It is very common for the initial symptoms of Anemia to be so mild that you don’t even notice what’s happening. But, if left unchecked your Anemic condition can worsen and your symptoms will become much more pronounced. Anemia occurs when your blood doesn’t have enough red blood cells. This can happen if:
- Your body doesn’t make enough red blood cells
- Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced
- Your body destroys red blood cells
Symptoms
A classic symptom of anemia is feeling tired and lethargic often with no good explanation as to why. However fatigue has many causes besides anemia, so don’t assume that if you’re tired you must be anemic. Signs and symptoms vary depending on the cause of your anemia. Here’s what you should be looking out for:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Pale or yellowish skin
- Irregular heartbeats
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Chest pain
- Cold hands and feet
- Headache
Risks
If left untreated, anemia can cause many health problems, such as severe fatigue, pregnancy complications, heart problems and even death.
Get Checked Out
Make an appointment with Medical Offices of Manhattan if you’re feeling fatigued for unexplained reasons. Some anemias, such as iron deficiency anemia or vitamin B-12 deficiency, are common and can be treated relatively easily.
Further Reading
For more information about the signs, causes and risks of anemia, click on the full article from the Mayo Clinic here.
