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Feeling faint
Malaise
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Pallor
Cold feet
Extreme fatigue
Pale skin
Tiredness
Fatigue after eating
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Anemia?
Anemia is a disorder where the body's tissues don't receive enough oxygen due to a lack of healthy red blood cells. There are several types of anemia with various causes, the most common being iron-deficiency anemia, which results from insufficient iron. Iron is needed to produce hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen.
Typical Symptoms of Anemia
- Feel unsteady or floating when I am standing
- Dizziness
- Low red blood cell count on blood test
- Black, shiny stool
- Vomiting blood
- Feel lightheaded
- Currently pregnant
- Premenstrual symptoms like discomfort and irritability
Diagnostic Questions for Anemia
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you feel dizzy or floaty when standing?
- Do you feel dizzy?
- Do you have a low red blood cell count on your blood test?
- Have you had black, shiny stools?
- Have you vomited blood?
Treatment of Anemia
Treatment for anemia depends on the cause. In cases of iron deficiency anemia, iron may be taken orally as supplements or injected into the vein. Severe cases of anemia may require blood transfusions. Dietary modifications are necessary.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Nov 15, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Low red blood cell count on blood test
- Black poop
- Dizziness multiple times
- Blood vomit after repeatedly throwing up
- Last blood test showed anemia
- Off-balance like floating
- Abdominal pain
- Spinning feeling
- Low hemoglobin on recent blood test
- Blood in vomit after vomiting the second time
- A sense of motion or spinning (vertigo)
- Tarry stools
- Dizzy when standing up
- Blood in vomit after continuous bouts of vomitting
- Black shiny stool
See full list
User Testimonials for Anemia
Female, 20s
With Ubie's help, I realized what my symptoms meant and decided to contact my doctor, who confirmed I had Anemia. Ubie helped me receive a proper diagnosis and I feel much more at ease now.
(Feb 18, 2025)
Symptoms Related to Anemia
Diseases Related to Anemia
FAQs
Q.
Always "Running on Empty"? Why Your Hemoglobin Is Starving Your Body + Medical Next Steps
A.
Low hemoglobin starves your body of oxygen, causing persistent fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and more, most often from iron deficiency but also from B12 or folate deficiency, chronic disease, blood loss, or rare bone marrow disorders. Next steps include a CBC with iron studies and B12 and folate testing to find the cause, doctor guided treatment such as iron or vitamin therapy, managing underlying disease, or transfusion if levels are dangerously low, and urgent care for red flags like chest pain, fainting, black or bloody stools, severe breathlessness, or a very fast heartbeat; key thresholds, diet tips, and what not to self treat are explained in detail below.
References:
* Beguin, Y. (2017). Fatigue in Anemia. *Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy*, *44*(4), 227-234.
* Lopez, A., Cacoub, P., Macdougall, I. C., & Peyrin-Biroulet, L. (2020). Iron deficiency anaemia. *The Lancet*, *396*(10244), 119-132.
* Bärtsch, R., & Steinhoff, J. (2017). Oxygen transport in the blood. *Der Anaesthesist*, *66*(9), 675-685.
* Warner, M. J., & Linder, E. M. (2022). Anemia: Evaluation and Management. *Primary Care*, *49*(3), 415-429.
* von Häfen, P., Stichtenoth, G., Böger, R. H., & Zietz, B. (2022). Chronic Anemia and Its Impact on the Heart. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, *11*(16), 4608.
Q.
Always Sluggish? Why Your Hematocrit Is Your "Internal Fuel Gauge" + Medically-Approved Next Steps
A.
