You might have anemia if you often feel tired, light-headed, or short of breath. Anemia can be a symptom of many other conditions. If you have anemia, your body cannot provide enough oxygen to your cells. Symptoms of anemia may depend on what has caused the condition. A specialist in blood disorders can determine and treat the underlying cause of your anemia.Â
What is Anemia?Â
If your doctor says you have anemia, they mean that you do not have enough normal red blood cells. Without red blood cells, other cells in your body do not get enough oxygen. Most of the symptoms of anemia result from this lack of oxygen. If you have chronic anemia, you may have developed it over time without noticing the changes. Some conditions can cause anemia to develop quickly.Â
You may develop anemia if you do not get enough iron or vitamins such as b12. It can also develop because your bone marrow cannot make enough normal red blood cells or because something is damaging your red blood cells. Some types of anemia are hereditary, including sickle cell anemia and a condition called thalassemia.Â
