What are the symptoms of anemia?

What are the symptoms of anemia?

The major symptoms of anemia include the following:

• Feeling tired
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Feeling cold

What causes anemia?

Low levels of iron is the most common cause of anemia. This is known as iron-deficiency anemia, the most common type of anemia. Factors that can reduce the body's iron levels include:

• Blood loss (caused by ulcers, some cancers, and other conditions; and, in women, during monthly periods)
• An iron-poor diet
• An increase in the body's need for iron (for instance, during pregnancy).

Anyone can develop iron-deficiency anemia, although the following groups have a higher risk:

• women, because of blood loss during monthly periods and childbirth
• people over 65, who are more likely to have diets that are low in iron
• people who are on blood thinners such as aspirin, Plavix®, Coumadin®, or heparin
• people who have kidney failure (especially if they are on dialysis), because they have trouble making red blood cells
• people who have trouble absorbing iron. 

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Zalmin Zakaria