Anemia is just one thing that Causes Fatigue

One of the causes of fatigue is thought to be iron deficiency, often referred to as anemia or borderline anemia. Most people assume that if they are iron deficient they are anemic but it is not necessarily the case. there are actually three stages of deficiency, anemia being the last, and any of the three stages of deficiency may cause fatigue, but often it is not the iron deficiency which is the cause of fatigue. However being that it is the most common nutrient deficiency world-wide, people often believe it to be the cause of fatigue and treat their fatigue with supplemental iron.

Symptoms of Anemia

Typical symptoms of anemia as well as the other two stages of iron deficiency are similar. They may include paleness, decreased tolerance to cold temperatures, low vitality or health and sometimes fatigue. also people with iron deficiency often report that they are unable to concentrate, learn and work. Extreme cases of anemia report symptoms such as sore tongue, confusion and dementia. Iron is needed to transport oxygen in the body, and also plays a role in metabolism and immunity. Additionally, iron deficiencies are more common in women than in men.

Any of the Three Stages of Iron Deficiency Cause Fatigue

As mentioned above, there are actually 3 stages of iron deficiency. the first stage of deficiency is the result of your ferritin being low. Ferritin is the storage form of iron – the iron in your bone marrow. the second stage of deficiency is when your circulating iron is low. This is a result of further depletion of ferritin. one test your doctor might do to check to see if you are in the second stage of deficiency is to check your transferrin levels. Transferrin is a protein that carries iron in the blood. if the transferring is high then it is a sign of iron deficiency because your body is trying to overcompensate by increasing the available circulating iron. the third stage is when your ferritin is low and your hemoglobin is low also. This stage of iron deficiency is called anemia. Iron is used to transfer oxygen in the body and also helps with keeping your metabolism normal and building immunity. therefore, when iron is even slightly low, one symptom people may experience is fatigue. However, often times patients who are treating anemia and iron deficiencies do not report an improvement in fatigue. in the United States where most people have healthy diets, women tend to be more vulnerable to anemia than men because of menstruation. (Blood loss is the most common way people lose iron.)

help for Anemia and Fatigue

Nutritional approaches for treatment of anemia or iron may include adding trace minerals such as copper, zinc and selenium. Since only very small doses of these minerals are safe, you should not attempt to treat yourself with these minerals without physician supervision. Antianemia drugs are also sometimes prescribed, but according to a November 10, 2009 article in U.S. News and World Report, antianemia drugs may cause deadly blood clots, according to a recent study, particularly for cancer patients. the most common treatment for anemia, however, is simply adding safe amounts of iron to your diet. Eating foods high in iron is the safest way to treat minor iron deficiencies. in many cases, treating an iron deficiency will almost immediately decrease anemia symptoms you experienced such as fatigue, dizziness, lack of concentration and low vitality. if treatment of your iron deficiency doesn’t appear to improve your feelings of fatigue, lack of vitality and trouble concentrating, you can combat fatigue symptoms and others with a number of simple treatments:

Sleep: This might sound like a no-brainer. if you’re tired, then sleep. However, poor sleeping patterns can be just as debilitating to your daily routine as not sleeping at all. Make sure you allow for eight full hours of uninterrupted sleep every night, plus time to fall asleep and wake up. Turn your bedroom into a dark, quiet place. consider breathing techniques or relaxation meditation before bed to help you fall asleep faster. Herbal teas sometimes help also, and are more advisable with an iron deficient condition than alcohol or sleep aids.

Exercise: Adding healthy activity to your daily routine will help to improve your sleep pattern in a variety of ways. being unfit can reduce energy levels and add to feelings of depression. Exercise does not require an expensive gym membership or even a lot of time. Adding a 20 minute walk to your daily activity and weekend bike rides is very useful in reducing the causes of fatigue because even this small amount of physical activity helps to release endorphins which is known to improve cognitive functioning and elevate mood states.

Avoid alcohol and drugs: although you may find what seems like temporary relief to sleep problems by drinking alcohol or using drugs, in the long term these things will only heighten your insomnia and lead to worsened fatigue.

Supplements: Adding a supplement such as Protandim to your daily routine, which triggers the creation of enzymes to eliminate free radical molecules in your body is known to help eliminate fatigue. Suppliments like this work because it decreases oxidative stress, the main cause of free radicals in the body.

If you believe an iron deficiency may cause fatigue in you, you’re recommended to see a doctor to rule out or prevent severe anemia. Doing your own research to find out how to reduce your fatigue may also be helpful to you, regardless of whether you’re treating your iron deficiency separately or not.

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