Anemia is one of the most common blood disorders in the United States, and one of the easiest to miss.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) reports that about 3 million people in the country have it.
The condition means the blood is not carrying enough oxygen to the body's tissues.
The earliest signs often blend in with a bad night's sleep or a busy week. That is why so many cases go untreated.
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The American Society of Hematology calls anemia the most common blood disorder, affecting more than 3 million Americans.
The Cleveland Clinic estimates it also affects roughly 1 in 3 people worldwide.
8 signs to watch for
Almost every symptom of anemia traces back to the same problem.
Too little oxygen is reaching the body's cells. Alongside fatigue, the NHLBI lists shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, and an irregular heartbeat.
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More specific clues turn up in the guidance on iron-deficiency anemia, the most common type.
The NHLBI's iron-deficiency page points to pale skin and cold hands and feet.
The American Society of Hematology's patient guide adds brittle nails, hair loss, a sallow yellow tint to the skin, and rapid heartbeat. It also flags an unusual craving for ice or clay, known as pica.
Pulled together, the eight signs these authorities most often flag are:
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- Persistent tiredness or weakness
- Pale or yellowish skin
- Shortness of breath, especially with mild activity
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Cold hands and feet
- Dizziness or headache
- Brittle nails or hair loss
- Trouble concentrating or a foggy memory
That last one carries extra weight. The NHLBI's B12-deficiency guidance warns that untreated vitamin B12 anemia can bring "confusion, slower thinking, forgetfulness, and memory loss." Tingling in the hands or feet can follow.
Why the type matters
Anemia is not one disease. It is a family of conditions with different triggers, and the pattern of signs can point toward the cause.
Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type. It is especially frequent in women of childbearing age.
Heavy menstrual bleeding or blood loss during childbirth can outpace the body's iron supply, the NHLBI notes.
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Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency is a bigger factor in older adults.
The NHLBI explains that older people are more likely to have digestive problems that make B12 harder to absorb.
Certain drugs, including metformin and long-term heartburn medicines, can also lower B12 levels.
Anemia of chronic disease follows a different logic.
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The Cleveland Clinic explains that ongoing inflammation from a long-term illness can make it hard for the body to use the iron it already has. That happens even when iron intake is normal.
When to ask about a blood test
Any one of these signs alone is easy to explain away. Several together, and especially several that stick around for weeks, are worth raising with a doctor.
The standard first step is a complete blood count, or CBC.
The NHLBI recommends a blood test that checks the complete blood count along with hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin levels.
This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.