Why Women Are Treating Four Different Symptoms When the Problem May Be the Same

How often do we brush off feeling tired as simply being "part of life"?

Many women juggle multiple responsibilities every day. Between managing careers, caring for children or ageing parents, maintaining households, and trying to find time for themselves, it is easy to explain away changes in our health as a normal consequence of being busy.

Perhaps you have noticed that your hair is not as thick as it used to be. You feel mentally exhausted and struggle to concentrate at work. Your nails seem to break more easily, and friends comment that you look pale. Most women tend to tackle these concerns one at a time. They buy hair products for hair thinning, take supplements for brittle nails, drink more coffee to combat fatigue, or simply convince themselves that stress and ageing are to blame.

But what if these seemingly unrelated symptoms are actually connected?

As doctors, we are trained to look beyond individual complaints and identify patterns. Sometimes, several symptoms occurring together may point towards an underlying issue that deserves further investigation. One possible contributor that is often overlooked is low iron stores, which can be assessed through ferritin testing.

Looking Beyond Individual Symptoms

Patients often visit the clinic with one main concern.

Some seek advice because they feel constantly tired despite getting enough sleep. Others worry about increasing hair fall during showers. Some are frustrated by persistent "brain fog" that affects their work performance, while others are concerned about brittle nails that crack and split easily.

These symptoms may seem unrelated at first glance. However, when they occur together, healthcare professionals start to ask a different question:

Could there be a common explanation?

Rather than treating each symptom in isolation, doctors take a step back and look at the bigger picture. We consider the timing of symptoms, how long they have been present, their severity, and whether there are any underlying medical conditions or lifestyle factors that could link them together.

This approach allows us to identify potential causes that might otherwise be missed.

Symptoms Women Often Dismiss

Women are especially good at adapting.

Many continue to function despite feeling unwell because they have learned to prioritise the needs of others before their own. Unfortunately, this can delay seeking help when symptoms first appear.

Common explanations women give include:

• "I'm just stressed from work."
• "I have young children, so of course I'm tired."
• "I'm getting older."
• "I haven't been sleeping well."
• "Maybe it's because I'm dieting."
• "Hair thinning happens to everyone."

While these explanations may sometimes be true, they should not automatically be accepted without further thought, particularly when several symptoms develop around the same time.

Our bodies often communicate through subtle signals long before more significant health problems arise. Paying attention to these signals is an important part of maintaining overall wellbeing.

Understanding Ferritin and Iron Stores

When people think about iron deficiency, they often imagine severe anaemia requiring urgent treatment. However, iron depletion can exist even before anaemia develops.

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron within the body. Measuring ferritin levels helps doctors assess the amount of stored iron available for essential bodily functions.

Iron plays an important role in many processes, including:

• Producing healthy red blood cells.
• Transporting oxygen throughout the body.
• Supporting normal energy production.
• Maintaining cognitive function and concentration.
• Supporting healthy hair growth.
• Contributing to healthy skin and nails.

When iron stores become depleted, women may begin to notice symptoms such as:

• Persistent fatigue.
• Difficulty concentrating or "brain fog".
• Hair thinning or increased hair shedding.
• Pale skin.
• Brittle nails.

These symptoms can significantly affect quality of life, work performance, emotional wellbeing, and confidence.

Why Are Women More Vulnerable?

Women are particularly susceptible to low iron stores for several reasons.

Menstrual blood loss remains one of the most common contributors. Women with heavier menstrual periods may gradually lose iron over time without realising it.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding increase the body's iron requirements substantially. Women who have multiple pregnancies close together may not have sufficient time to replenish depleted iron stores.

Certain dietary patterns may also contribute. Women who skip meals, frequently diet, reduce red meat intake, or follow vegetarian or vegan diets without adequate nutritional planning may be at increased risk.

In addition, gastrointestinal conditions affecting nutrient absorption can influence iron levels.

Importantly, having low ferritin does not automatically mean there is a serious medical condition. However, it does mean that further evaluation may be needed to identify the cause and determine the appropriate management plan.

The Importance of Recognising Patterns

One of the most valuable things patients can do is observe their own health patterns.

Ask yourself:

• Have I been feeling unusually tired for weeks or months?
• Am I finding it harder to focus than before?
• Have I noticed more hair shedding recently?
• Are my nails becoming weaker?
• Have family members commented that I look pale?
• Did these symptoms start around the same period?

Keeping track of these changes can provide valuable clues during medical consultations.

Doctors rely not only on investigations but also on patients' observations and experiences. The more complete the picture, the better we can determine whether further testing is appropriate.

Avoiding Self-Diagnosis

With easy access to health information online, many people attempt to diagnose themselves or start supplements without medical advice.

Although iron supplements are widely available, they are not suitable for everyone.

Taking unnecessary supplements may cause unwanted side effects such as nausea, constipation, abdominal discomfort, or interfere with the absorption of other nutrients and medications. Excessive iron intake can also be harmful.

This is why professional assessment remains important.

A healthcare professional can review your symptoms, assess your medical history, perform an examination if necessary, and determine whether investigations such as ferritin testing would be beneficial.

When Should You Consider Speaking to a Healthcare Professional?

Consider seeking medical advice if you experience:

• Ongoing fatigue that does not improve with adequate rest.
• Persistent brain fog affecting daily activities.
• Noticeable hair thinning or excessive hair shedding.
• Brittle nails that continue despite self-care measures.
• Pale skin accompanied by reduced energy levels.
• Multiple symptoms occurring together.
• Symptoms that persist for several weeks or worsen over time.

Early assessment can help identify potential underlying causes and guide appropriate management.

A Simple Test That Can Provide Valuable Answers

Sometimes, understanding what is happening inside the body requires more than guesswork.

Ferritin testing is a straightforward blood test that can help assess your body's iron stores. While it is only one piece of the puzzle, it can provide valuable information when evaluating symptoms that may otherwise seem unrelated.

For many women, obtaining clarity about their symptoms can be empowering. Rather than continuing to manage each issue separately, identifying an underlying cause allows for a more targeted and effective approach to improving health and wellbeing.

Conclusion

Women often become experts at pushing through discomfort, dismissing symptoms as stress, ageing, or simply the price of having a busy life.

However, persistent fatigue, brain fog, hair thinning, pale skin, and brittle nails should not always be accepted as "normal", especially when they occur together.

As doctors, we encourage women to look for patterns rather than isolated complaints, monitor changes over time, and seek professional advice instead of relying solely on self-diagnosis.

If you have been experiencing several of these symptoms, consider having a conversation with your healthcare professional about whether ferritin testing may be appropriate for you. Sometimes, what appears to be four different problems may actually have one common thread and recognising it could be the first step towards feeling like yourself again.

 

 

 

References

British Society of Gastroenterology. (2021). British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the management of iron deficiency anaemia in adults. Gut, 70(11), 2030–2051. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325210

Camaschella, C. (2015). Iron-deficiency anemia. The New England Journal of Medicine, 372(19), 1832–1843. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1401038

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Iron-deficiency anemia. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/iron-deficiency-anemia

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2024). Iron: Fact sheet for health professionals. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/

World Health Organization. (2024). Anaemia. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anaemia