What are the symptoms of low Iron levels?
The government guidelines are constantly adapting to the pandemic’s impact. More specifically, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme both in the UK and around the world, from 24 October fully vaccinated passengers and most under 18s arriving in England from countries that are not on the red list (and they have not visited a red list country or territory in the ten days before arriving in England) can take a lateral flow test, instead of a PCR test, on or before day 2 of their arrival into the UK. These can be booked from 22 October.
What is a lateral flow test?
Lateral flow tests give a quick result using a device similar to a pregnancy test. This involves rubbing a long cotton bud (swab) over your tonsils (or where they would have been) and inside your nose, or inside your nose only. The test kit itself is a hand-held device with an absorbent pad at one end and a reading window at the other. Inside the device is a strip of test paper that changes colour in the presence of Covid-19 proteins (antigens). Research shows rapid tests are more than 90% accurate. This means the chance of getting a false-positive result (where the result shows as positive but is actually negative) is extremely low.
Different industry sectors and different countries use varying terminology to describe what lateral flow tests are. Common names include:
- Lateral flow test (LFT)
- Lateral flow device (LFD)
- Lateral flow assay (LFA)
- Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA)
- Lateral flow immunochromatographic assays
- Dipstick
- Express test
- Pen-side test
- Quick test
- Rapid test
- Rapid antigen test
- Test strip
Rapid antigen lateral flow tests are highly convenient with just a 15-minute turnaround time, as well as the assurance that they can pick up moderate to high viral loads. Patients will have moderate to high viral loads about three days before symptoms start until between 7 and 10 days after symptoms start.
Lateral flow tests are now accepted for travel (while many international travel destinations still require a negative PCR test to travel abroad, some countries are accepting a negative rapid antigen lateral flow test for entry into the country – providing all other conditions and stipulations are met), as well as at most schools and workplaces.
It can also put you at ease immediately if you are worried about your health or those around you. Also, around one in three people that have contracted Covid-19 do not have symptoms. Therefore, a test that rapidly detects these otherwise hidden cases is a handy additional tool for tackling the virus.
According to Reuters:
“The government and health officials have said that rapid testing, via easy-to-use lateral flow tests, is crucial for tracking the spread of COVID-19, with regular testing of those without symptoms identifying around a quarter of all cases.”
Source: www.reuters.com
Test results
Using a lateral flow test is very straightforward. Follow the simple instructions you’ll find in the kit, and after 15 minutes, you’ll get one of the following three results:
Source: www.gov.uk
- Negative result: one line next to C shows the test is negative.
- Positive result: two lines, one next to C and one next to T, even faint lines, shows the test is positive. In that case, you must report the test result to the NHS, and you will get provided with a free confirmatory NHS PCR test.
- Void: no lines, or one line next to T, means the test is void. You will need to re-take with a new test kit.
How can Effect Doctors help?
The Effect Doctors team is working hard to keep as many people safe during the Covid-19 pandemic as possible. That is why we offer a range of tests, allowing you and your loved ones to stay safe.
At Effect Doctors, after conducting thorough research, we have identified the Flowflex and Healgen Lateral Flow Rapid Antigen Tests as the best ones on the market in the UK. They are FDA authorized, considered to be the most advanced lateral flow test in the world, have full Home Test Approval Granted in the UK & EU, are UK Government validated at Porton Down Laboratories, detect New Virus Strains, have a 98.8% accuracy rate, and are CE marked and ISO certified.
The tests are suitable for general testing and pre-travel (Fit to Fly Certificate), but please check your destinations on the government website beforehand as several countries still require a PCR test. You don’t need to send lateral flow tests to the lab for testing, and your results can be obtained in 15 minutes. The fast turnaround time of the lateral flow test is highly convenient, as you won’t have to make another flight cancellation/delay.
How it works
Our lateral flow test is easy to use and provides fast and highly accurate results. All you need to do is:
- Order your lateral flow test(s) online.
- Follow the simple instructions included within the kit package to complete the test.
- Upload the results of your test to our portal.
- You will receive your doctor-signed certificate within 12 hours (or less).
If you get a positive result from these self-tests, it is extremely likely you are currently infected with Covid-19 and risk infecting others. You must follow the information in the instructions for use provided with the kit. You must report your result to the NHS through one of the methods detailed in the instructions for use. When you report your result, you will be provided with further information on the next steps to take.