Persistent fatigue may signal an abnormal hematocrit, your body’s internal fuel gauge for oxygen delivery; low levels often point to anemia with weakness, breathlessness, and brain fog, while high levels can thicken blood and strain the heart. Medically approved next steps include a CBC with iron, B12, folate, and kidney checks, targeted diet changes, clinician-guided iron or vitamin therapy, treating the root cause, and urgent care for red flags like chest pain, fainting, or black stools. There are several factors to consider, and important nuances that could change your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Qaseem, A., et al. (2020). Diagnosis and Management of Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Adults: American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice Guidelines. *Gastroenterology, 159*(3), 856-871. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.053
* Sheng, S., et al. (2021). Pathophysiology and current understanding of fatigue in various disease states. *Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 8*(11), 2200-2212. doi:10.1002/acn3.51465
* Hasin, P. R., et al. (2020). Reference values for hematologic parameters in the adult population of the United States. *Annals of Translational Medicine, 8*(13), 786. doi:10.21037/atm-20-4139
* Weiss, G., et al. (2018). Anemia of chronic disease: current concepts. *Wien Medizinische Wochenschrift, 168*(9-10), 213-221. doi:10.1007/s10354-018-0624-z
* Pasricha, S. R., et al. (2016). Iron deficiency and fatigue: a review of current knowledge. *BoneKEy Reports, 5*, 871. doi:10.1038/bonekey.2016.126
Q.
Running on Empty? Why Your Blood Is Failing + Medically Proven Anemia Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider. Anemia means your blood cannot carry enough oxygen, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness, most often from iron deficiency but also from blood loss, low red blood cell production due to B12 or folate deficiency or chronic disease, or increased red cell destruction. Medically proven steps start with lab testing like a CBC and iron studies to find the cause, then targeted treatment such as iron, B12 or folate replacement, managing bleeding or chronic illness, and urgent care for severe symptoms; see the complete details below to choose the right next steps.
References:
* Pye, L., & Bakhai, A. (2020). Anemia: a practical approach. *British Journal of Hospital Medicine (London, England : 2005)*, *81*(7), 1–9. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2020.81.7.382. (PMID: 32675662)
* Camaschella, C. (2021). Diagnosis and Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Clinical Review. *JAMA*, *325*(13), 1316–1324. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.3197. (PMID: 33735235)
* Weiss, G., Ganz, T., & Olsson, M. (2020). Anemia of Chronic Disease: Emerging Concepts in Pathogenesis and Treatment. *Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America*, *34*(3), 543–559. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2020.01.002. (PMID: 32560381)
* Konda, S., & Rajagopalan, D. (2021). Nutritional Anemias: An Update. *The Indian Journal of Pediatrics*, *88*(12), 1184–1192. doi: 10.1007/s12098-021-03761-1. (PMID: 34159588)
* Kaushansky, K. (2019). Anemia: A Diagnostic Approach. *Seminars in Hematology*, *56*(2), 70–74. doi: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2019.01.001. (PMID: 30777591)
Q.
Anemia in Women: Why You’re Tired & Your Vital Next Steps
A.
Feeling constantly tired, weak, foggy, or short of breath may be anemia, a common and often treatable issue in women due to heavy periods, pregnancy, low iron intake, absorption problems, or less common B12 or folate deficiencies. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Your vital next steps are to track symptoms, ask your clinician for a CBC with ferritin and related tests, address the cause and follow treatment until stores are replenished with repeat labs, and seek urgent care for red flags like chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or black or bloody stools.
References:
* Knutson M. Anemia in Women: A Review. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2018 Jan;27(1):12-21. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2017.6534. PMID: 28841094.
* Prentice HA, Rusu A, Badarau O. Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in adults: a review. CMAJ. 2020 Feb 24;192(8):E197-E205. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.191196. PMID: 32094186.
* Vaucher P, Lacroix L, Viala L, de Rham R, Dayer E. Fatigue in women with iron deficiency without anemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med. 2021 Mar 10;19(1):64. doi: 10.1186/s12916-021-01931-1. PMID: 33691763.
* Wang D, Xu H, Huang Y, Chen H, Yu B, Ma Y. Iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy: A narrative review. Front Nutr. 2022 Dec 15;9:1063198. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1063198. PMID: 36590204.
* Knutson MD, Kambe M, Ma D, Schuerle T. The importance of iron in anemia and health: a narrative review. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2020 Oct;29(10):1244-1250. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8529. PMID: 32840502.
Q.
