My experience with iron deficiency and hair loss
Sarah, a woman in her thirties, notes that she started noticing significant hair loss after a period of feeling tired and exhausted all the time. After undergoing medical tests, it was found that her iron levels were very low, which led to hair loss and weak nails.
On the other hand, Ahmed, a young man in his twenties, shares his experience with iron deficiency after following a strict vegan diet without adequate replacement of essential nutrients.
Ahmed noticed that his hair was falling out abnormally, in addition to feeling dizzy and having difficulty concentrating. After consulting a doctor, he was diagnosed with iron deficiency, and was directed to take iron supplements and modify his diet to include iron-rich sources such as spinach and lentils.
Another experience comes from Laila, a mother of two, who suffered from hair loss after giving birth. Laila explained that pregnancy and breastfeeding depleted her body’s iron stores, which led to significant hair loss. After consulting her doctor, she was advised to take iron supplements and take better care of her diet to compensate for the deficiency.
What are the symptoms of iron deficiency? And how is it related to hair loss?
Iron deficiency in the body reduces the production of red blood cells, which limits the amount of oxygen reaching the cells, negatively affecting their vital functions. This effect extends to the hair and scalp, which also rely heavily on oxygen to stay healthy. Thus, hair loss is linked to iron deficiency in the body.
If you notice that your hair is falling out significantly and continuously, the reason behind this may be iron deficiency.
feeling of general weakness
When the oxygen available to the muscles is not enough, this reduces the energy needed for them to carry out their functions, which forces the heart to increase its effort in pumping blood to the cells and muscles. This causes the person to feel extremely tired, have difficulty concentrating, and generally feel tired when doing any physical activity.
Pale face and skin
Red blood cells are responsible for the distinctive red color of the blood that circulates throughout the body. When iron deficiency occurs, the production of hemoglobin in these cells decreases, which negatively affects the color of the skin and face, in addition to the lips and nails that appear pale and tend to yellow.
shortness of breath
Red blood cells play a vital role in delivering oxygen to the muscles to enable them to perform their functions efficiently. When the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases, the ability of the muscles to receive the necessary oxygen is affected, resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of muscle performance.
In this case, the body responds by increasing the breathing rate in an attempt to get more oxygen, which may cause shortness of breath.
Head pain
When there is a lack of oxygen reaching the brain cells, swelling occurs in the small blood vessels inside the brain. This swelling puts pressure on the surrounding tissues, leading to symptoms such as headaches and head pain.
Heart rate (tachycardia)
When cells lack oxygen due to low iron in the blood, the heart works harder, increasing the heart rate to pump more oxygen to the cells, which can lead to a condition known as tachycardia.
hair loss
To maintain healthy hair and scalp, it is essential to provide adequate oxygen, as low oxygen levels can lead to increased hair loss. Iron plays a prominent role in this process, as studies show a link between low iron levels and increased rates of hair loss.
Other things that may appear with iron deficiency include developing symptoms such as restless legs syndrome, which causes nighttime cramps in the feet, as well as feeling cold in the hands and feet and having more difficulty fighting off infections.
How to treat the relationship between iron deficiency and hair loss
To prevent hair loss associated with low iron levels in the body, it is essential to include foods high in iron in the diet.
These foods include: red meat, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lentils, egg yolks, shellfish, sweet peppers, tomatoes and beets. For severe cases of iron deficiency, iron pills or injections can be used.
In addition, you should be careful to eat other types of foods to combat hair loss. These include foods rich in omega-3 acids such as fatty fish, seeds, cruciferous vegetables, and walnuts; foods containing folic acid such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, lentils, and whole grains; and those rich in vitamin B6 such as bananas, potatoes, and spinach.
Foods rich in vitamin B12 such as meat, fish, and dairy products should not be overlooked, in addition to foods rich in proteins such as eggs, soy products, and chicken. Also, some other foods such as safflower, licorice, and saw palmetto may help in this regard.