We strongly advise you to isolate yourself if you feel unwell (especially if you are around a high-risk individual), even after a negative test. Call us anytime if you would like to learn more about the test, the process and/or if you have any symptoms.
Here at Effect Doctors, we have streamlined the testing process to make it as easy as possible for you to get fast and accurate results whenever you need them. Follow the simple instructions and receive a doctor’s certificate within 12 hours. Couldn’t be any easier!
Order your rapid antigen lateral flow test here.
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Extreme fatigue and tiredness
Saxenda® is an injectable prescription medicine that, when used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, may help adults with obesity or overweight (excess weight) who also have weight-related medical problems
Initially approved for the treatment of diabetes, Saxenda contains the medication Liraglutide, a synthetic version of a glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone that works by slowing stomach emptying, increasing satiety, and reducing hunger.
It is delivered by once daily injections.
Weight loss from this medication was reported during trials:
- 63% lost at least 5% of body weight
- 33% lost at least 10% body weight
- 15% lost at least 15% of body weight
And 80% of participants kept the weight off at one year.
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Dark circles
This once weekly injectable medication contains, Semaglutide, a synthetic version of a glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone that affects appetite and hunger. In trials, 75% of patients lost over 10% of their body weight.
Like all GLP-1 analogues, it works by slowing stomach emptying, increasing satiety, and reducing hunger.
What’s the difference between Saxenda and Ozempic:
- Ozempic is a once weekly injection, rather than once a day.
- Ozempic has been shown to be mire effective in longer term weight management.
- At the moment, Ozempic is prescribed off-label for weight loss, as it is not licenced for weight-loss (only management of diabetes)
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Shortness of breath
Wegovy is the exciting new injectable weight loss drug, specifically targeting medical weight loss; it is a synthetic version of a glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone that affects appetite and hunger.
Wegovy is an FDA approved preparation of Semaglutide, licenced specifically for weight loss, which at present is not licenced in the UK. Approval is expected at some point in late 2022 or early 2023.
The starting dose for Wegovy, will likely be higher than Ozempic.
Like all GLP-1 analogues, it works by slowing stomach emptying, increasing satiety, and reducing hunger.
During clinical trials to evaluate the safety of Wegovy when used for treating obesity, participants without diabetes who were prescribed Wegovy lost on average, 12.4% of their initial body weight when compared to a placebo.
Ask our medical team about Wegovy today
Studies show you will lose about 5% of your body weight within 3 months
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Hair loss
Are you losing excess hair? It’s normal to lose about 100 strands of hair per day, but if you notice your hair loss is excessive and is not growing back, this may be a sign of iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency, especially when it develops into anaemia, can cause hair loss as hair follicles don’t get enough oxygen, they go into a resting stage, and hair falls out. It doesn’t grow back until anaemia is improved.
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Pale skin
Has your skin lost its healthy glow? Haemoglobin gives skin its rosy colour, so low levels cause the skin to become lighter.
This may be easier to detect in people with lighter complexions, but no matter what your skin tone, if the area inside your bottom eyelid is lighter than normal, this may be a sign of iron deficiency. This is often one of the first things a doctor will look for as a sign of low iron levels.
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Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances
This might sound like a strange symptom, but pica, craving (and eating) non-food substances such as ice, dirt, or starch can be a sign of iron deficiency.
Iron-deficient people may be tempted to nibble on chalk, clay, dirt, and paper.
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A tingling or crawling feeling in the legs
Can’t stop fidgeting? About 15% of people with restless leg syndrome have iron deficiency, according to John Hopkins Medicine. The lower the iron levels, the worse the symptoms.
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Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
There are lots of possible causes for headaches, but frequent, recurring headaches and dizziness could be a sign of iron deficiency. This symptom seems to be less common than others and will often be experienced with lightheadedness or dizziness.
An iron-deficient body will prioritize getting oxygen to your brain before it worries about other tissues. However, even then, your head will still get less than it ideally should, in response, the brain’s arteries can swell, causing headaches.
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Cold hands and feet
Ever noticed how some people always have cold hands? Often, this is simply a side effect of your body’s internal temperature regulation and not any reason to be concerned. Some people just feel the cold more easily in general or have cold hands and feet.
But chronically cold hands could be a sign of something more serious as Iron deficiency causes less oxygen being delivered to the hands and feet.
