Tired, all the time: Iron deficiency

You are tired all the time. No matter what you do you just can’t stop yawning and it affects your mood. Why should you be anywhere but the bed?

Some people call it laziness or tell you ‘you sleep too late.’

Iron deficiency anaemia is simply a low level of red blood cells in your body due to a lack of iron. This means that your body is not getting the oxygen it needs to function properly, as iron is needed to produce haemoglobin, which carries oxygen to your body.

If you happen to be found iron deficient by your GP, you will be prescribed iron supplements 

And don’t worry you are in safe hands as all iron-based medicines will be on the British National Formulary, which is also available online if you would like to look up iron medicines.

Signs of iron deficiency

Those who struggle with iron deficiency tend to deal with several side effects, such as:

• Fatigue
• Cold hands and feet
• Brittle nails
• Weak hair strands
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath 

Another sign of iron deficiency is the desire to eat things that aren’t classified as food, so if you enjoy chewing ice, paper, or anything that is not, you could very well be iron deficient.

So if you believe that you have anaemia, do not despair, make an appointment with your doctor and they will prescribe you some iron tablets to take. And if you can’t wait, know that retailers like Amazon and Holland & Barrett sell iron tablets. 

It is advised, however, to wait for a doctor’s appointment as iron tablets (ferrous fumarate)

 have many side effects including:

• Nausea
• Grey poo
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Losing appetite

Once you have been approved to take iron tablets, follow the instructions, and take them on an empty stomach, wait at least an hour before taking them. 

Take one tablet 2-3 times a day for the best effects. 

Make sure to not have tea or coffee for 2 hours after taking the tablets.

Pregnant and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant, you might be advised to take an iron supplement. Similarly, if you are breastfeeding, taking iron tablets like ferrous fumarate could be beneficial.

Be sure to only take what is prescribed and follow the instructions that come with the tablets. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor if you have any issues or queries.

Iron dense food

For those who rather not take iron tablets, consider eating iron-rich foods. This is particularly important for those who are following a plant-based diet.

• Liver
• Nuts
• Pork
• Beef
• Lamb
• Seafood: salmon
• Spinach
• Wholemeal pasta and bread
• Lentils

Also, consider eating food that is high in vitamin C which will help you absorb the iron in your food better.

Food like:

• Oranges
• Peppers
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Potatoes

Heavy periods

If you have heavy periods (Menorrhagia)  it could be that you are also anaemic. But what counts as heavy periods?

 Heavy periods are defined as either periods that last over 7 days or periods that require you to change your sanitary products once every hour or more.

Those with heavy periods tend to lose most of their monthly bleeds in the first few days of their period.

A normal period will have a blood loss of 30-40 ml per month. Heavy periods will lose up to 80 or more ml per month.

But it is difficult to measure exactly how much blood you are losing each month. It is easier to look out for the signs like:

• Needing to use pads, tampons and period underwear all at once
• Staining bed sheets
• Leaking through clothes
• Blood clots
• Feeling like you can’t live a normal day because of your period

If you have a few or more of these symptoms, it is recommended that you make an appointment with your GP practice swiftly so they can help provide you with the right care and medicines to manage your heavy periods.

What they will likely do is check your iron levels, as heavy periods can make your iron levels very low.

Final thoughts

Iron deficiency is one of the most common forms of anaemia so if you are struggling with exhaustion, headaches, and coldness in your hands and feet on a regular basis, then you might just be anaemic.

But don’t worry- arrange an appointment with your healthcare practitioner so your iron levels can be checked. If you have low iron levels you will be prescribed iron tablets to take which will help you with the fatigue that you feel, as long as you take them regularly and continue to stick with them.

And if you are a woman with heavy periods, it is very likely that you are iron deficient, so make sure that you check in with your doctor to double-check. 

Equally, if you are pregnant and breastfeeding you will likely be prescribed iron supplements.

Make sure that you read the instructions and stick with the recommended daily dosage.