Is There Any Downside To Taking Iron Supplements
In addition to stomach upset and pain, constipation or diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting can also occur. Some of these side effects can be reduced by taking iron supplements with food. In addition, food can also reduce the amount of iron that the body can absorb. Taking iron on an empty stomach is recommended.
Why Do Low Iron Levels Result In Fewer Red Blood Cells
The bone marrow needs iron, a naturally occurring metal, to produce hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin carries oxygen and is found in red blood cells.
Not enough hemoglobin means symptoms of anemia.
A blood test will determine if you have a low red blood cell count.
If so, your doctor will then seek out to find the cause and treatment.
In the meantime, your heart palpitations may also be caused by anxiety or even excessive caffeine intake.
Dr. Tavels medical research includes over 125 publications, editorials and book reviews in peer-reviewed national medical journals. He was formerly director of the cardiac rehabilitation program at St. Vincent Hospital in Indiana. mortontavel.com
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Side Effects Of Too Much Iron
Too much iron in blood can cause bothersome symptoms like extreme tiredness, headache and nausea. With the passage of time, abnormally high blood iron levels can negatively affect the heart, liver and the pancreas.
Too much iron in blood can cause bothersome symptoms like extreme tiredness, headache and nausea. With the passage of time, abnormally high blood iron levels can negatively affect the heart, liver and the pancreas.
Did You Know?Excess alcohol consumption and daily meals high in red meat or vitamin C rich foods are some of the primary contributory factors that raise the risk of iron overload. As the saying goes, everything when in excess is bad, so is iron. Although abnormally high levels of iron has often been attributed to excessive intake of dietary iron, it is not the case always. People afflicted with hemochromatosis may also show surplus iron build up, despite following a well-balanced healthy diet. In hemochromatosis, the small intestine tends to absorb more than normal amounts of iron from the ingested food. The excess iron absorbed, then gets deposited in the vital organs of the body, which is a cause for concern.
Iron Overload Side Effects
Initially the symptoms are not worrisome but as the iron levels keep on increasing, symptoms become serious. They are discussed below:
- Fatigue
- Poor sex drive
Read Also: How To Find Thrz
Potassium Consumptionand Heart Palpitations
According to Harvard Health Publishing and the Food and Drug Administration, potassium and magnesium both help your body maintain a healthy, normal heart rhythm. Both insufficient and excessive amounts of these nutrients can cause cardiac side effects, like heart palpitations.
Most adults need to consume between 2,600 and 3,400 milligrams of potassium on a daily basis. This nutrient can be found in various legumes and beans, fruits, vegetables and animal products. You can obtain large amounts of potassium from sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, soy products, dairy products and a variety of herbs, including cilantro, chervil and parsley.
However, most people don’t get enough potassium. The Food and Drug Administration considers this mineral to be a nutrient of concern.
Insufficient potassium can result in hypokalemia. Mild hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness and gastrointestinal side effects, while moderate to severe hypokalemia can cause kidney and heart-related issues, including heart palpitations and arrhythmias. People with pre-existing kidney and heart issues are particularly prone to these side effects.
Read more:10 Heart Healthy Foods That Aren’t
Blood Tests For Iron Deficiency Anaemia
The GP will usually order a full blood count test. This will find out if the number of red blood cells you have is normal.
You do not need to do anything to prepare for this test.
Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia. There are other types, like vitamin B12 and folate anaemia, that the blood test will also check for.
You May Like: Can Flonase Cause Heart Palpitations
What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Iron Tablets
Iron is an essential mineral your body needs to produce hemoglobin, which is a red blood cell protein responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs to other parts of your body. Iron also plays a significant role in hormone production and the overall of your nervous system.
When your body doesnt have enough iron this can lead to iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. The reduced amount of oxygen in your body can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations and headache.
Taking supplements in the form of iron salts and iron pills can help your body maintain healthy levels of iron. Iron supplements are generally safe if taken as advised by your doctor, and the dosage varies depending on how severe your condition is.
The most common side effects associated with iron supplements include:
Labels On The Bottles Promise Better Health But These Supplements May Wind Up Hurting You
Keeping your heart healthy requires a combination of strategies, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress. Adding a dietary supplement may seem like another means of protection.
But be careful. Unlike prescription medications, supplements are often sold without evidence that they work or they’re safe. There’s no way to know what’s really inside pills or potions, since the FDA doesn’t evaluate whether the manufacture of supplements is high quality, such as whether the pills are free from impurities. The following supplements may pose heart risks.
Also Check: Can Ibs Cause Heart Palpitations
Signs Of Iron Deficiency: Fatigue Paleness Heart Issues
There areseveral vitamins and minerals the body needs for day-to-day life, and one ofthe most important here is iron. Playing a role in hemoglobin production, whichallows red blood cells to properly move oxygen around your body, iron must beat the proper levels and if its not, there are several health risks that mayarise, particularly for pregnant women or certain other situations.
