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February, 2026
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Samwel Mikaye: Signs of Iron Deficiency in Women
Feb 9, 2026, 04:02

Samwel Mikaye: Signs of Iron Deficiency in Women

Samwel Mikaye, CEO of SaMik Medical Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Signs of iron deficiency in women

Iron Deficiency (± Iron Deficiency Anaemia) — Clinical Signs

General / Constitutional

  • Fatigue, lethargy
  • Reduced exercise tolerance
  • Weakness
  • Syncope or presyncope (severe cases)

Cardiovascular and Respiratory

  • Tachycardia
  • Palpitations
  • Dyspnoea on exertion
  • Flow murmur (in anaemia)

Orthostatic hypotension (advanced)

Neurological & Cognitive

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Poor concentration
  • Irritability
  • Restless legs syndrome (common, often overlooked)

Dermatological

  • Pallor (skin, conjunctiva, nail beds)
  • Dry skin
  • Hair thinning / alopecia
  • Brittle nails
  • Koilonychia (late sign)

Oral and Gastrointestinal

  • Atrophic glossitis (smooth, beefy-red tongue)
  • Angular cheilitis
  • Dysphagia (Plummer–Vinson syndrome)
  • Reduced appetite
  • Pica (pagophagia common)

Immunological

  • Increased susceptibility to infections
  • Delayed wound healing

Gynaecological / Women-Specific

  • Menorrhagia or prolonged menses (common cause and consequence)
  • Fatigue disproportionate to Hb in reproductive-age women
  • Pregnancy:
  • Exaggerated fatigue
  • Increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight
  • Postpartum fatigue not responding to rest

Laboratory Correlates

  • Decreased Serum ferritin (earliest marker)
  • Decreased Hb (late finding)
  • Decreased MCV, decreased MCH (microcytic hypochromic anaemia)
  • Increased RDW
  • Decreased Serum iron
  • Increased TIBC, Decreased transferrin saturation
  • Normal or low reticulocyte count

Red Flags

  • Iron deficiency without obvious blood loss
  • Poor response to oral iron
  • IDA in postmenopausal women
  • Associated dysphagia or weight loss.”

Samwel Mikaye: Signs of Iron Deficiency in Women

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