4. Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is defined as the incapability to get enough air to breathe and feeling tightness on the chest which can come suddenly or slowly. This may be related to serious diseases and is one of the common symptoms of having low hematocrit or anemia. As hemoglobin is responsible for enabling your red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body, low levels of it during iron deficiency means the inadequate supply of oxygen, especially on your muscles.
As a consequence, the breathing rate will increase whenever you do normal activities like walking as your body tries to struggle to get more oxygen. In severe cases of anemia, hemoglobin levels may fall to low and diminish the amount of oxygen delivered to all of the tissues resulting in low levels of oxygen to vital organs especially the heart that may cause cardiovascular complications over time.