Always Tired? Why Your Body Lacks Iron + Medically Approved Next Steps

If you feel tired all the time—even after a full night's sleep—your body may be trying to tell you something. One of the most common and overlooked reasons for ongoing fatigue is iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency is one of the leading nutritional deficiencies worldwide. It affects children, adults, and especially women of reproductive age. The good news? It's usually treatable once identified. The key is understanding why it happens, how it affects your body, and what to do next.

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Why Iron Matters So Much

Iron plays a central role in your body's ability to carry oxygen. It helps make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

When your iron levels drop:

• Your body can't make enough healthy red blood cells.
• Less oxygen reaches your muscles, brain, and organs.
• You feel tired, weak, and sometimes short of breath.

If iron deficiency becomes severe, it can lead to iron deficiency anemia, a condition where your red blood cell count or hemoglobin level becomes too low.

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Common Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency doesn't always cause obvious symptoms at first. Early signs can be subtle and easy to ignore.

Early Symptoms

• Constant fatigue
• Low energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Headaches
• Pale skin
• Feeling cold more easily

More Advanced Symptoms (Iron Deficiency Anemia)

• Shortness of breath
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Chest pain
• Brittle nails
• Hair thinning
• Cravings for non-food items (like ice or clay, known as pica)

These symptoms occur because your tissues are not getting enough oxygen.

If you're experiencing any combination of these symptoms, it's important to find out whether they could be related to anemia—Ubie's free AI-powered Anemia Symptom Checker can help you quickly assess your risk and understand your next steps.

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Why Iron Deficiency Happens

Iron deficiency usually develops for one of three main reasons:

1. Blood Loss

This is the most common cause in adults.

• Heavy menstrual periods
• Gastrointestinal bleeding (ulcers, polyps, colon cancer)
• Frequent blood donation
• Surgery or injury

Even small amounts of bleeding over time can lower iron levels significantly.

2. Not Getting Enough Iron

Some diets don't provide enough iron, especially:

• Vegetarian or vegan diets without proper planning
• Highly restrictive diets
• Diets low in iron-rich foods

Iron from animal sources (heme iron) is absorbed more easily than iron from plant sources (non-heme iron).

3. Poor Iron Absorption

Your body may struggle to absorb iron due to:

• Celiac disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Gastric bypass surgery
• Chronic inflammation
• Long-term use of certain medications (like proton pump inhibitors)

Pregnancy also increases iron needs dramatically. Many pregnant women develop iron deficiency if intake isn't increased.

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Who Is at Higher Risk?

Some groups are more likely to develop iron deficiency:

• Women with heavy menstrual cycles
• Pregnant women
• Infants and toddlers
• Teen girls
• Vegetarians and vegans
• People with digestive disorders
• Adults over 65
• Endurance athletes

If you fall into one of these categories and feel persistently tired, iron deficiency is worth discussing with a doctor.

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How Doctors Diagnose Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone. Blood testing is required.

Your doctor may order:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Ferritin level (measures stored iron)
• Serum iron
• Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)
• Transferrin saturation

Low ferritin is often the earliest sign of iron deficiency, even before anemia develops.

It's important not to self-diagnose or start high-dose iron supplements without testing. Too much iron can be harmful.

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Medically Approved Next Steps

If you suspect iron deficiency, here's what to do:

1. Get Proper Testing

Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider and request iron studies. This helps determine:

• Whether you have iron deficiency
• Whether you also have anemia
• How severe the deficiency is
• The likely underlying cause

Identifying the cause is essential. Simply taking supplements without understanding why you're deficient can delay diagnosis of serious conditions.

2. Treat the Underlying Cause

If blood loss is involved, your doctor may recommend:

• Gynecologic evaluation for heavy periods
• Gastrointestinal evaluation (such as endoscopy or colonoscopy)
• Medication adjustments

Treating the root problem prevents recurrence.

3. Increase Iron Intake Through Diet

Iron-rich foods include:

Animal Sources (Better Absorbed)

• Red meat
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Liver

Plant Sources

• Lentils
• Beans
• Tofu
• Spinach
• Pumpkin seeds
• Fortified cereals

To improve absorption:

• Pair plant-based iron with vitamin C (like citrus, bell peppers, strawberries).
• Avoid drinking tea or coffee with iron-rich meals, as they reduce absorption.

4. Iron Supplements (If Prescribed)

If diet alone isn't enough, your doctor may recommend oral iron supplements.

Important tips:

• Take iron on an empty stomach if tolerated.
• Vitamin C can improve absorption.
• Constipation and stomach upset are common but manageable.
• Treatment usually continues for several months—even after blood levels normalize—to rebuild iron stores.

In severe cases, intravenous (IV) iron may be necessary.

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When to Seek Urgent Care

Iron deficiency itself is usually manageable, but certain symptoms require immediate medical attention:

• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Severe shortness of breath
• Black or bloody stools
• Vomiting blood
• Severe weakness

These may indicate serious bleeding or advanced anemia.

Always speak to a doctor promptly if you experience symptoms that could be life-threatening.

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Why You Shouldn't Ignore Ongoing Fatigue

It's easy to blame stress, aging, or poor sleep for feeling tired. But chronic fatigue is not something to brush off.

Untreated iron deficiency can lead to:

• Worsening anemia
• Reduced physical performance
• Impaired concentration
• Pregnancy complications
• Heart strain in severe cases

The earlier it's detected, the easier it is to treat.

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The Bottom Line

If you're always tired, iron deficiency is a common and treatable cause worth investigating.

Here's what you should do:

• Pay attention to persistent fatigue and related symptoms.
• Use a free, AI-powered tool to check if your symptoms align with Anemia and get personalized next steps.
• Schedule blood tests with your doctor.
• Address the underlying cause.
• Follow medically guided treatment.

Iron deficiency is common—but it's not something you should ignore. With proper evaluation and treatment, most people feel significantly better within weeks to months.

Most importantly, speak to a doctor about any concerning or severe symptoms. Early evaluation can prevent complications and help you get back to feeling like yourself again.