Understanding Iron Deficiency
What is Iron Deficiency — and Could It Explain How You Are Feeling?
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the UK, yet it is frequently under-diagnosed and under-treated. It occurs when the body does not have enough iron to produce adequate amounts of haemoglobin — the molecule in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. The result is a gradual but significant reduction in physical and mental energy that many people initially dismiss as ordinary tiredness.
In Epsom and the wider Surrey area, iron deficiency is particularly common among women of reproductive age, athletes, vegetarians, and those managing long-term digestive conditions. Many patients who attend Lambert Medical Practice have already tried iron tablets through their GP, found them ineffective or intolerable, and are looking for a more direct route to recovery.
Recognising the Symptoms
The symptoms of iron deficiency can range from subtle to severely debilitating:
- Persistent fatigue and low energy — often the first and most prominent sign
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating — affecting work, studies, and daily decision-making
- Breathlessness with minimal exertion — climbing stairs or walking quickly becomes noticeably harder
- Hair thinning and loss — often distressing, particularly for women
- Heart palpitations — the heart compensating for reduced oxygen delivery
- Pale skin and cold extremities — classic signs of reduced circulation and haemoglobin
- Restless legs — an uncomfortable urge to move the legs, particularly at night, frequently linked to low iron
Who is Most at Risk near Epsom?
Certain groups are particularly prone to iron deficiency:
- Women with heavy or prolonged periods — monthly blood loss depletes iron faster than many diets can replace it
- Vegans and vegetarians — plant-based iron (non-haem) is significantly less bioavailable than iron from meat
- Athletes and those with high physical demands — intense training increases iron requirements considerably
- Post-operative and post-partum women — surgical blood loss or childbirth can cause acute iron depletion
- People with IBD, Crohn's disease, or coeliac disease — gut inflammation and damage impair absorption
Iron Deficiency vs Iron Deficiency Anaemia
These terms describe different stages of the same underlying problem. Iron deficiency — characterised by low ferritin — can cause significant symptoms even before haemoglobin drops to anaemic levels. Many patients with a ferritin well below the normal range but technically "normal" haemoglobin are told they are fine, when in fact their iron stores are severely depleted. At Lambert Medical Practice, Dr Nelson assesses the full clinical picture before advising on treatment.
Why Oral Iron Tablets Often Don't Work
Oral iron supplements are notoriously poorly absorbed — typically only 10–20% of what you swallow actually reaches your bloodstream. For many people, this absorption is further reduced by gut inflammation, other medications, or concurrent food intake. The side effects — nausea, constipation, stomach cramps, and dark stools — cause many patients to quietly stop taking their tablets within weeks, leaving their iron levels unimproved. IV iron bypasses all of this.
