Normally, while red blood cells circulate in our bodies, mature cells are destroyed while new ones are formed. Being iron deficient and having anemia are two slightly different issues. Anemia rather develops from iron deficiency and is an indication of a more severe stage of this deficiency. Now that it is known what exactly iron is and what role it plays in our body, the next step is knowing what exactly the symptoms of iron deficiency are. Several symptoms indicate a lack of iron in one's system.
Iron deficiency occurs in three stages.
The iron stores in the body are decreased but not yet exhausted. This stage is however an indication of low serrum ferritin levels. Hemoglobin levels are furthermore reduced in this stage. Im stage two, erthropoiesis occurs. This indicates severe iron deficieny.