Anemia occurs when the level of healthy red blood cells  in the body becomes too low. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin a red, iron-rich protein that gives blood, its red color.

To produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, your body needs iron, protein and vitamins from the foods you eat. When you’re anemic, your body produces too few healthy red blood cells, loses too many of them or destroys them faster than they can be replaced. Thus, your blood becomes low on red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues leaving you tired.

The main symptom of most types of anemia is fatigue. Other anemia symptoms include:

Treatment for anemia depends on its cause. Iron deficiency anemia is treated with prescribed iron supplements. If the cause is loss of blood other than from menstruation the source of blood loss needs to be blocked.

Discontinuing certain medication if that appears to be the cause and finding alternative medication.

This is a life-threatening anemia caused by a decrease in the bone marrow’s ability to produce all three types of blood cells red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Among other causes, anemia can result from inherited disorders, infections, some kinds of cancer, or exposure to a drug or toxin.