What causes red blood cells to carry less oxygen?

Answer 1

There is a condition called anemia which causes a reduction or malfunction of hemoglobin which is the oxygen carrying molecule within a red blood cell. There can be several causes of anemia such as iron-deficiency to a genetically based sickle cell anemia. Any kind of anemia will act to reduce oxygen transport in the blood.

Also certain gases like carbon monoxide can bind more tightly to hemoglobin than oxygen does and will crowd out oxygen binding sites. That is why carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly. Your lungs may be working but the oxygen that you breathe in isn't getting taken up and delivered to your cells. Without oxygen, they will die and then so will you.

Answer 2

Red blood cells can carry less oxygen due to factors such as anemia (low hemoglobin levels), carbon monoxide poisoning (displacing oxygen from hemoglobin), decreased oxygen levels in the environment, and certain medical conditions affecting the structure or function of hemoglobin.

Answer 3

Anemia is the result of decreased ability to carry oxygen.

Answer 4

Carbon Monoxide causes red blood cells to carry less oxygen.