Anemia
A shortage of healthy red blood cells or the haemoglobin inside them, so blood carries less oxygen. Very common, it is a signpost rather than a diagnosis — the job is to find the cause, and the red-cell size (MCV) is the first clue.
What it is
Anaemia means the blood has too little haemoglobin — the protein in red cells that carries oxygen — so tissues get less oxygen, causing tiredness, breathlessness, pallor and a fast heartbeat. It is a very common finding, but it is a sign, not a disease in itself: the important step is always to find why. The most useful first sorting tool is the size of the red cells (MCV): small cells (microcytic) point to iron deficiency or, in some populations, an inherited haemoglobin disorder; large cells (macrocytic) point to B12 or folate deficiency, alcohol, thyroid or liver disease; normal-sized cells (normocytic) point to the anaemia of chronic disease, kidney disease, sudden blood loss, or bone-marrow problems. The commonest cause worldwide is iron deficiency, usually from blood loss (including heavy periods) or poor intake or absorption. Because anaemia can be the first sign of a hidden problem such as gut bleeding, a new or unexplained anaemia is investigated rather than just treated with iron.
Key lab markers
- Haemoglobin and haematocrit — define and grade the anaemia.
- MCV (red-cell size) — the key sorter: microcytic, normocytic or macrocytic points to different causes.
- RDW — variation in red-cell size; helps separate iron deficiency from other causes.
- Ferritin, iron, transferrin/TIBC — diagnose iron deficiency, the commonest cause.
- Vitamin B12 and folate — for macrocytic anaemia.
- Reticulocytes — show whether the marrow is responding.
- Kidney function, CRP, TSH — for anaemia of chronic disease, kidney disease and thyroid causes.
Symptoms
- Tiredness and low energy
- Breathlessness, especially on exertion
- Pale skin, best seen inside the lower eyelid
- A fast or pounding heartbeat
- Dizziness or headaches
- Cold hands and feet
- In iron deficiency — brittle nails, hair thinning, cravings for ice or unusual substances
- Sometimes none, if the anaemia is mild or has developed slowly
Related symptoms
Related lab panels
When to discuss with a doctor
New tiredness with breathlessness, pallor or a fast heartbeat is worth a simple blood count. A confirmed anaemia should prompt a search for the cause rather than iron tablets alone, because the reason matters: iron deficiency in an adult (especially a man, or a woman past menopause) can signal bleeding from the gut that needs investigation; a macrocytic anaemia needs B12 and folate checked. Severe anaemia, or anaemia with chest pain, marked breathlessness, or black or bloody stools, needs urgent care. Once the cause is known, treatment is usually effective — iron, B12 or folate replacement, or treating the underlying condition. Mediora.AI reads the haemoglobin, MCV and iron pattern to point toward the type of anaemia; the diagnosis and cause-finding belong with your doctor.