Anemia is not having enough red blood cells or hemoglobin. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all of your other organs. Hemoglobin is the substance inside your red blood cells that actually carries the oxygen. When you have too few red blood cells or too little hemoglobin, your blood can’t carry all the oxygen your body needs Anemia causes tiredness and weakness There are many causes of anemia It's important to test for anemia as you get older because it can shorten your life span

Causes of anemia include: Losing a lot of blood because of an injury, heavy menstrual periods , or digestive or urinary tract problems (chronic bleeding) Not making enough red blood cells because your body lacks enough iron , vitamin B12 , or folate , or because you have leukemia or another cancer Your body destroying too many red blood cells

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Anemia

Overview of Anemia

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Sickle Cell Disease

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Anosmia is the total loss of smell. Most people with anosmia can taste sweet, sour, salty, and bitter substances but cannot distinguish among specific flavors. This is because the sense of smell makes it possible to distinguish among flavors, not taste receptors as many people erroneously believe. Which of the following is NOT a common cause of anosmia?

Aging (60 years and older)
High humidity
Head injury
Viral infections

Overview of Anemia

Q: What are the symptoms of anemia?

Symptoms depend on how severe your anemia is. Mild anemia causes: Feeling weak and tired Paleness Severe anemia causes: Feeling faint and dizzy Feeling thirsty Sweating Weak, fast pulse Lower leg cramps during exercise Shortness of breath Chest pain

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Last full review/revision Jan 2021| Content last modified Jan 2021

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Anemia is not having enough red blood cells or hemoglobin. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all of your other organs. Hemoglobin is the substance inside your red blood cells that actually carries the oxygen.

When you have too few red blood cells or too little hemoglobin, your blood can’t carry all the oxygen your body needs
Anemia causes tiredness and weakness
There are many causes of anemia
It's important to test for anemia as you get older because it can shorten your life span

Causes of anemia include:

Losing a lot of blood because of an injury, heavy menstrual periods, or digestive or urinary tract problems (chronic bleeding)
Not making enough red blood cells because your body lacks enough iron, vitamin B12, or folate, or because you have leukemia or another cancer
Your body destroying too many red blood cells

Symptoms depend on how severe your anemia is.

Mild anemia causes:

Feeling weak and tired
Paleness

Severe anemia causes:

Feeling faint and dizzy
Feeling thirsty
Sweating
Weak, fast pulse
Lower leg cramps during exercise
Shortness of breath
Chest pain

Doctors do a blood test to measure your levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells. They may do other tests to find the cause of your anemia.

If a health problem is causing your anemia, doctors treat that health problem. Treatment depends on the type of anemia you have. Doctors may treat anemia with:

Iron supplements, taken as pills or by IV (directly into your vein)
Other supplements, such as vitamin B12 or folate
Transfusion of red blood cells, for severe anemia
Medicine that causes your body to make more red blood cells

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Bruising and Bleeding

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Iron Deficiency Anemia

Anemia

Overview of Anemia

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Sickle Cell Disease

Overview of Anemia

Anemia of Chronic Disease

Aplastic Anemia

Anosmia is the total loss of smell. Most people with anosmia can taste sweet, sour, salty, and bitter substances but cannot distinguish among specific flavors. This is because the sense of smell makes it possible to distinguish among flavors, not taste receptors as many people erroneously believe. Which of the following is NOT a common cause of anosmia?

Aging (60 years and older)
High humidity
Head injury
Viral infections

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