In cases of severe anemia, the body may produce hormones that cause constriction of the blood vessels. This can lead to a rise in blood pressure due to reduced oxygen delivery throughout the body, resulting in increased strain.
Other symptoms of iron deficiency anemias may include:
low blood pressure (especially when going from lying or sitting to standing) sore tongue. brittle nails. unusual food cravings (called pica) such as for ice or dirt.
Low levels of hemoglobin prevent adequate oxygen from reaching the brain. Blood vessels swell, blood pressure drops, and it can result in headaches, neurological issues, and vertigo.
Severe iron deficiency anaemia may increase your risk of developing complications that affect the heart or lungs, such as an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or heart failure, where your heart is unable to pump enough blood around your body at the right pressure.
Iron is a mineral that's part of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs and throughout the body. If your body doesn't have enough iron, it won't get enough oxygen, and your cells (which are powered by oxygen) won't be able to function efficiently.
Iron-deficiency anemia may be suspected from general findings on a complete medical history and physical examination, such as complaints of tiring easily, abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin, or a fast heartbeat (tachycardia).
Thus, hypertension can just be a manifestation or symptom of severe anemia where the heart is forced to pump blood harder due to the increased demand for oxygen in the body to compensate for the low amounts of hemoglobin that carry the oxygen.
Eye symptoms of low iron can include a pale coloring of the inside of the lower eyelids. In moderate or severe cases of iron deficiency anemia, the inside layer of the lower eyelid is very pale pink or yellow instead of red. Rather than low iron, one common cause of blurry vision is dry eye.
Left untreated, however, iron-deficiency anemia can make you feel tired and weak. You may notice pale skin and cold hands and feet. Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Occasionally, it can cause chest pain, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath.
Hypotension is abnormally low blood pressure (lower than 90/60 mm Hg). If your blood pressure gets too low, it can cause dizziness, fainting or death. Low blood pressure is not a condition that is usually treated except if it occurs in the elderly or occurs suddenly.
In many cases, mild iron deficiency anemia comes on so gradually that you may not even know you're anemic. Symptoms of mild anemia are subtle and include feeling grumpy, weak or tired more often than usual and getting headaches or perhaps having problems concentrating.
There is no evidence to support that taking iron supplements increases blood pressure. In fact, too much iron lowers blood pressure. Medline Plus says that high doses of iron can be dangerous, especially for children, and can cause liver failure, very low blood pressures and even death.
Specifically, iron plays an important role in how your body makes the neurotransmitters called serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine – all of them important in mental health. Research suggests a connection between low iron levels and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, Levin and Gattari write.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.
The type of headache a person experiences as a result of iron-deficiency anemia can vary. Some people will experience a dull aching sensation throughout their head. They may also feel lightheaded or dizzy. A migraine episode will feel different.
Surges of anxiety can cause blood pressure spikes, but these are typically temporary. Over time, however, chronic anxiety can begin to have an adverse effect on someone's baseline blood pressure. We understand your desire to manage each of these conditions without the use of medication.
– It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks of taking regular iron supplements before your symptoms start to improve. – You may need to keep taking iron for several months to build up your iron reserves and keep your anemia from returning. Take your pills for as long as your doctor recommends, even if your symptoms have improved.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey describes iron deficiency in women as a low concentration of ferritin (<12 ng/mL). Diagnosis prompts consideration of the cause of IDA (usually, bleeding).
Untreated anemia can cause a rapid or irregular heartbeat. It also puts a lot of stress on your heart. Anemia lowers your red blood cell count. When you don't have enough red blood cells, your heart has to pump a lot more blood to make sure that enough oxygen gets to all your organs.
If you are having mild symptoms you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. You should call 911 or go to the emergency room if you are having severe symptoms or any chest pain, shortness of breath, or loss of consciousness.
Treatment for iron-deficiency anemia will depend on its cause and severity. Treatments may include dietary changes and supplements, medicines, and surgery. Severe iron-deficiency anemia may require a blood transfusion, iron injections, or intravenous (IV) iron therapy. Treatment may need to be done in a hospital.