Patient education for the conditions you manage.

Kidney health · September 2, 2026

Anemia in Kidney Disease Explained: Why You Feel Tired and Weak

Chronic kidney disease can affect your red blood cells — and that's called anemia. Here's why it happens, the symptoms to watch for, and how it's treated. Your kidneys produce a hormone called EPO that tells your bone marrow to make red blood cells. When kidneys are damaged, they make less EPO — so you have fewer red blood cells and less oxygen delivery throughout your body. That's anemia, and it's common in chronic kidney disease. 0:00 Anemia and the kidney–EPO connection 0:27 Signs and symptoms of anemia 0:50 Treatment options 1:04 Protecting your kidney health & how TOCA helps Anemia can cause fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, paleness, trouble concentrating, and feeling cold more easily. These symptoms can overlap with other conditions, so it's important to check with your care team. Treatment may include iron supplements (pills or IV), medications that act like EPO to stimulate red blood cell production, or in some cases blood transfusions. Your doctor will choose what's best based on your labs and overall health. Good blood pressure and diabetes control also help protect your remaining kidney function. If you're a TOCA Health patient, your care manager can help track symptoms like fatigue between visits, reinforce your treatment plan, remind you about lab work or medications, and quickly connect you with your physician when something changes. Educational content only — not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before changing any medication, diet, or exercise routine.