Shortness of breath
It is not uncommon to find yourself struggling to catch your breath more often than normal when you have low levels of iron in your body.
Iron depletion in the body usually eventually results in low oxygen levels. This low oxygen levels deprive the muscles and tissues of the energy they need to function normally. As a result, even simple activities like walking or jogging require extra effort.
The breathing rate will increase as the muscles try to get more oxygen to meet the body’s energy demands.
Weird cravings
Some people begin to experience the urge to eat weird or innutritious things when the iron level in their body depletes. They may experience intense cravings for clay, sand, chalk, ice, or even pieces of old walls.
This onset of strange cravings is known as pica [6]. It can also happen to women during pregnancy when the demand for iron in their bodies increases.