Iron deficiency

Just for a moment, think of your body as a kitchen pantry. Most of it is stocked with food you use every day. But you also store items in there as well -- an extra box of pasta or can of beans to have on hand when supplies get low. Your body stores iron in the same way. It uses some of the iron it gets from food right away to make oxygen in the blood. But it also stores iron for times when there's not enough in your diet. Iron is stored in a protein called ferritin. And to see how much is stored in your body, your doctor might order a ferritin blood test. Doctors order a ferritin test if other blood tests point to a possible anemia, which can lead to a lack of oxygen in the blood. It can be used to check if there is too much or too little iron in the body. Doctors can also use it to diagnose restless legs syndrome and Still's disease in adults (a rare type of arthritis with fever and rush). Low iron could be the cause if you're: • Often feeling dizzy, weak and tired • Having headaches • Look pale You may also have strange cravings for licorice, chalk, dirt or clay. You may feel a burning sensation on your tongue. If left unchecked, low level of iron can cause heart failure (when your heart doesn't pump blood to your body as well as it should). It can also cause these symptoms: • Chest pain • Leg pain • Ringing in the ears or tinnitus A ferritin blood test can also help your doctor figure out whether your body is storing too much iron. High levels may point to alcohol abuse, infection, liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, overactive thyroid or some types of cancer. If your results are lower than normal, you have iron deficiency and possibly anemia. Your doctor may prescribe iron supplements or order more blood tests to figure out the cause. Higher than normal results mean your body is storing too much iron. Your doctor may adjust your diet supplements. Since high iron is a symptom of other medical issues, you may have more tests to pinpoint the cause.