Kaiser Permanente describes iron deficiency anemia as your body not having enough iron and as the most common cause of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia affects nearly 3.5 million Americans according to WebMd.com. iron deficiency anemia could easily go unnoticed by gamers because some of the symptoms-like fatigue-could easily be mistaken for excessive gaming.

Symptoms
According to PubMed Health, people who have anemia are more likely to suffer from headaches and/or difficulty with concentration. From personal experience the headache isn’t too bad, however concentration is extremely difficult. For me the concentration won’t improve unless I eat something with iron in it. People with anemia also feel easily exhausted or dizzy and may have a shortness in breath. Other symptoms include brittle nails, light headiness, pale skin, a sore tongue, and a drop in eye color tone.

Treatment
As the most effective solution, the Kaiser Permanente website (found in this link) recommends patients with iron deficiency anemia to take iron vitamins. However, they also recommend that you consult a doctor first, because excessive iron may result in iron poisoning and other health issues.

Prevention
A simple way of preventing iron deficiency anemia is to eat foods that contain iron, such as meat, vegetables, and whole grain (e.g. iron-fortified cereals). If you’re pregnant, you should talk to a doctor for prenatal vitamins as well.

Tips for Gamers to Prevent Iron Deficiency Anemia
Part of the reason many people get iron deficiency anemia is because of malnutrition. I know as gamers we could go hours without eating, and when we eat, the foods we choose might not be foods that are good for us. When you eat, make sure to eat foods high in iron such as potatoes and kidney beans. Snacks are also a big thing to have when gaming, so make sure to have some iron filled snacks when you’re gaming. Snacks like raisins, almonds, and apricots are filled with iron-and best of all, they’re not fattening!

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