One of the most common causes of fatigue is low iron or anemia. The kind of fatigue that results from anemia comes on slowly and is present all day long. It can feel like someone has unplugged you! Anemia is a shortage of either the quality or quantity of blood. Specifically, it arises from a lack of hemoglobin which is the red, iron-containing pigment in the blood that transports oxygen to every cell in the body. There are different kinds of anemia such as iron-deficiency anemia, anemia due to a shortage of vitamin B-12, pernicious anemia and folate-deficiency anemia.
Symptoms of Anemia
- Fatigue
- Poor concentration
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Headaches
- Chronic infections
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Red or sore tongue
- Soreness or cracks at the corner of the mouth
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness and/or tingling in the hands and feet
Some of the common causes of anemia are loss of blood, inadequate diet and poor absorption, veganism, imbalanced gastrointestinal bacteria, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, parasites, certain medications (such as antifungals or Metformin for diabetes), hypothyroidism, food allergies and pregnancy.
Anemia is easily corrected once it has been diagnosed. Lab work should include a complete blood count as well as testing Ferritin and B12 levels. Optimal levels of Ferritin should be over 100.
The underlying cause of anemia should always be considered when correcting the issue. When supplementing with iron, it is crucial to include folic acid, vitamin B12 and Vitamin C for optimal function and absorption. In order to restore iron levels, I have been using the following 3 products with unfailing success in thousands of patients:
- Ferrasorb<- Thorne (Highly absorbable and non-constipating iron bisglycinate combined with folic acid)
- B12- 5mg or 15mg<- Bioclinic (Sublingual vitamin B12 in therapeutic dosages)
- Vitamin C with Flavonoids<- Thorne (Pure Vitamin C compounded with plant flavonoids for optimal absorption)
Be Well,
Dr. Cobi