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Anaemia

In anaemia, the blood has too few healthy red blood cells or too little haemoglobin to carry enough oxygen. This may cause tiredness, weakness and breathlessness; treatment depends on the cause.

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In anaemia, the blood contains too little haemoglobin or too few healthy red blood cells to carry enough oxygen. Anaemia is not a final diagnosis: its underlying cause needs to be found. Iron deficiency is common, but bleeding, vitamin deficiency, chronic illness, kidney disease and inherited blood disorders are other possibilities.

  • Common symptoms are tiredness, reduced fitness, dizziness, headache, palpitations and shortness of breath on exertion.
  • Symptoms and severity depend on how low haemoglobin is, how quickly it fell, and heart or lung disease.
  • A blood test confirms anaemia, and the characteristics of red blood cells guide further investigations.
  • Do not take iron long term on your own initiative: too much iron may be harmful and treatment may hide the true cause.
  • Bleeding from the stomach, bowel, urinary tract or womb must be identified and treated where necessary.
  • Severe breathlessness at rest, chest pain, fainting or active major bleeding is an emergency.

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