By I am collecting a “master list” of symptoms of low ferritin, because this is the list I wish I’d had when I first began Googling and investigating all of these symptoms. In fact, if I had happened upon a list like this TWENTY YEARS AGO, I might have known to ask for an iron panel, and someone might have informed me that I was walking around with a ferritin of 25 all those years, trying to lead a normal life.
Low ferritin (a marker of low iron stores) can cause a wide range of symptoms affecting various systems in the body. Here’s an exhaustive list of 100 symptoms associated with low ferritin levels:
🩸 General Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Low energy
- Lethargy
- General malaise
- Unexplained exhaustion
- Decreased stamina
- Difficulty waking up in the morning
- Feeling easily worn out
- Decreased motivation
🧠 Cognitive and Neurological Symptoms
- Brain fog
- Difficulty concentrating
- Short-term memory problems
- Long-term memory issues
- Trouble focusing
- Mental fatigue
- Slower cognitive processing
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Poor decision-making ability
- Difficulty completing tasks
- Sensory sensitivity (to light or sound)
❤️ Cardiovascular Symptoms
- Heart palpitations
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath (especially with exertion)
- Breathlessness at rest (in severe cases)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Feeling faint upon standing (orthostatic hypotension)
- Cold extremities
- Pale skin and mucous membranes
🌬️ Respiratory Symptoms
- Difficulty catching your breath
- Feeling winded after minimal activity
- Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
- Sighing frequently to catch breath
- Shortness of breath during sleep
🥣 Gastrointestinal Symptoms
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Cravings for ice, dirt, or clay (pica)
- Abdominal discomfort
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach after iron-rich foods
- Acid reflux or heartburn
💇♀️ Hair, Skin, and Nail Symptoms
- Hair thinning
- Increased hair shedding
- Bald patches (in severe cases)
- Brittle hair
- Dry hair texture
- Pale complexion
- Dry, flaky skin
- Itchy skin
- Bruising easily
- Delayed wound healing
- Spoon-shaped nails (koilonychia)
- Brittle nails
- Ridges on fingernails
- Slow-growing nails
- Peeling skin around nails
👅 Mouth, Throat, and Oral Symptoms
- Sore tongue (glossitis)
- Swollen tongue
- Burning sensation in the mouth or tongue
- Cracks at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis)
- Pale gums
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Throat tightness
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Dry mouth
- Mouth ulcers
🦵 Muscle and Skeletal Symptoms
- Muscle aches
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle cramps (especially at night)
- Joint pain
- Decreased physical endurance
- Muscle twitching
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
- Tingling sensations in the legs
- Achy limbs
- Back pain (in some cases)
🛡️ Immune System and Infections
- Frequent infections (due to weakened immunity)
- Slow recovery from illnesses
- Increased susceptibility to colds and flu
- Chronic low-grade inflammation
- Swollen lymph nodes (rare)
🌡️ Temperature and Circulation Issues
- Feeling cold all the time
- Cold hands and feet
- Hot flashes (in rare cases)
- Poor circulation
- Night sweats
Final Thoughts
Low ferritin can cause a surprisingly wide variety of symptoms, many of which overlap with other conditions. This is why testing ferritin levels is essential for an accurate diagnosis if you experience persistent fatigue, cognitive issues, hair loss, or any of the above symptoms.