Anemia

Anemia is a condition in which hemoglobin concentration or red blood cell mass is below normal. It reduces the blood’s capacity to deliver oxygen to tissues.

Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein in red blood cells that binds and transports oxygen. Low hemoglobin concentration is one defining basis for diagnosing anemia.
Complete blood count: A complete blood count measures blood-cell counts and related indices, including hemoglobin and hematocrit. It commonly establishes anemia and provides initial clues to its type.
Polycythemia: Polycythemia is an abnormally increased concentration of red blood cells or hemoglobin. It is the opposite blood-count pattern, with elevated rather than reduced red-cell measures.
Tissue hypoxia: Tissue hypoxia is inadequate oxygen availability in body tissues. Anemia can cause tissue hypoxia by limiting oxygen transport in blood.
Erythropoiesis: Erythropoiesis is the production of red blood cells, primarily in bone marrow. Impaired red-cell production can reduce red blood cell mass.
Mean corpuscular volume: Mean corpuscular volume is the average volume of an individual red blood cell. It sorts anemia into microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic patterns.
Hypoxemia: Hypoxemia is an abnormally low oxygen level in arterial blood. It lowers blood oxygen directly, whereas anemia reduces the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity.
Fatigue: Fatigue is a persistent sense of tiredness or reduced capacity for physical or mental activity. It is a frequent symptom as tissues receive less oxygen or compensate for reduced capacity.
Hemolysis: Hemolysis is the premature destruction of red blood cells. Red-cell destruction can outpace production and cause anemia.
Peripheral blood smear: A peripheral blood smear is a microscope-based examination of blood cells spread on a slide. Cell size, shape, and inclusions can reveal the cause of anemia.

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