Feeling the lack of energy to do anything in the winter is pretty common. Everyone has those days when they just don’t want to get out of bed, preferring to snuggle under the blankets, and the motivation
for exercising has gone out of the window. But sometimes, what feels like cosy comfort may actually transcend to an actual health issue – winter fatigue might in reality be low haemoglobin.
Dr Aditi Shah Kaskar, Consultant Haematology, Hemato-oncology & BMT Physician, HCG Cancer Centre, Borivali, says, “Everybody feels lethargic during winter, and it’s not uncommon. Shorter days, cold weather, and lack of sunlight have been known to affect moods as well as energy levels.”
However, if you have continuous fatigue, breathlessness, dizziness, or unusual weakness, something more specific may be happening, such as low haemoglobin, also known as anaemia.
What is haemoglobin, and why is it important?
Haemoglobin is carried in red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs throughout the body. When haemoglobin levels fall, your cells don’t get the oxygen they need, and symptoms start to show, including feeling tired all the time, shortness of breath, pale skin, rapid heartbeat, headaches, etc. These signs can overlap with winter-related sluggishness, making it easy to miss the real issue.
Why Winter Makes the Problem Worse
While winter in itself does not decrease haemoglobin levels, it surely increases the symptoms of low haemoglobin and adds to its causes: Low levels of vitamin D contribute to worsening fatigue and perhaps indirectly to red blood cell production. Winter cravings lead to increased intake of comfort foods, which might be low in iron and folate, thereby affecting haemoglobin production. Frequent infections or inflammation can temporarily disrupt red blood cell formation. Reduced activity slows down metabolism and blood circulation, making fatigue more noticeable.
Common Causes of Low Haemoglobin
Low haemoglobin due to anaemia may be caused by the following: poor diet or nutrition, deficiency of iron, deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate, excessive menstrual flow, chronic diseases, malabsorption state GI loss of blood, etc.
How to diagnose low haemoglobin/anaemia?
If you suspect your haemoglobin is low, a simple blood test known as the Complete Blood Count can confirm it. Further investigations, such as blood investigations for iron and vitamin B12 levels or stool for occult blood tests, can be done for finding out the cause of anaemia.
Natural ways of improving Haemoglobin
Some general strategies include iron-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, meat, beetroot, dates, nuts, and jaggery; vitamin B12 and folate sources like dairy products, leafy vegetables, and legumes.
What is the treatment for anaemia?
Management will depend on the cause and can include supplementation with iron and vitamins and treatment of the underlying medical issues, like heavy menstrual bleeding, GI blood loss, any chronic illness, etc.
When to visit a doctor?
See a haematologist if fatigue is ongoing, symptoms are impacting life, you have had anaemia before, you are pregnant, the levels of haemoglobin matter a lot in this case, you have unexplained weight loss or prolonged infections or heavy periods. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the less serious the complications.
Winter fatigue is normal to a point, but if your tiredness feels excessive or unusual, low haemoglobin might be the hidden culprit. A simple blood test and timely treatment can help regain energy and overall well-being.
