Fatigue and neurocognitive symptoms often raise a suspicion of depression. Furthermore, headache and muscle and joint pain associated with iron deficiency are repeatedly considered migraine and fibromyalgia syndrome, respectively 3, 19.
Low iron levels are commonly found in individuals who have fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, and chronic muscle pain. The American Society of Hematology has suggested that people with iron deficiencies may experience trigger point pain in their muscles that results from a lack of oxygen being delivered to them.
In addition to nerve-related pain, low iron also causes muscles to fatigue easier due to a lack of sustained oxygenation of muscle (the myoglobulin protein that holds oxygen in muscle is iron dependent), in turn causing muscle pain4.
People with mild or moderate iron-deficiency anemia may not have any symptoms. More serious iron-deficiency anemia may cause common symptoms of anemia, such as tiredness, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
Wilson et al. reported that patients with RA and anemia have more severe joint symptoms, such as joint swelling, pain, and tenderness [7]. However, when anemia is successfully treated, joint symptoms are likely to improve from the treatment [7].
A deficiency in magnesium is most likely to cause muscle stiffness because this nutrient is needed to keep muscles flexible and moving efficiently, as well as relaxed.
Severe anemia may cause painful lower leg cramps during exercise, shortness of breath, and chest pain, especially if people already have impaired blood circulation in the legs or certain types of lung or heart disease.
Some people suffering from an iron deficiency get the symptoms of restless legs syndrome. Restless legs syndrome is a neurological disorder that gives sufferers an irresistible urge to move their legs. “People may experience sharp pains, or numbness and tingling in their legs,” says Dr.
When iron 'gets in' to the joints, regardless of venesection, it can't 'get out', which means the joint and joint tissues cannot heal. This is why early detection is so important. Joint damage from haemochromatosis does not tend to disappear – it's degenerative, even if iron levels return to normal with treatment.
Taking too much iron can lead to iron overload. Extra iron in your blood can be toxic to the liver, heart, and pancreas and may cause damage to the joints, as well.
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.
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.
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.
Indeed, iron deficiency may act through fatigue leading to a lower functional performance. On the other hand, older individuals with iron deficiency may be less active, which results in muscular weakness and decline of muscle strength due to disuse.
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.
A sudden lack of energy and chronic fatigue are warning signs that you might be lacking enough iron. In order for all of the cells in your body to function efficiently, oxygen needs to be able to travel freely around the body.
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.
Muscle stiffness often arises after changing exercise routines, overusing muscles, or being physically inactive for long periods of time. Otherwise, muscle stiffness can be caused by an underlying condition, including myopathy, neuromuscular disorders, and neurologic disorders.
Sitting for long periods of time can cause your blood flow to slow down which may lead to stiffness in your muscles.
Magnesium contributes to flexibility and helps to prevent injury by loosening tight muscles. Without enough magnesium, muscles can't properly relax, possibly causing cramps. Low magnesium can create a buildup of lactic acid, known to cause post-workout pain and tightness.
If you don't have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin, your organs don't get enough oxygen. Left untreated, anemia can cause extreme fatigue and weakness. Though anemia doesn't cause the joint pain experienced with RA, other symptoms include headaches, pale skin, shortness of breath, and a rapid heartbeat.
So what does anemia have to do with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other forms of inflammatory arthritis? A lot, actually. A research review published in the American Journal of Medicine found anemia can occur in up to 60 percent of RA patients.
Key Points. Acute pain in multiple joints is most often due to inflammation, gout, or the beginning or flare up of a chronic joint disorder. Chronic pain in multiple joints is usually due to osteoarthritis or an inflammatory disorder (such as rheumatoid arthritis) or, in children, juvenile idiopathic arthritis.