Want to know exactly what your iron levels are? Everything about the Ferritin blood test!

Do you always feel tired and lethargic? Do you get dizzy even after walking for a short distance? Do you sometimes feel dizzy? If you have these symptoms, your iron levels may be low. Today we are talking about a very important blood test that can help you find out exactly what is going on. That is the Ferritin blood test.

What is Ferritin?

Simply put, ferritin is a protein that stores iron in our bodies.

Think about the shelves in your kitchen. You have the things we use to cook every day, like rice , lentils, and beans, right out in the open, right? And you also have things to keep aside for emergencies, like a packet of rice and a can of salmon.

Our bodies use iron in a similar way. Some of the iron we eat is used immediately to make oxygen in the blood. But some is “stored” to be used on days when we don’t get enough iron from our food. This iron is stored in a protein called ferritin.

So, when your doctor wants to know how your body stores iron, he or she will order this ferritin blood test. This can provide clues not only about your iron levels, but also about some other medical conditions.

Difference between Ferritin and Iron

Iron is a mineral that we get from food. Ferritin is a protein that stores that iron. But the best way to know if you have a healthy amount of iron stored in your body is to check your ferritin levels.

Why do I need this ferritin test?

A doctor will usually order this test if they suspect that you have too little or too much iron in your body, based on your symptoms or other blood test results.

Also, during pregnancy , if you have heavy menstrual bleeding , a poor diet, or problems absorbing nutrients from food, you mayThere is a risk of iron deficiency . It is also recommended to do this test in such cases.

This test helps diagnose or rule out the following conditions:

• Iron deficiency anemia: Iron is essential for the proper formation of red blood cells in our blood. These red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. When there is not enough iron, these cells do not produce enough. This is when we develop a condition called 'anemia'. The main cause of this in adults is unknowingly bleeding from the body.
• Hemochromatosis (iron overload): This is when more iron from food is absorbed and stored in the body than is needed. This is often a genetic condition.
• Liver disease: Most of our body's ferritin is stored in the liver. So if ferritin levels are very high, it could be a sign of a liver problem.
• Adult Still's disease: This is a very rare type of arthritis. People with this disease experience symptoms such as joint pain, fever, and skin lesions. Their ferritin levels are very high.

Symptoms of low and high ferritin levels

These are some of the main symptoms that may prompt your doctor to perform this test. Let's look at these in a table.

How to prepare for the test?

If you are only having a ferritin test, you can eat and drink normally. However, if you are having other blood tests done at the same time, your doctor may ask you to fast for a few hours. Therefore, always ask your doctor about this before the test.

It's easier to wear a short-sleeved shirt when going for a test because it makes it easier to get blood drawn at the lab.

The test is very simple. It takes just a few minutes. The lab technician will take a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. If you are uncomfortable with the sight of a needle, look away. After the blood is taken, a piece of cotton or a plaster is applied to the area to stop the bleeding. The blood sample is then sent to the lab.

Test report and its results

The report you receive after the test will tell you how much ferritin is in your blood. Normal values ​​can vary slightly between labs. But here's what ferritin levels (nanograms per milliliter – ng/mL) should look like in general.

If your ferritin level is low (Low Ferritin)

If your ferritin level is lower than normal, you may have iron deficiency anemia. Your doctor will order more tests to get a clearer picture of your iron levels. They will also look for the cause of the low levels. In adults, this can be caused by persistent, undetected bleeding (such as from stomach or intestinal ulcers) or heavy menstrual bleeding in women . In children, it is often caused by a poor diet.

If your ferritin level is high (High Ferritin)

High ferritin levels may indicate that you have an iron storage disorder called hemochromatosis. Iron levels may also be elevated due to frequent blood transfusions or taking too many iron pills.

Therefore, whatever the result of your report, be sure to meet with your doctor to discuss it in detail to get the most accurate interpretation.

Ferritin, Blood test, Iron deficiency, Anemia, Weakness, Fatigue, Hemochromatosis, Iron overload, Symptoms