It may take one to four weeks (after you start your iron supplement) before you start to feel better. Continue to watch your symptoms and take note of side effects. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your healthcare provider.
Iron pills typically start to work within 3 to 7 days. However, your test readings won't go up right away. Hemoglobin blood levels generally go up after 2 to 4 weeks. Symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and headache should start to improve during this timeframe.
Some signs that iron pills are working for iron deficiency anemia include increased energy, less weakness, and less shortness of breath or dizziness. However, since iron deficiency anemia does not always cause symptoms, people may not display any clear signs that iron pills are or are not working.
Iron pills don't work for everyone, but they do help support energy levels and reduce feelings of tiredness and fatigue. The body needs iron to produce red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body. If you experience ongoing tiredness and fatigue, consider taking an iron supplement such as Active Iron.
Extreme fatigue. Weakness. Pale skin. Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath.
3. The iron supplement should be taken with a full cup of water to make sure it does not get stuck in the esophagus. 4. To reduce the risk of reflux, the person should not lie down for 30 to 60 minutes after taking the iron supplement.
Tea, coffee and wine contain tannins that reduce iron absorption by binding to the iron and carrying it out of the body. Phytates and fibres found in wholegrains such as bran can reduce the absorption of iron and other minerals.
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.
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.
You shouldn't take iron supplements with milk, caffeine, antacids or calcium supplements. Try to take your iron supplement with vitamin C (for example, a glass of orange juice) to increase absorption.
Weight gain related to iron therapy is a common problem in female patients with iron deficiency anemia. Patients under iron therapy should be counseled in terms of weight gain complication and benefits of diet and followed up serum ferritin and Hgb levels to prevent prolonged iron therapy.
A large 2020 study in BMC Psychiatry found that people with iron deficiency anemia had a significantly higher incidence and risk of anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disorder, and psychotic disorders.
You may tire easily. You also may feel grumpy, have headaches, and have trouble concentrating. Most people begin to feel normal after a few weeks of taking iron pills. But you need to take the pills for several months to build up the iron supply in your body.
Iron supplements can cause side effects like dizziness, fainting, and hives. Too many iron supplements can cause long-term side effects like liver damage and heart disease. If you want to take iron supplements, talk to your doctor about finding the proper dosage for you.
Iron pills can change the color of your stool to a greenish or grayish black. This is normal, but because internal bleeding can also cause dark stool, be sure to mention any color changes to your doctor.
Pale skin Hemoglobin gives skin its rosy color, so low levels cause the skin to become lighter. “When red blood cells become low in iron, they become smaller and paler in the center so skin also becomes paler,” Murr says.
Inhibitors of iron absorption include phytate, which is a compound found in plant-based diets that demonstrate a dose-dependent effect on iron absorption. Polyphenols are found in black and herbal tea, coffee, wine, legumes, cereals, fruit, and vegetables and have been demonstrated to inhibit iron absorption.
Iron is a mineral that the body needs for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that provides oxygen to muscles. Your body also needs iron to make some hormones.
Avoid Alcohol Consumption
Not only anaemia but alcohol can also cause or worsen several other health problems and must be avoided. Drinking too much alcohol can result in anaemia, it can impact red blood cell production and maturation. This causes abnormality or dysfunction of the cells.
#2 – Low iron levels can often increase feelings of anxiety
Once this happens, your production of cortisol will increase and, correspondingly, your levels of melatonin, the sleep hormone, will decrease making you feel more awake and jittery – not ideal if you're trying to drift off!
A deficiency in iron has an effect on sleep quality, quantity and timing; iron also affects the modulation of REM sleep.
A lack of iron in your body can lead to several problems, including sleep issues. It can disrupt your sleep cycle and lead to problems like periodic limb movement disorder and insomnia. A lot of people tend to overlook the signs of iron deficiency or anemia, but it is vital to keep its level in check.