Hemoglobin for Women 30-45: Why You’re Tired & Vital Next Steps
A.
Low hemoglobin is a common, treatable reason women 30 to 45 feel persistently tired; normal is 12.0 to 15.5 g/dL, and levels can drop with heavy periods, pregnancy or postpartum changes, low-iron diets, gastrointestinal absorption or bleeding issues, and chronic inflammation. Key next steps include asking your clinician for a CBC and iron studies including ferritin, optimizing iron intake and absorption, considering iron supplements only with medical guidance, and tracking menstrual bleeding; for other causes to consider like B12 or thyroid problems, when to seek urgent care, and practical tips that could change your plan, see the complete details below.
References:
* Kraynak, P. A., & Wilson, C. L. (2021). Iron Deficiency and Fatigue in Women of Childbearing Age: A Literature Review. *Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 50*(4), 485–492. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34298103/
* Loh, K. P., D'Amico, M. A., Smith, R. G., Smith, H. M., Pollicino, C., Benzel, N. J., & Michet, C. J. (2023). Iron Supplementation for Anemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Women of Reproductive Age: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. *The American Journal of Medicine*, *136*(12), 1184–1193.e4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37626359/
* Hassan, S., Ali, F., Raza, H., Naveed, Z., Ehsan, S., Khan, N. M., Maqsood, A., & Farooq, M. A. (2020). Fatigue and hemoglobin levels in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. *Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England)*, *42*(4), e398–e406. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32014052/
* Loh, K. P., D'Amico, M. A., Smith, H. M., Smith, R. G., Pollicino, C., Benzel, N. J., & Michet, C. J. (2023). Iron deficiency anemia: an updated review for the practicing clinician. *Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38*(4), 1083–1094. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36606015/
* Low, M. S., Speedy, J., Styles, C. E., De-Regil, L. M., & Pasricha, S. R. (2014). Effects of iron supplementation on fatigue in nonanemic iron-deficient women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. *BMJ Open, 4*(2), e004618. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24549427/
Q.
7 Hidden Anemia Signs Women 65+ Mistake for Normal Aging
A.
The seven hidden anemia signs women 65 and older often mistake for normal aging are persistent fatigue, shortness of breath with mild activity, pale skin or inner eyelids, dizziness or balance problems, cold hands and feet, trouble concentrating or memory changes, and irregular heartbeat or chest discomfort. Because anemia is common yet underdiagnosed in older women and can raise risks like falls, heart strain, and hospitalization, there are several factors to consider. See below for the causes to rule out, when to seek care, which blood tests confirm it, and the next steps to start the right treatment.
References:
* Patel KV. Anemia in Older Adults: A Review. JAMA. 2020 Dec 22;324(24):2527-2538. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.22915. PMID: 33351062.
* Girelli D, et al. Iron deficiency and anemia in the elderly: A narrative review. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018 Jul 1;73(7):851-858. doi:10.1093/gerona/glx140. PMID: 29036329.
* Artz AS. Anemia, chronic inflammation, and physical function in older adults: An updated review. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020 Apr 1;75(4):755-763. doi:10.1093/gerona/glaa006. PMID: 32011707.
* O'Hanlon KA, Artz AS. Impact of anemia on quality of life in older adults: A systematic review. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018 Apr 1;73(4):453-461. doi:10.1093/gerona/glx121. PMID: 28859345.
* Gasevic E, et al. Anemia and cognitive function in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018 May 1;73(5):565-573. doi:10.1093/gerona/gly002. PMID: 29304192.
Q.
Anemia Over 65: Identifying the Root Cause of Low Energy
A.
Persistent low energy, weakness, or shortness of breath in adults over 65 often points to anemia, which is common but not a normal part of aging. There are several factors to consider, including iron deficiency, low vitamin B12 or folate, anemia of chronic disease or kidney disease, and less commonly bone marrow disorders, and evaluation typically starts with a CBC plus targeted tests. See below for the key warning signs, when to talk with a clinician, how to use a symptom checker, and the cause‑specific treatments that can restore energy, since early evaluation and these details can change the right next steps for you.
