Anaemia and anxieety: Hello all - has anyone... - Anxiety Support

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Anaemia and anxieety

Stells profile image
4 Replies

Hello all - has anyone else discovered that low iron can give lots of symptoms similar to anxiety? Doc did a blood test and discovered I am borderline anaemic so am now on iron tabs. I think I may have been for many years which could have given lots of the symptoms which were always put down to anxiety - light-headed, palpitations, low energy, general anxiety. I even found a mention that low iron levels can affect the levels of serotonin in the brain. Wonder how many people are on anti-depressants who should be on iron tabs? It's early days but I am not getting as many horrid symptoms as a couple of months ago.

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Stells profile image
Stells
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4 Replies

Hi Stells

I have heard that low iron can make you feel as you describe , there could be something in it

I no mine is ok though , but worth having it tested if you are not sure

You will have to let us no , how you feel , if the symptoms get better , as you take them

Everyone will be running of for a blood test , if you say you do feel well ;-)

Love

whywhy

xxx

Regalbirdy profile image
Regalbirdy

Hi Stells,

Sorry for those who have already read something similar from me before - here I go again:

Anaemia can be a symptom of gluten intolerance; so can palpitations; so can depression and anxiety; so can neurological problems; so can low energy and tiredness. I read somewhere that 90% of all serotonin is made in the gut. Many people also have have a dodgy stomach or heartburn when they are gluten sensitive but this does not necessarily have to be the case. However it is common for gluten to cause damage to the guts, affecting the absorption of essential nutrients, including iron.

If the GP does not know the reason for your iron anaemia, please go and get a blood test for gluten sensitivity and coeliac disease. Anaemia should not be a diagnosis in itself - it is usually caused by something else. When I had iron anaemia years ago, they put it down to me being a vegetarian - I found out last year I am a coeliac! GPs should be routinely testing for gluten sensitivity in cases of unexplained anaemia and many often don't.

Years later, I am left sorting out my depression, anxiety and other issues because nobody thought to test me for gluten sensitivity (and I did not know to ask).

So the moral of the story: please ask/suggest to your GP that you should be tested. If you do choose to go down this route, do not stop eating gluten until all tests are completed - it messes up the results.

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.

alicia_92 profile image
alicia_92

Hello Stells :)

Thank you for your post, it's made me think a lot. A few years ago I was diagnosed with anaemia, and was put on iron supplements which improved my energy levels a lot. I've been off them for a few years now as I thought it had gotten better and there was no need to take them any more. However this may be part of why my anxiety and worrying has gotten worse over the past year... might be something to talk about to my doctor soon.

Hope you feel better soon, and thank you x

Stells profile image
Stells

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post about anaemia. I am hoping the iron tabs will do the trick but there seem to be so many different things to take into consideration. I shall certainly think about the gluten aspect, although I am lucky I don't get many problems with my stomach. The next blood test is the beginning of July; fingers crossed!

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