What Is Anemia?

Tiredness that doesn't lift after a good night's sleep is often how it starts. You might feel weak doing things that used to be easy, or notice you're paler than usual — and a routine blood test is what finally puts a name to it. The short explainer above, "What is Anemia?", runs for just under four minutes and gives the definition plainly: anemia is a condition in which your red blood cell count or your hemoglobin is lower than normal. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen, so when there's less of it, your tissues get less oxygen than they need.

First, a simple blood test

Anemia isn't usually diagnosed by symptoms alone, because tiredness has dozens of possible causes. What you can expect first is a blood test — most often a full blood count — that measures your red blood cells and hemoglobin. As the anchor video notes, the normal hemoglobin level is generally different for men and for women, so your clinician reads your result against the range that applies to you. The result confirms whether anemia is present, and roughly how mild or pronounced it is, but on its own it doesn't yet explain why.

Then, looking for why it happened

That second step matters, because anemia is a finding, not a final answer. It can develop when the body makes too few red blood cells, when cells are lost through bleeding, or when they're broken down faster than they can be replaced. One common route is running low on the raw materials for making red blood cells — iron is the best known of them. The site's longer video "Iron Deficiency Anemia", at just over seven minutes, walks through that particular form, where the blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells because iron has run short. Depending on your history and your other results, your clinician may check iron and vitamin levels, ask about blood loss, or arrange further tests to pin the cause down.

What treatment usually involves

Because the causes differ, treatment follows the cause rather than the label. If a shortfall of iron or a vitamin is behind it, replacing what's missing — and finding out why it ran low — is the usual direction. If bleeding is the source, stopping that bleeding comes first. In more severe cases, or when someone is very unwell, a hospital team may consider a transfusion of red blood cells; our article on what a blood transfusion is explains how that works, step by step. What you shouldn't expect is a single standard prescription that fits everyone — your own plan depends on your result, your cause, and how you feel.

Living with the follow-up

Recovery is rarely instant. Red blood cell levels rebuild gradually, so follow-up blood tests are a normal part of care, checking that the numbers are moving in the right direction and that energy returns with them. If tiredness, breathlessness, a racing heartbeat, or dizziness is getting worse rather than better — or arrives suddenly — don't wait for the next routine appointment to mention it. Get assessed promptly, in person, so a clinician can judge whether the anemia itself, or something behind it, needs faster attention.

MedicalVideos.com has published trusted medical videos since 2007. The site was founded by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD — physician-scientist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be anemic?
It means your red blood cell count or your hemoglobin is lower than normal, as the anchor video explains. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in red blood cells, so having too little can leave you feeling tired and weak.

How is anemia found?
Usually with a blood test, most often a full blood count, that measures red blood cells and hemoglobin. The normal hemoglobin level is generally different for men and for women, so results are read against the range that applies to you.

What causes anemia?
It can develop when the body makes too few red blood cells, when red cells are lost through bleeding, or when they are broken down too quickly. Running low on iron — a raw material for making red blood cells — is one common route.

Is iron deficiency anemia the same thing as anemia?
No. Iron deficiency is one cause of anemia, not the whole picture. The site's "Iron Deficiency Anemia" video covers that specific form, where the blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells because iron has run short.

How long is the anchor video?
Just under four minutes (3 minutes 57 seconds by the video file itself). It defines anemia as a red blood cell count or hemoglobin level that is less than normal, and notes that normal hemoglobin levels generally differ between males and females.

Educational only — this article is general information about anemia, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. Persistent tiredness, breathlessness, chest pain, or fainting needs prompt in-person medical assessment.