Iron is incredibly vital to our bodies because it is used to produce hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to various body parts. Therefore, it is important to monitor if you have low iron. We may have anything from trouble focusing to fatigue and sluggishness when our iron levels are low. Women with heavy menstrual cycles are especially vulnerable, as are pregnant women and those who participate in strenuous physical exercise.
This is the one symptom that women should monitor to detect low iron
According to family doctor Dr. Stephanie Ooi, who spoke to the Mirror, iron is necessary since the body uses it to make red blood cells. Ooi argues that low iron levels are often overlooked, and many women are unaware of their connection to heavier periods. She suggests that minimizing fatigue due to a demanding lifestyle or winter’s longer nights and shorter days can help alleviate this issue. However, she advises that extended periods of exhaustion or any of these symptoms, whether they manifest separately or in combination, should always be looked into. Low iron levels can cause weariness, exhaustion, immune system weakness, and cognitive impairment, including trouble focusing and solving problems.
About half of the women who experience heavier periods occasionally and about six out of ten who experience them regularly say they tolerate the weariness and exhaustion. In addition to having a significant negative influence on quality of life, low iron levels can weaken the immune system and increase a person’s vulnerability to illness and infection if they are not treated, Dr. Ooi cautions. The doctor goes on to say that maintaining a balanced diet is crucial, with items high in iron, like red meat, pork, chicken, cereals, and dark green leafy vegetables, being vital.
Iron comes in heme, which is found in animal products, and non-heme, which is found in plants, beans, and nuts. According to Dr. Ooi, even those who consume a lot of foods high in iron may still be deficient since non-heme iron is absorbed at a much slower rate. Moreover, if a woman is worried about her period, she should speak with her family doctor, who will typically run a blood test. She normally suggests taking an iron supplement if her levels are discovered to be low. Constipation and stomach pains are two unpleasant side effects that some of these products may cause.
Low iron could be the cause of brain fog during menopause
A new study from the University of Oklahoma illuminates a little-known scientific topic: blood iron levels and their connection to menopausal women’s cognitive function. The results are encouraging for women who suffer from symptoms like brain fog. The study, which was published in the journal Nutrients, indicates that women perform better on cognitive tests when their blood iron levels are appropriate during the menopausal transition. Furthermore, having enough iron in the blood did not translate into dangerously high amounts in the brain, which have been linked to an increased risk of neurodegenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s.
To determine the amount of iron in the brain, the study team performed MRIs, analyzed blood iron levels, and evaluated behavioral measures of cognition. While not all of the women in the research had low iron levels, several of them did not meet age-appropriate levels. Measures of memory, attention, and cognition were all lower for the women whose blood iron levels were below normal. It is important to highlight that the amount of iron in the blood does not predict how much iron is deposited in a woman’s brain, according to a study by Wenger. Iron accumulation in the brain is a risk factor for conditions like Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, but higher iron levels don’t necessarily indicate more accumulation.
On the other hand, anemia and iron deficiency are not the same thing. Wenger stated that although low iron is a risk factor for anemia, there are other causes of anemia. However, iron deficiency testing is usually not performed on women who visit their OB-GYN, which could be a lost opportunity. Low iron levels can cause brain fog in menopausal women and can also lead to changes in vision. Iron is crucial for the synthesis of dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential for the eye’s basic signaling. Although iron supplements are not ideal due to gastrointestinal side effects, a small amount may be effective, and incorporating iron-rich foods into one’s diet may be beneficial.
