5 signs and symptoms of Anemia that can occur without getting tested

Anemia is a condition in which one lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to our body tissues. The link is simple: our body needs iron to make hemoglobin, and if one is anemic, then the person does not have enough iron in his/her body. Being anemic can make you feel tired and weak and even cause shortness of breath. Now, anemia has numerous causes, including blood loss and decreased red blood cell production but the most common type is iron-deficiency anemia. Mostly it is diagnosed through blood tests but several symptoms shouldn’t be overlooked that might indicate you are anemic. (source: National institutes of health)
These 5 symptoms are the most common one to indicate that one is iron-deficiency anemic. (source: healthline)

The most commonly occurring symptom is being unusually tired or fatigued. Even after the body has had an ample amount of rest. This happens mostly because your body lacks enough iron to make hemoglobin. the protein present in red blood cells that transports oxygen. When your muscle and tissue do not have proper oxygenation, your level of energy decreases, so you feel drained all the time. If you experience persistent tiredness that doesn't clear up with rest, particularly when accompanied by other symptoms, it might be an initial sign of anemia.

Another noticeable symptom of anemia is pale or sallow skin. It is hemoglobin that provides blood with its red hue, so if you have less in the case of anemia, your skin might lose its normal color and look paler than normal. This paleness can be most noticeable on your face, inner eyelids, or fingernails. If others notice and you notice that your skin looks unusually pale or washed out, particularly in places that are usually normal skin coloured, then it could be a sign that you are anemic and need medical guidance.

Breathlessness, particularly while doing ordinary tasks or performing low levels of exercise, is one of the most frequent symptoms of anemia. With fewer healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen, your body might not be able to provide sufficient oxygen to your muscles and organs during exercise. You end up getting winded or breathless sooner than normal, even for walking short distances or climbing stairs, which is a major sign of anemia.

Regular headaches or dizziness episodes may also indicate anemia. With the lower oxygen-carrying capacity of your blood, smaller amounts of oxygen find their way to your brain, causing you to experience headaches as well as feelings of dizziness, particularly upon standing up or engaging in physical activity. If you have these symptoms all the time without some other obvious reason, it could be an indication that your body lacks sufficient oxygen because of anemia.

Palpitations, or the awareness of your heart beating with greater frequency or irregularity, may happen when you are anemic. The heart beats harder in an effort to make up for the decreased oxygen in the blood, and this may result in a perceivable quickening of the rate or irregular rhythms, particularly with minimal activity. If you notice your heart racing or missing beats without a clear cause, it may have something to do with anemia and should be further assessed by a health care professional.

Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these signs.