know some common causes of iron deficiency.

Heavy Periods

It’s important to note that low iron can be caused by heavy periods. Heavy periods are bleeding heavily enough to soak a pad or tampon every hour for several hours, with blood clots a quarter or more significant. 

Heavy periods are standard for anemia or low iron. The most common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding is the presence of fibroids in the uterus, which can be small benign tumors. They may be present independently or with other non-cancerous tumors in the uterus, called leiomyomata. Blood loss from heavy periods can also be caused by endometriosis, a condition in which tissue lining the uterus grows outside the uterus.

If a person experiences this kind of bleeding, likely, their body doesn’t have enough iron to sustain itself. The best way to treat this condition is by giving an oral iron supplement before bedtime each day until the flow has normalized. They should also consider eating iron-rich foods like red meat and spinach. Vitamin C can also help the body absorb more iron from foods, so try to eat a serving of citrus fruit with each meal.