Anemia Causes, Symptoms & More

By chelsea

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Anemia.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 16 Aug. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360.
• 2. 'Anemia.' National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/anemia.
• 3. 'Five Common Symptoms of an Iron Deficiency.' Piedmont Healthcare, www.piedmont.org/living-better/5-symptoms-of-an-iron-deficiency.
• 4. 'BLOOD DISORDERS: ANEMIA.' Phlbi.org, www.phlbi.org/divisions/blood-disorders/anemia.

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Anemia is the result of the body not having enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to tissues throughout the body. When the tissues don't get enough oxygen, a person can experience a wide range of symptoms.¹‘Anemia.’ Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 16 Aug. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360.

These symptoms range from a persistent feeling of fatigue to shortness of breath and more. They can greatly disrupt a person's quality of life and inhibit their ability to perform basic daily tasks. Thankfully, these sometimes debilitating symptoms begin to clear up shortly after treatment begins.

1. Feeling Fatigued

Feeling fatigued is often one of the first and most commonly overlooked signs of anemia. This feeling of fatigue is different than being tired after a long day of getting things done. With this type of fatigue, people feel tired no matter how long they sleep or how much caffeine they ingest.

The fatigue felt early on only gets worse if the underlying anemia isn't treated. It can severely disrupt a person's life because it makes it difficult to find energy for even the smallest of tasks. This fatigue generally improves shortly after treatment begins.