Anemia – part I

Anemia is the umbrella term for a variety of disorders characterized by the inability of the red blood cells to carry sufficient oxygen. This may be due to an abnormality of a low level of hemoglobin, the iron and protein based red pigment in blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to all body cells. Symptoms of anemia therefore, reflect oxygen starvation. In mild anemia, this may include general weakness, pallor, fatigue and brittle nails. More severe cases are marked by shortness of breath, fainting, and cardiac arrhythmia. The most common type of anemia is due to iron deficiency which is usually caused by blood loss of some type.