At PharmicsInc., were happy to offer a range of chewable iron supplements, liquid iron supplements and several other optionsfor those dealing with any kind of iron deficiency, which is the most commonnutritional deficiency in the world among people. Were also here to offergeneral expertise on dealing with iron deficiency, including one of the mostimportant facets of this conversation: Identifying the presence of low ironlevels to begin with. Luckily, there are several signs that often indicate aniron deficiency, which well go over in this two-part blog.
How Serious Is Being Anemic
Anemia if not treated for a long period can lead to serious complications. These include heart failure, severe weakness and poor immunity. Anemia is a medical condition in which the person does not have enough red blood cells or RBCs. The RBCs in the blood carry iron a specialized protein called hemoglobin.
Don’t Miss: How To Calculate Target Heart Rate Zone
What About Calcium Supplements And Heart Health
Calcium is crucial for heart, bone, dental, nerve, and blood health. Men and women ages 50 or older need between 1,000 and 1,200 milligrams per day. The best way to get the calcium you need is from food: dairy products, leafy greens, calcium-fortified orange juice, canned sardines and salmon, almonds, edamame, tofu, winter squash. Most people can get at least 700 mg a day from food, and many get more. If you take a calcium pill to supplement what you get in your diet, a low-dose pill will suffice for most people.
Calcium supplements made headlines in recent years for a potential link to heart disease and heart attack. However, recent authoritative evaluations of the evidence have found no relationship between calcium supplements and the risk for heart attack, stroke, or premature death.
That doesn’t mean you can have as much calcium as you want. Consuming too much can lead to hypercalcemia, an above-normal level of calcium in the blood that causes nausea, vomiting, confusion, and other neurological symptoms. Excessive calcium supplement intake has been associated with a higher risk for kidney disease and aggressive prostate cancer.
Magnesium Deficiency And Palpitations
Magnesium deficiency and palpitations: A magnesium deficiency is difficult to test through blood work. I find that even if the serum magnesium or RBC magnesium are within the reference range some patients still benefits from taking a magnesium supplement. If there are other magnesium deficiency symptoms occurring such as calf cramping and muscle spasms you should consult with your MD or ND to determine which type of magnesium you should take and what dose.
Also Check: Can Acid Reflux Cause Heart Palpitations
Magnesium Consumption And Heart Palpitations
Adults typically need to consume between 310 and 420 milligrams of magnesium each day. This nutrient can be found in a variety of fiber-rich, plant-based products. These include foods like legumes, beans, nuts and seeds. You can obtain large amounts of magnesium from foods like seaweed, hemp seeds, flax seeds, Brazil nuts and peanut products.
According to the National Institutes of Health, insufficient amounts of magnesium can result in cardiac problems like abnormal heart rhythms and coronary spasms. Magnesium deficiency also has the potential to cause hypokalemia or hypocalcemia .
Like potassium, large amounts of magnesium can also produce cardiac side effects. Excessive magnesium in your body can result in gastrointestinal issues, low blood pressure, palpitations and even heart attacks. Magnesium toxicity is rare, but when it occurs, it can result in death. You’re more likely to experience magnesium toxicity if you’ve taken magnesium-containing laxatives or antacids.
If Iron Deficiency Anaemia Is Not Treated
Untreated iron deficiency anaemia:
- can make you more at risk of illness and infection a lack of iron affects the immune system
- may increase your risk of developing complications that affect the heart or lungs such as an abnormally fast heartbeat or heart failure
- in pregnancy, can cause a greater risk of complications before and after birth
Page last reviewed: 29 January 2021 Next review due: 29 January 2024
Don’t Miss: Can Acid Reflux Cause Heart Palpitations
How Can I Tell If I Have An Iron Deficiency
Your body requires iron to make hemoglobin. That is a protein in red blood cells that lets them carry oxygen around your body. If your body doesnt have enough hemoglobin, your tissues and muscles wont get enough oxygen to be able to work effectivelywhich can result in anemia. Healthlines recent article entitled Signs of Iron Deficiency explains that while there are different types of anemia, iron deficiency anemia is the most common type. The signs and symptoms of iron deficiency vary depending on:
- the severity of the anemia
- how quickly it develops
- your age and
- your current state of health.
In some instances, people experience no symptoms. Lets look at some of the signs and symptoms of iron deficiency, starting with the most common.
Unusual tiredness. This is a common symptom of anemia. Without enough hemoglobin, your heart also has to work harder to move more oxygen-rich blood around your body, which can make you tired.
Skin that is paler than usual. The hemoglobin in red blood cells gives blood its red color, so low levels during iron deficiency make the blood less red. Thats why skin can lose some of its color or warmth in people with iron deficiency.
