If you have been very tired lately, without a rational explanation (e.g. not getting enough sleep), then anemia could be one option your doctor may want to look into as a possible explanation.
Anemia develops when your body is not producing enough healthy red blood cells. Because red blood cells are our main oxygen transporters, a deficiency pretty much means you are not getting enough oxygen to circulate your body. Having said this, it makes sense one of the symptoms of anemia is fatigue: oxygen is necessary for energy release.
If on top of this your red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then you are not consuming adequate amounts of iron in your diet. This can easily be solved with a mineral or iron supplement once it is diagnosed with a simple blood test.
There are several different types of anemia, all of which have different causes. Some forms of anemia can be hereditary, and small infants will be affected from the time of birth onwards.
A simple and common form of anemia is experienced by women in their twenties and thirties. It is called iron-deficiency anemia caused by blood loss during menstruation and increased demands during pregnancy. This type of anemia is easily solved with an iron supplement.
Anemia can also develop because of poor dietary choices or medical conditions. Seniors are more susceptible to this issue than younger people, but with the average eating habits of our population I’d say a larger demographic is at serious risk.
The causes of anemia can roughly be subdivided into three categories:
- Anemia brought on a decreased or faulty production of red blood cells.
- Anemia caused by (severe) blood loss, and
- Anemia caused by (self-)destruction of red blood cells.