Do Low Iron Levels Cause Dizziness?

Iron is an essential nutrient that your body needs to carry out important daily functions. Iron is so important that the U.S started adding iron to food staples like flour and cereals in 1941.

But getting enough iron isn't always easy, especially if you have a medical condition that can affect your iron levels. Low iron levels can lead to a host of symptoms, including dizziness. 

Here’s how low iron levels can lead to dizziness and what to do about it.

Can low iron cause dizziness?

Yes, low iron levels can lead to dizziness. But low iron levels alone won’t cause dizziness.

Low iron levels can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, because your body needs iron to make red blood cells. And it’s the anemia that causes people to feel dizzy.

Red blood cells carry oxygen to every part of your body. Fewer red blood cells means that your organs don’t get all the oxygen they need to function. People with anemia can feel tired and sluggish, which can sometimes lead to dizziness. 

Another reason you might feel dizzy has to do with how your body tries to compensate for low oxygen levels. To get as much oxygen to the body as possible, the heart starts beating faster.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?

Most people don’t have any symptoms from iron deficiency by itself. But once iron deficiency leads to anemia, people start experiencing symptoms like:

• Feeling tired or sluggish

• Brain fog or difficulty thinking

• Headaches

• Feeling cold all the time

• Lightheadedness

• Rapid heartbeat and palpitations

• Brittle nails and other nail changes

• Hair loss 

• Pale skin color

Children who have low iron levels or anemia also start having trouble at school. Studies show that iron deficiency, even without anemia, can lead to difficulty learning.

What causes iron levels to drop?

There are many reasons iron levels can drop. But most of the time, the cause comes down to one of the four things listed below.

How do you treat iron deficiency?

Most people don’t know they have iron deficiency until they have their iron levels checked with a blood test. 

Talk with your healthcare team if you think you could have low iron levels or anemia. They can order blood work to check for both. They may order additional tests to look for reasons why you might have iron deficiency.

Treatment depends on what’s causing your low iron levels. But in general, most people with low iron levels or iron-deficiency anemia need the following:

• More iron in their diet: It’s important to eat more iron-rich foods if you have low iron levels or iron-deficiency anemia. Iron-rich foods include meat, seafood, soy, lentils, spinach, and iron-enriched cereals. For kids, it’s also a good idea to limit foods that are low in iron. Experts recommend limiting milk intake to 24 oz per day and avoiding cow’s milk before age 1.

• Medication changes: You may need to switch medications if you’re taking a medication that can stop your body from absorbing iron. But remember: Don’t stop taking medications until you’ve discussed this with your healthcare team.

• Iron supplements: Iron supplements are oral pills you take to increase your iron levels. Most people need to take supplements for at least a few months. 

• Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. Drinking half a cup of orange juice with your iron supplements or while eating iron-rich foods can boost your iron absorption.

How to prevent iron deficiency

You can prevent iron deficiency by doing the following:

• Eating iron-rich foods: Add a variety of iron-rich foods to your daily diet. Getting enough iron in your diet is the best way to prevent iron deficiency.

• Taking supplements if you need them: It’s best to get your daily iron intake from food rather than supplements. But if you need extra iron each day, you may not be able to get enough from food alone. Iron supplements can help you meet your daily iron goals. Follow your healthcare team’s instructions on dosing for your specific supplement. Not all iron supplements are the same, and some people need more iron than others.

• Getting treatment for conditions that can cause anemia: Getting treatment for medical conditions that can lead to anemia can help you avoid low iron levels. Stay up-to-date with healthcare visits and follow your care plan. 

When to seek care for dizziness

Dizziness can sometimes be a sign of a more serious medical condition. You should seek medical care right away if you experience dizziness along with any of the following:

• Chest pain or pressure

• Shortness of breath

• Fainting or loss of consciousness

• Severe headache

• Trouble speaking, seeing, or understanding speech

• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body

• A fast or irregular heartbeat

• Severe vomiting or inability to keep fluids down

• Confusion

• Difficulty staying awake

These symptoms can signal conditions like: 

• Heart problems

• Stroke

• Dehydration

• Serious infections

They should be evaluated as soon as possible.

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Written by:

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, PhD

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been practicing anesthesiology in a community hospital for 30 years. He has taught in the honors program at George Washington University for over 10 years and works as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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