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Tired All the Time? Blood Tests That Can Help Find the Cause
Feeling tired is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor. Often the cause is lifestyle, such as poor sleep, stress or a heavy workload. But sometimes a blood test can point to something that is easy to treat.
Common causes a blood test can check for
Iron deficiency and anaemia. A full blood count and ferritin (your iron stores) show whether low iron could be the cause.
Low vitamin B12 or folate. Both are needed to make healthy red blood cells.
Low vitamin D. Very common in the UK, especially in autumn and winter.
Thyroid problems. An underactive thyroid can cause tiredness, weight gain and feeling cold.
Diabetes. HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the last two to three months.
Kidney and liver function, and markers of inflammation in the body.
The exact markers included depend on the test you choose, so check the test page for the full list.
What a blood test cannot tell you
Poor sleep, stress, low mood and some long-term conditions do not show up on a blood test. A normal result is still useful, though: it rules out the common physical causes, so you and your doctor can focus on what else might be going on.
When not to wait for a blood test
Contact your GP or NHS 111 promptly if your tiredness comes with any of these:
Weight loss you cannot explain
Drenching night sweats
Breathlessness or chest pain
Blood in your poo or wee
Feeling very unwell, or tiredness that is getting rapidly worse
Our tiredness blood test
We take your blood at our clinic in Fishguard, and one of our GPs reviews every result. You get your results with a letter explaining them, and if anything needs following up, you can book an appointment with the same team.
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