References:
* Valent P, Cerny-Reiterer S, Gastl G, Theurl I, Stauder R. Anemia in the elderly: what to consider. Semin Hematol. 2017 Apr;54(2):83-92. doi: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2017.04.004. PMID: 28571861.
* Girelli D, Marchi G, Marchi S, Grotto E, Busti F, Poggiana C, Vianello S, Pignatti P, Pavanello M, Tommasi V. Anemia in older adults: A review of prevalence, causes, and management. Front Med (Lausanne). 2018 Dec 19;5:367. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00367. PMID: 30678666; PMCID: PMC6307739.
* Bhasin R, Artz AS. Diagnosis and Management of Anemia in Older Adults. Curr Geriatr Rep. 2022;11(3):79-87. doi: 10.1007/s13670-022-00424-6. Epub 2022 Aug 23. PMID: 36021464; PMCID: PMC9401734.
* Poggiana C, Marchi G, Marchi S, Girelli D. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in older adults. Curr Geriatr Rep. 2022;11(3):88-97. doi: 10.1007/s13670-022-00425-5. Epub 2022 Aug 23. PMID: 36021465; PMCID: PMC9401736.
* Fuhrmann M, Boivin M, Valent P, Cerny-Reiterer S. Anemia of chronic disease in older adults: current concepts and management. Ann Hematol. 2023 Oct;102(10):2757-2767. doi: 10.1007/s00277-023-05459-x. Epub 2023 Aug 26. PMID: 37628994.
Q.
Iron Deficiency in Women: Why You’re Feeling So Fatigued
A.
Persistent fatigue in women is often caused by iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, which limit oxygen delivery and lead to deep tiredness, shortness of breath, and brain fog. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Women are at higher risk from heavy periods, pregnancy, breastfeeding, low iron intake, and absorption problems; diagnosis requires blood tests, treatment may include iron rich foods, supplements, and addressing the cause, and urgent signs like chest pain, fainting, or rapidly worsening fatigue need prompt care. Full details and the next steps to take are outlined below.
References:
* Low M, Barnett PG, Marx W. Iron Deficiency and Fatigue: A Review of the Evidence. Am J Med. 2021 Jul;134(7):851-857. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.02.008. PMID: 33636254.
* Lopez A, Cacoub P, Macdougall IC, Peyrin-Biroulet L. Iron Deficiency: A Practical Guide for Clinicians. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020 Jan;95(1):154-164. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.06.027. PMID: 31676100.
* Jankowska EA, Malyszko J, Stanifer JW, Wiecek A, Van Biesen W. Iron Deficiency without Anaemia - A Common and Neglected Entity. Nutrients. 2020 Nov 2;12(11):3327. doi: 10.3390/nu12113327. PMID: 33149726.
* Vaughn J, Patino G, Purnell C, Shah M, Patinote C. Management of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in women. Blood Rev. 2021 Mar;46:100742. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100742. PMID: 33077366.
* Pattni N, Shah S, Manoharan K, Rimmer D, Bhatti S, Dhillon H, Dhanda R, Lim M, Khasriya R, Singh S, Gupta P. Iron deficiency in non-anaemic women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Haematol. 2023 Apr;10(4):e267-e280. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(23)00030-8. PMID: 36925189.
Q.
What are good foods to eat if you have anemia?
A.
Consume foods rich in iron and vitamins such as beef, liver, fish, legumes (lentils, chickpeas) and dark leafy green vegetables.
References:
Moustarah F, Daley SF. Dietary Iron. [Updated 2024 Jan 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
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Williams MD, Wheby MS. Anemia in pregnancy. Med Clin North Am. 1992 May;76(3):631-47. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30344-3. PMID: 1578961.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025712516303443?via%3DihubSchümann K, Solomons NW. Perspective: What Makes It So Difficult to Mitigate Worldwide Anemia Prevalence? Adv Nutr. 2017 May 15;8(3):401-408. doi: 10.3945/an.116.013847. PMID: 28507005; PMCID: PMC5421119.
https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/8/3/401/4558077