Iron deficiency is a common ailment among adults in the United States and can adversely affect those with poor health as well as those who are athletes and living a healthy lifestyle. If you are an athlete struggling with fatigue, body temperature issues, or complications involving sleep disorders, you may be suffering from common iron deficiency in athletes for which treatment is recommended.
Athletes, typically, focus on their health from not only a fitness standpoint but also a nutritional and spiritual standpoint. Even with the best nutrition, however, there is still a risk of developing health complications that can adversely affect the quality of life. If you have any health issues that may be reducing your ability to perform normal activities of daily living, or if you have had complications with iron deficiency anemia and hair breakage, it is important to seek out medical attention to determine if your athleticism may be adversely affecting your red blood count again.
In athletes, iron deficiency can be quite common due to the level of oxygen that is used in staying fit and working out. Because iron is necessary for the production of red blood cells, and for carrying oxygen through the body, most athletes need high levels of iron to get the right level of oxygen needed to work out. When conditions like anemia set in, there is a loss in red blood cell production, which leads to a decline in oxygen transportation in the body, and then a reduction in health. For athletes, this will manifest in symptoms of fatigue and lethargy.
To determine if you have complications associated with iron deficiency as an athlete, you can ask your physician to run blood work which will determine what your iron levels and hemoglobin levels may be. If you are found to be anemic, your physician can prescribe iron supplements, or you may be instructed to boost your intake via over-the-counter, slow-releasing, iron products.
Ultimately, as an athlete, it is important to reduce your risk of acquiring anemia and an iron deficiency by eating a healthy diet and one that includes foods high in iron. Getting plenty of green leafy vegetables into your diet will definitely work to mitigate this risk but, ultimately, athletes can be at a higher risk based on their fitness regimen. When suffering from lethargy and fatigue, ask your physician about iron deficiency in athletes and what you can do to resolve your particular symptoms.