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Fast or irregular heartbeat - feeling anxious
Noticeable heartbeats, also known as heart palpitations, can be another symptom of iron-deficiency anaemia.
Haemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen around the body. In iron deficiency, low levels of haemoglobin mean the heart has to work extra hard to carry oxygen.
The lack of oxygen available to body tissues in iron deficiency may also cause feelings of anxiety. However, this tends to improve or resolve as iron levels are corrected.
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Swelling and soreness of the tongue and mouth
According to Healthline, just looking inside or around your mouth can give you an indication of whether you are suffering from iron-deficiency anaemia.
Signs can include a swollen, inflamed, pale or strangely smooth tongue. Low haemoglobin in iron deficiency can cause the tongue to become pale, while lower levels of myoglobin can cause it to become sore, smooth and swollen. Besides sapping the colour out of your tongue, low iron counts can reduce levels of myoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that supports muscle health, like the muscle that makes up the tongue. As a result, many people who are iron deficient complain of a sore, inflamed, and strangely smooth tongue.
Iron deficiency can also cause dry mouth, sore red cracks at the corners of the mouth or mouth ulcers.
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Brittle nails
Chipped and broken nails can be annoying, but they might also be a sign of deficiency. A much less common symptom of iron deficiency is brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails, a condition called koilonychia.
This often starts with brittle nails that chip and crack easily. In later stages of iron deficiency, spoon-shaped nails can occur where the middle of the nail dips and the edges are raised to give a rounded appearance like a spoon. This, however, is a much rarer side effect and usually only seen in severe cases of iron-deficiency anaemia.
Biotin is an essential vitamin that’s sometimes referred to as Vitamin H. A water-soluble B vitamin (vitamin B7) biotin is found naturally in various foods. It is an essential component of enzymes involved in metabolizing fats and carbohydrates, influencing cell growth, and affecting amino acids involved in protein synthesis. For this reason, Vitamin H is used as a supplement for brittle nails and hair loss.
Biotin and other antioxidants can also help you detox and renew for better immunity and glowing skin.
We also need biotin for:
- Processing nutrients from our food
- Energy release
- Healthy hair, skin and mucous membranes
- Normal nervous system and mental health
- It helps regulate signals sent between the cells in our body
Biotin is a vital vitamin that we can get through a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, but it can be produced naturally in your bowel.
Your body only needs small amounts to support normal function, so most people get the biotin they need from eating a healthy diet. There is some evidence that getting more biotin can help regulate your blood sugar, promote healthy hair, skin, and nails, and help pregnant people have healthier babies.
How much biotin should we be getting daily?
It’s recommended that adolescents and adults should be getting between 30 and 100 micrograms (mcg) per day.
Because it’s water-soluble, extra biotin will pass through your body when you urinate. Biotin supplements can, in some cases, cause side effects like nausea and digestive issues, but there are no known toxicity symptoms associated with too much biotin.
Although biotin deficiency is rare, the following symptoms can indicate low levels of the vitamin:
- Thinning hair
- Red, scaly rash around eyes, nose and mouth
- Conjunctivitis
- Brittle nails
- Skin infections and rashes
- Dry skin and eyes
- Depression
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, always speak to your GP to rule out biotin deficiency as well as other health conditions.
Who is at higher risk of biotin deficiency?
The National Institute of Health states the following groups may be at higher risk of developing a biotin deficiency:
- Individuals living with alcoholism – long term daily consumption of alcohol reduces the absorption of biotin, leaving people vulnerable to low levels.
- Smokers – who often have low biotin levels.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women – despite normal biotin consumption, pregnant and breastfeeding women tend to have lower biotin levels.
- Those living with chronic health conditions – chronic (long term) health conditions can often limit a person’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals properly, meaning that they’re not always getting enough of what they need despite their diet.
What are the natural sources of biotin?
- Egg yolk
- Organ meats (liver, kidney)
- Nuts, like almonds, peanuts, pecans, and walnuts
- Nut and seeds
- Soybeans and other legumes
- Whole grains and cereals
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
It’s always advisable to be seen by a doctor who can determine the risk of deficiency and diagnosis and suggest treatment or course of action that’s best for you.
Sources:
https://lloydspharmacy.com/blogs/vitamins-and-supplement-advice/benefits-of-biotin
https://www.verywellhealth.com/biotin-for-hair-growth-89236
https://www.healthline.com/health/the-benefits-of-biotin
