5. Intense headaches
A headache can be a symptom of several health conditions or exposure to various types of substances. For example, a sinus infection, migraines, dehydration, or inhaling high amounts of toxic fumes are all things that can lead to headaches. However, low levels of iron can also cause intense headaches.
This is because your body needs iron in order to produce red blood cells. Those red blood cells carry oxygen to every organ, muscle, and tissue in the body, including the brain. If you aren’t getting enough iron, the blood vessels in your brain can end up swelling. This can lead to an increased amount of pressure in your brain, which can end up causing headaches. These headaches can be intense, they can occur frequently, and they can be recurrent. Many people associated these symptoms with migraines or other issues, but they are often caused by low iron.