5. Brittle Nails
The heart has to work harder to push blood to the extremities of the body in those individuals living with anemia. You may notice that your body feels unusually cold and you need to wear a sweater while everyone else is wearing a t-shirt. This feeling of cold is particularly noticeable in your fingertips and toes as circulation weakens in these areas.
Examine your fingernails and toenails for ridges and cracks. Low oxygen levels and weak circulation result in slow fingernail growth, as well as thin and cracked nails prone to breaking. Poor nail health is an advanced symptom of anemia and doesn’t frequently occur with everyone suffering from the condition.
You may notice that your nail beds are thin and your nails may even feel loose. If diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, consider purchasing a moisturizing lotion to condition your nails and skin. Your doctor will prescribe treatment for your anemia. However, it may take your nails some time to recover to full health.