The absence of one of the minerals affects the body's ability to carry out its various functions, and some symptoms and signs that point to this can be seen. What signs of an iron and calcium deficiency are there? What are the causes of that, too?
Iron and calcium are essential minerals that the body needs in certain amounts to stay healthy, and deficiency often occurs slowly and leads to a range of health problems. What signs of an iron and calcium deficiency are there? What are the causes of it?
Symptoms of iron and calcium deficiency
When the percentage of iron and calcium in the body falls below the normal range, symptoms of an iron and calcium deficiency appear. These symptoms can vary in severity, with some being mild enough to go unnoticed or undiagnosed and others being severe and severe.
1. Symptoms of iron deficiency
Iron deficiency symptoms include the following:
- Feeling very tired and exhausted.
- hard breathing.
- Poor memory and concentration.
- Poor performance at school or work.
- Frequent infection.
- Behavioral problems in children.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat.
- Weakened immune system in the body.
- feeling dizzy _
- Headache.
- Difficulty maintaining body temperature.
- Brittle nails.
- Poor appetite.
- Irritability.
- Cravings for unusual things, such as: ice or starch.
Periodically checking for iron deficiency is crucial because a person with iron deficiency may not initially exhibit any signs or symptoms.
2. Symptoms of calcium deficiency
While the following signs and symptoms are indicative of a calcium deficiency in the body:
- Muscle pain and spasm.
- Pain in the thighs and arms when walking or moving.
- Hands, arms, feet, legs, and the area around the mouth all experience numbness and tingling.
- Arrhythmia.
- extreme tiredness
- Skin dryness and hair roughness.
- Brittle or broken nails.
- Alopecia, a condition that causes patchy hair loss.
- Eczema or dermatitis.
- Osteoporosis and thinning make it vulnerable to fractures.
- dental issues like tooth decay, brittle teeth, or inflamed gums.
- Mood disorder and depression.
Causes of iron and calcium deficiency
When the body's stores of iron and calcium decline for a variety of reasons, the following symptoms may appear:
- Causes of iron deficiency
The following are some of the main reasons why the body lacks iron:
- Not eating enough iron-rich foods, as the body works to store iron, but it cannot manufacture it, so the body gets iron from food, such as: poultry, meat, and fish .
- The body does not absorb iron properly, so that iron is absorbed through the stomach and intestines, and thus health conditions affect the amount of iron that is absorbed, such as celiac disease.
- The body loses blood, which leads to the loss of iron as well, so the body needs additional iron, and this may happen with heavy menstrual periods, and in cases of frequent blood donations.
- Causes of calcium deficiency
The following are some of the factors that contribute to the body's calcium shortage:
- Not consuming calcium in the diet over a long period.
- Lack of some nutrients such as: vitamin D , phosphorus, and magnesium, as they are factors that enhance calcium absorption.
- Some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Pancreatitis or blood infection.
Methods of treating iron and calcium deficiency
To achieve a healthy and ideal body, the amount of iron and calcium consumed must be increased, and the body must be fed enough of these minerals:
- Methods of treating iron deficiency
Among the effective ways to increase iron are the following:
- Eat iron-rich foods, such as: meat, fish, poultry, green leafy vegetables such as cabbage and spinach, and legumes such as beans and peas, in addition to grains.
- Taking medical iron tablets and using intravenous iron injections, especially for those who suffer from severe iron deficiency or chronic anemia, after consulting a doctor.
- Blood transfusions. Red blood cell transfusions may be given to people who have severe iron deficiency anemia or are bleeding frequently and profusely .
- Methods of treating calcium deficiency
There are several ways to boost the body's calcium levels.
- Adding more calcium to the diet, which includes: dairy products such as milk and yogurt, fortified cereals, nuts and seeds, in addition to some vegetables such as broccoli and spinach.
- Take calcium supplements in the form of tablets or injections, when the deficiency is severe or if food does not achieve sufficient results after consulting a doctor.