Monitor Your Own Health For Better Maintenance
By Tom Herrin
There was a time when people simply went about their daily routine, never really thinking about their personal health until they had a problem. Fortunately for all of us, things have changed. People are now able to educate themselves better about their own health. There are also many more things available to use to help maintain health. One of the simpler things to monitor and correct is low iron. When I was young, there was a lot of advertising used on products that helped add iron. Today, people are more aware.
Recognizing Symptoms Is Important
Knowing what to look for in iron deficiencies is a great first step in determining if they exist. The most common symptom is probably a lack of strength and/or energy. People who seem to run out of gas easily with no other likely cause are pretty good candidates for low iron problems, particularly if they previously showed no signs of such problems. The other symptom, though not as familiar, is confusion when doing mental tasks. If these two things show up in combination, iron deficiency should be considered.
What Iron Does For The Body
The primary role of iron is to help the blood carry oxygen to other parts of the body. The body uses oxygen to combine with food to release energy, much like a fire uses oxygen with fuel. If there is not enough iron, the blood cannot carry enough oxygen. Weakness or lack of energy will be apparent. The other function of iron is to transmit nerve impulses. Without enough iron, people may suffer from some confusion. This may be seen as dementia, but that's not the case at all.
Iron Is Usually Readily Available
A lot of things are available to the consumer without prescriptions. This obviously assumes that people are educated enough to make reasonable decisions about some things that were unavailable to them. Iron supplements can be purchased in many forms. People simply need to read and be aware of what they are taking. Iron is also available in many foods such as cereals. It is clearly printed on those labels. For a cheap way of checking your iron, simply go into a blood donation center or blood drive. They will stick your finger. If you are low on iron, they will send you away with information and instructions about your iron. If your iron is fine, you will be able to donate and help someone in need of blood. You will be able to monitor your health and help develop a good maintenance plan.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Salt Lake City, Utah.