Anaemia: symptoms, causes and assessment

Anaemia involves insufficient red blood cells or haemoglobin, affecting oxygen delivery to tissues. Possible causes include deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12 or folate, blood loss, chronic disease and inherited conditions. Identifying the cause changes the choice of treatment.

Tiredness, weakness, pallor, dizziness and breathlessness may occur, while mild anaemia can cause no symptoms. Haemoglobin and cell measurements in a full blood count are interpreted in context, including age and health. Further tests may assess vitamins, iron, kidney function or sources of bleeding; do not diagnose yourself from one online cut-off.

A confirmed deficiency may need the relevant vitamin or mineral, while bleeding needs attention to its source. Specialist haematology care or transfusion may be considered in some situations, but not for everyone. Taking iron without evidence of iron deficiency may not help and can be harmful.

Balanced nutrition matters, but molasses or any single food does not treat every type of anaemia. Agree follow-up timing and treatment duration according to your results.

Call 112 for new chest pain, significant difficulty breathing, fainting or severe bleeding; do not dismiss these as usual anaemia symptoms. Vomiting blood, black tar-like stools or rapidly worsening weakness need urgent medical assessment. Do not postpone review of persistent tiredness or pallor either.