Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.
Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells. It gives red blood cells their red color. People with anemia do not have enough hemoglobin.
See also:
The cause depends on the type of anemia. Possible causes include:
Possible symptoms include:
Some types of anemia may have other symptoms, such as:
The doctor will perform a physical examination, and may find:
Some types of anemia may cause other findings on a physical exam.
The following blood tests are used to diagnose anemia:
Other tests may be done to identify medical problems that can cause anemia.
Treatment should be directed at the cause of the anemia, and may include:
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Reviewer Info: Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc; ADAM Health Illustrated Encyclopedia, 04/05/2009 |