Iron Deficiency Anemia: Symptoms, Risk Factors, & Treatment
Iron. You know it as a metal—perhaps you first learned about it while memorizing the periodic table in high school chemistry class—but did you know it is also an essential mineral your body needs to function? Iron is used to make hemoglobin, a molecule in red blood cells that transports oxygen to your organs and muscles. And when you’re not getting enough iron in your system, it can result in some pretty crummy symptoms, from fatigue and muscle weakness to headaches and shortness of breath. “Iron deficiency is a major public health concern across the world,” says, Robert Eisner, D...