What is anemia?

Answer 1

Anemia refers to a reduction in circulating hemoglobin, due to a reduction in haemoglobin production or a red blood cell mass. You are anemic if you are a man with less than 13.5 grams per deciliter of haemoglobin or a woman with less than 11.5 grams per deciliter. Hemoglobin is vital in oxygen transport for respiration and gaining energy, which explains many of the symptoms like dyspnea, lethargy, pallor, fatigue, low exercise tolerance, palpitations, cardiac problems, angina, claudication etc. It has many possible causes, as iron deficiency (most common), Vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, lack of intrinsic factor, increased hemolysis, hereditary hemochromatosis, etc.

Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and binds oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting what they need to function properly.