Anemia is a condition in which the blood does not carry oxygen as well as it should. This often happens when there are not enough healthy red blood cells or not enough hemoglobin inside them.
Common symptoms
Anemia can cause tiredness, weakness, pale skin, dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, cold hands or feet, or a fast heartbeat. Some people have mild anemia and notice little at first.
Common causes
Iron deficiency is a common cause, but anemia can also be related to bleeding, pregnancy, kidney disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, inherited conditions, inflammation, or bone marrow problems.
Anemia is a lab finding with many possible causes, so the reason behind it matters as much as the low number itself.