06/26/2026
One of the biggest mistakes I see is focusing only on whether someone is anemic…
Many patients are told their labs are “normal” because their hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and serum iron are within range. Meanwhile, their ferritin, which reflects your body’s iron stores, is low. Causing alllll THE symptoms.
You don’t have to be anemic to experience symptoms of low iron stores.
Low ferritin contributes to:
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Poor exercise recovery
• Brain fog
• Restless legs
• Feeling cold
• Shortness of breath with exertion
By the time anemia develops, your iron reserves have often been depleted for quite some time.
In my practice, I evaluate the entire picture: symptoms, ferritin, iron studies, inflammation, nd the reason iron became depleted in the first place.
For many symptomatic patients with confirmed iron deficiency, I generally like to see ferritin in the 70-150 ng/mL range. Some people can achieve this with iron-rich foods and oral iron, while others struggle with absorption, experience side effects from supplements, or need a faster repletion strategy. In those cases, low-dose iron infusions may be appropriate.
The goal isn’t simply to get your labs into the “normal” range. The goal is to restore iron stores, improve symptoms, and identify why your ferritin became low in the first place so it doesn’t continue to happen.
If you’ve been told your labs are normal but you’re still exhausted or losing hair, ask to have your ferritin checked—not just your CBC.
Iron infusions aren’t appropriate for everyone. Treatment should always be individualized and based on a complete evaluation and iron studies. Plus requires a referral!
