Women's Wellness & Nutrition • Clinical Guide
Always Tired? The Anaemia Numbers Every Indian Woman Should Know
By Dr. Chaitra SR (MBBS, MS - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine) • Consultant Gynecologist at Aaraike Women's Care, Electronic City, Bengaluru.
Quick Medical Answer: According to India's National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), 57% of women aged 15–49 are anaemic, as are 59.1% of adolescent girls. Anaemia commonly shows up as tiredness, breathlessness on stairs, headaches, hair fall, pale skin, and feeling cold. It is often linked to iron deficiency and heavy periods, but vitamin B12 deficiency is also common in India, especially among vegetarians. A simple blood test can tell you what's going on. Don't start iron tablets without one.
The Numbers: 3 Out of Every 5 Women
Statistically, three out of every five Indian women you meet today are likely anaemic. NFHS-5 recorded anaemia in 57% of Indian women aged 15–49 and in 59.1% of adolescent girls. In Karnataka, NFHS-5 recorded anaemia in 43.9% of urban women. Living in a city doesn't make you immune. Because its main symptom, tiredness, is something most women have been trained to accept as normal, it goes undiagnosed for years.
The Quiet Signs We Explain Away
- Feeling exhausted even after a full night's sleep
- Breathlessness climbing a single flight of stairs
- Frequent headaches or dizziness
- Noticeable hair fall and brittle nails
- Pale skin, pale inner eyelids, or pale nail beds
- Cold hands and feet and difficulty concentrating
- Cravings for ice, raw rice, or chalk (called pica)
It Isn't Always Iron: The Vitamin B12 Factor
Anaemia has more than one cause. In India, vitamin B12 deficiency is a major contributor, affecting over 60% of adults due to vegetarian diets. Taking iron pills without checking B12 levels will not resolve fatigue and can cause gastric side effects. An accurate evaluation checks Complete Blood Count (CBC), Serum Ferritin, and Vitamin B12.
Consultation at Aaraike Women's Care
Tiredness is common, but you don't have to live with it. Consult Dr. Chaitra SR at Aaraike Women's Care in Electronic City, Bengaluru.
Address: Ground Floor, Madhava Building, Shree, 4th Cross, Ananth Nagar, Phase 2, Electronic City, Hebbagodi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560100
Phone: +91 95917 31655