Possible symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness or light-headedness (especially when standing up or with activity)
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Headaches
• Problems concentrating
• Shortness of breath (especially during exercise)

Some types of anemia may have other symptoms, such as:

• Constipation
• Problems thinking
• Tingling

The doctor will perform a physical examination, and may find:

• Pale skin
• Rapid heart rate
• Heart murmur

Some types of anemia may cause other findings on a physical exam.

Blood tests used to diagnose some common types of anemia may include:

• Blood levels of vitamin B12, folic acid, and other vitamins and minerals
• Red blood count and hemoglobin level
• Reticulocyte count
• Ferritin level
• Iron level

Other tests may be done to identify medical problems that can cause anemia.

Images

Red blood cells, elliptocytosis

Hemoglobin

Red blood cells, target cells

Red blood cells, sickle cell

Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells

Ovalocytoses

Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer

Red blood cells, spherocytosis

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Anemia Overview

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Anemia Treatment

Review Date: 02/28/2011
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)