Many of us may live a busier life than we would care to. We’re always on the go and trying to juggle a dozen things at once. So, feeling tired is normal then, right? Well, feeling tired after a long and busy day is typical, but feeling that you are constantly in a state of fatigue is not. In fact, chronic fatigue falls under my ‘triad of symptoms related to iron deficiency.’

Why Does Iron Deficiency Make You Tired?

Iron is an essential nutrient. Iron aids in producing hemoglobin which helps carry oxygen throughout your body (including to your muscles and organs). This means that when the body is lacking iron (or is in an iron deficient state), your body has to work harder to get the oxygen and energy it needs. This can make you feel sluggish and fatigued and, as you can imagine, this can impede daily function, performance, ability to concentrate, and so forth.

How Do I Know if Iron Deficiency Is Making Me Tired?

Chronic fatigue could be the cause of other underlying conditions (thyroid problems, diabetes, depressions, etc.). If you’re feeling tired all the time and suspect that it could be iron deficiency, it’s a good idea to consider any other symptoms you may be experiencing. Feeling irritable and having difficulty concentrating, along with chronic fatigue, are the 3 most common symptoms that point to iron deficiency.

Take a look at the Symptom Checker to determine if you’re experiencing any other symptoms related to iron deficiency to help you get to the bottom of your chronic fatigue. Visit your doctor (take the completed Symptoms Checker with you) to discuss your symptoms and potentially run some blood tests to make a proper diagnosis.

Get More Iron to Help Get Your Energy Back

Adding more iron to your diet can help combat chronic fatigue along with other iron deficiency symptoms, getting more hemoglobin and oxygen flowing efficiently throughout your body to help regain your energy and wellbeing. You can do this by eating more iron-rich foods (like lean meats, oysters/clams, iron-fortified cereals, and dark leafy greens). An oral iron supplement is also a good idea and something that your doctor or pharmacist can help you with as a preventative measure or for treating your iron deficiency.

Finally, since iron deficiency can be caused by more than simply not getting enough dietary iron, a visit to the doctor can rule out any underlying causes. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so talk to your doctor about your symptoms in order to take appropriate action.

Content and advice provided on The Iron Maiden is for information purposes only and should not serve as a substitute for a licensed health care provider, who is knowledgeable about an individual’s unique health care needs