Many women are told their blood work is 'normal' because their hemoglobin levels are fine, yet they still suffer from exhaustion, hair loss, and brain fog.
What is often missed is Iron Deficiency Without Anemia (IDWA). You can be severely depleted of iron stores (ferritin) long before it affects your red blood cell count (hemoglobin).
The Role of Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your body's tissues. Think of it as your body's iron 'bank account.' Hemoglobin is the cash you have on hand.
When you don't consume enough iron or lose too much through heavy periods, your body starts emptying the bank account (ferritin) to keep the cash (hemoglobin) stable. You can have a nearly empty bank account but still show 'normal' hemoglobin on a basic test.
Recognizing the Hidden Symptoms
Even before anemia sets in, low ferritin can cause chronic fatigue, restless leg syndrome, hair shedding, brittle nails, and difficulty concentrating.
If you experience these symptoms, especially if you have heavy periods, insist on a full iron panel that specifically checks your serum ferritin levels, not just a Complete Blood Count (CBC).
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