Overview
Anaemia means the blood has too few healthy red cells to carry oxygen, leaving you tired, weak and pale. The most common cause worldwide is iron deficiency — from a low-iron diet, heavy periods, pregnancy or slow bleeding from the gut — and other causes include vitamin deficiencies and chronic disease. Finding the cause matters as much as correcting the anaemia.
Symptoms
- Tiredness and weakness
- Paleness of palms, inner eyelids or tongue
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Fast heartbeat or palpitations
- Headaches
- Cravings for non-food items like clay or ice (severe iron deficiency)
Causes & risk factors
- Iron-poor diet or poor iron absorption
- Blood loss from heavy periods, ulcers or gut bleeding
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
- Pregnancy without supplementation
- Chronic illness or inherited conditions such as sickle cell disease
Treatment & self-care
Treatment targets the cause — iron-rich foods and prescribed iron supplements for deficiency, replacing low vitamins, and managing heavy periods or any source of bleeding. Severe anaemia may need hospital care or transfusion. A simple blood test (full blood count) guides the plan; do not take supplements indefinitely without a diagnosis, as that can mask a serious cause.
See a doctor urgently if
- Severe weakness, fainting or breathlessness at rest
- Paleness with a racing heart
- Anaemia symptoms in pregnancy
- Black stools or any ongoing bleeding