Headaches. Iron deficiency may cause headaches, particularly in women. While there are many causes of headaches, frequent, recurrent headaches could be a sign of iron deficiency.
- a dry mouth
- a burning feeling in your mouth
- sore red cracks at the corners of your mouth and
- mouth ulcers.
How To Take Iron Supplements Effectively
Here are some tips to ensure better absorption of iron supplements:
- Take them on an empty stomach. If this causes stomach upset, switch to taking them with a small amount of food to avoid this problem.
- Take them with vitamin C supplements or orange juice.
- Dont take them with milk, calcium-rich foods or calcium supplements, coffee or black tea. Its best to consume these 2 hours before or after taking iron supplements.
- Dont take them with certain medications like antacids, tetracycline and fluoroquinolones. Wait 2 hours before taking either one.
Read Also: Where Does Oxygenated Blood Enter The Heart
What Can I Do To Improve My Intake Of Iron
Its all very well discussing the symptoms of iron deficiency but the most important thing is how you go about treating it. In my blog, What happens when you are low in iron? I discuss the further ramifications of having low levels of iron but I also mention how you can go about easing the problem in a few easy steps.
Step 1 Improve your dietary intake: When it comes to iron deficiencies, often our diets are to blame. In recent years, vegan and vegetarian diets have soared in popularity and, while they can be extremely healthy, problems can arise if you dont know what youre doing. This is because iron is often found in meat-based sources such as beef, but this isnt to say it doesnt exist in plant form. Foods such as leafy green vegetables , pumpkin seeds and even substitutes such as tofu all contain a decent amount of iron. Beetroot juice is another option thats worth considering as beetroots are rich in vitamin C which can help to improve your absorption of iron.
Step 3 Consider a supplement: There are certain groups of people that will always be more vulnerable to iron deficiencies compared to others menstruating women are a key example, especially if they suffer from heavy periods. Thats why sometimes a supplement will be necessary but ideally, you want one thats going to be well absorbed and give you the right amount of iron that you need not too much or too little.
Swelling And Soreness Of The Tongue And Mouth
Your doctor might become suspicious that you have iron deficiency simply by looking inside and around your mouth. IDA can cause your tongue to become swollen, inflamed, and pale. It may also cause the skin around your mouth to be dry or cracked. You might also experience a burning feeling in the mouth or mouth ulcers.
Recommended Reading: What Caused Carrie Fisher’s Heart Attack
What To Do If Foods Cause You Heart Palpitations
First off, take note if you feel any additional symptoms, because those could signal that youre experiencing more than simple palpitations. Seek emergency medical help if at any point you also have:
- Shortness of breath
- Pain or discomfort in the upper back, arms, neck, or jaw
- Feeling of impending doom
If its the first time youve ever noticed heart palpitations, make a follow-up appointment with your doctor. Its likely nothing is wrong, but its always best to err on the side of caution and make sure that the food-related episode isnt the first sign of a bigger issue.
Next, start a log and record times when the palpitations recur. Note what you ate or drank and what sort of emotional state you were in. If specific foods or beverages tend to cause recurrences, take that as a sign you should reduce or eliminate those foods from your diet. Your body and your heart couldnt be telling you any more clearly that those substances are doing you harm.
About Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction in the number of red blood cells.
Iron is used to produce red blood cells, which help store and carry oxygen in the blood. If you have fewer red blood cells than is normal, your organs and tissues won’t get as much oxygen as they usually would.
There are several different types of anaemia, and each one has a different cause. Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type.
Other types of anaemia can be caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or folate in the body read more about vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anaemia.
You May Like: End Stage Coronary Artery Disease
Before Taking Iron Supplements
Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking an iron supplement it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you have any difficulty swallowing.
- If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.
- If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.
Signs And Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.
Iron deficiency occurs when your body doesnt have enough of the mineral iron.
Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen around the body.
If your body doesnt have enough hemoglobin, your tissues and muscles wont get enough oxygen to be able to work effectively. This leads to a condition called anemia.
Although there are different types of anemia, iron deficiency anemia is the most common worldwide .
Common causes of iron deficiency include:
- inadequate iron intake due to a diet that doesnt provide the daily nutritional needs or thats heavily restricted
- increased iron requirements during pregnancy
- blood loss through heavy periods or internal bleeding
Iron deficiency can result in symptoms that can affect your quality of life. These include shortness of breath, tiredness, and reduced concentration (
Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency vary depending on:
- the severity of the anemia
- how quickly it develops
- your current state of health
In some cases, people experience no symptoms.
Here are 10 signs and symptoms of iron deficiency, starting with the most common.
4 ).
This fatigue happens because your body lacks the iron it needs to make a protein called hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen around the body.
6 ).
Also Check: Can Acid Reflux Cause Heart Palpitations