Feeling Anemic? Have Your Ferritin Tested

By Dr. Carrie Jones Expert HERWriter

Rate This

There are different types of anemia, however the one you might hear about most often is iron-deficient anemia. This means your body does not have enough iron either because you do not eat it, you do not absorb it, and/or you are bleeding it out somewhere (most commonly due to your period).

What many women don’t realize is that the symptoms of out-right iron deficiency, and having low iron stores (ferritin) can be very similar. Therefore your initial screening test is normal (the CBC) however your ferritin is low or low-normal.

The common symptoms include:
Fatigue
Fatigue with physical exertion (not because you are out of shape!)
Pale skin, mucosa and nail beds (not because it’s winter)
Cracking/splitting nails
Cracks at the corners of your mouth
Dizzy – especially when going from sitting to standing
Shortness of breath
Weakened muscles
Heart palpitations
Restless Legs
Craving/chewing on ice, dirt, paper, wax, and/or hair
Cold hands and feet

If you are experiencing the above symptoms, please ask your healthcare provider about testing for iron-deficient anemia that also includes a ferritin test.

How Does Anemia Affect Mental Health?

5 Most Common Reasons for Anemia

High Iron, High Levels of Delicious-ness: Brown Bread

Iron Deficiency and Fatigue

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Dr. Carrie Jones Expert HERWriter View Profile Send Message

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.