3 signs of iron deficiency in women that even doctors miss

Iron deficiency, affecting a significant portion of women, often goes unnoticed. Dr. Mirdamadi highlights chronic fatigue, lightheadedness, and cold extremities as key indicators frequently overlooked by doctors. He emphasizes the importance of checking ferritin levels, the storage form of iron, alongside regular iron levels to accurately diagnose and address these symptoms.

1️⃣ Extreme Fatigue Despite Rest

😴 What Happens:

• Even after a full night’s sleep, you may feel exhausted, sluggish, or mentally foggy.

❓ Why It’s Missed:

• Often mistaken for stress, overwork, or hormonal imbalances.

🔍 Iron is vital for carrying oxygen in your blood. Without enough, your cells literally suffocate.

2️⃣ Restless Legs or Strange Cravings (Pica)

👣 Symptoms:

• Tingling, crawling, or an urge to move your legs at night (Restless Leg Syndrome – RLS)

• Craving for non-food items like ice, chalk, mud, or paper (Pica)

❓ Why It’s Missed:

• RLS is usually treated neurologically; cravings are dismissed as “odd habits”

🩺 Studies show that low iron is a major cause of RLS and pica—especially in menstruating women.

3️⃣ Hair Loss or Brittle Nails

💇‍♀️ Signs:

• Noticeable hair thinning, especially at the crown or parting

• Nails break easily or develop spoon-like dents (koilonychia)/

❓ Why It’s Missed:

• Often blamed on aging, thyroid issues, or cosmetic damage

🧬 Iron is essential for keratin production, which supports healthy hair and nails.

✅ When to Get Checked:

Ask your doctor for a serum ferritin test, not just hemoglobin. You can be iron-deficient even if you’re not technically anemic.