Sign and Symptoms of Anemia

Anemia Symptoms
Because a low red blood cell count decreases oxygen delivery to

every tissue in the body, anemia can cause a variety of signs and
symptoms. It can also worsen the symptoms of almost any other
underlying medical condition. If anemia is mild, it may not cause any
symptoms. If anemia is slowly ongoing (chronic), the body may adapt and
compensate for the change; in this case there may not be any symptoms
until the anemia becomes more severe.
Symptoms of anemia may include the following:
 Fatigue
 Decreased energy
 Weakness
 shortness of breath
 Lightheadedness
 Palpitations (feeling of the heart racing or beating irregularly) and
 Looking pale.
Symptoms of severe anemia may include :
 Chest pain, angina, or heart attack

 Dizziness
 Fainting or passing out and
 Rapid heart rate.
Some of the signs that may indicate anemia in an individual may include:
Change in stool color, including black and tarry stools (sticky and
foul smelling), maroon-colored, or visibly bloody stools if the anemia is due
to blood loss through the gastrointestinal tract :
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 rapid heart rate
 Low blood pressure
 Rapid breathing
 Pale or cold skin;
 Yellow skin called jaundice if anemia is due to red blood cell
breakdown
 Heart murmur and
 Enlargement of the spleen with certain causes of anemia.
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can be mild at first, and

you may not even notice them. According to the American Society of
Hematology (ASH), most people don’t realize they have mild anemia until
they have a routine blood test.
The symptoms of moderate to severe iron deficiency anemia include :
 General fatigue
 Weakness
 Pale skin
 Shortness of breath
 Dizziness
 Strange cravings to eat items that aren’t food, such as dirt, ice, or
clay
 A tingling or crawling feeling in the legs
 Tongue swelling or soreness
 Cold hands and feet
 Fast or irregular heartbeat
 Brittle nails
 Headaches
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Symptoms of Megaloblastic Anemia
The most common symptom of megaloblastic anemia is fatigue.

Symptoms can vary from person to person. Common symptoms include :
 Muscle weakness
 Abnormal paleness of the skin
 Glossitis (swollen tongue)
 Loss of appetite/weight loss
 Diarrhea
 Nausea
 Fast heartbeat
 Smooth or tender tongue
 Tingling in hands and feet
 Numbness in extremities
Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia
The progression of pernicious anemia is slow. It may be difficult to

recognize the symptoms because you may have become used to not
feeling well.
Commonly overlooked symptoms include :
 weakness
 headaches
 chest pain
 weight loss
In rare cases of pernicious anemia, people may have neurological

symptoms. These can include :
 an unsteady gait
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 spasticity, which is stiffness and tightness in the muscles
 peripheral neuropathy, which is numbness in the arms and legs
 progressive lesions of the spinal cord
 memory loss
Other symptoms of a B-12 deficiency, which can overlap with pernicious

anemia, include :
 nausea and vomiting

 confusion
 depression
 constipation
 loss of appetite
 heartburn
Symptoms of Anemia During Pregnancy
The most common symptoms of anemia during pregnancy are :
 Pale skin, lips, and nails

 Feeling tired or weak
 Dizziness
 Rapid heartbeat
 Trouble concentrating
In the early stages of anemia, you may not have obvious

symptoms. And many of the symptoms are ones that you might have while
pregnant even if you're not anemic. So be sure to get routine blood tests to
check for anemia at your prenatal appointments.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Anemia In Toddlers
There are several signs of iron deficiency in toddlers, but the most
common symptoms are :
 Paleness of the skin

 Nail beds turn white from pinkish
 Fatigue
 Irritability
 Dizziness
 Excessively less amount of RBC can lead to jaundice.
 Behavioral disturbance
 Decrease in motor activity.
Symptoms of Anemia in an Inflant
Anemia is a common blood disorder in infants, affecting normal

growth and development. The most common type in babies under two
years of age is iron-deficiency anemia. With iron-deficiency anemia, the
infant either does not get enough iron or cannot absorb iron. Lack of iron
lowers the number of healthy red blood cells. These contain hemoglobin,
which carries oxygen to organs and tissues. A growing baby needs this
oxygen for organs to develop properly. Signs of infant anemia can be hard
to see until the case is more severe, so have your baby tested at routine
doctor's appointments. Call your infant’s pediatrician right away if you
notice any of the below symptoms.
 Paleness of Skin, Lips and Nail Beds
Look for paleness in your baby’s skin, lips or nail beds. Paleness
tells you that not enough red blood cells and oxygen are circulating in your
baby's blood. Some babies can even take on a gray or blue tone in very
serious cases. You may not be able to notice paleness in infants until they
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have significant anemia, typically hemoglobin levels greater than 7 grams
per deciliter (g/dL). Schedule an appointment for your baby to see his
pediatrician if you notice paleness.
 Jaundice
Anemic babies can develop a condition called jaundice. You will be

able to see jaundice when the infant’s skin or whites of the eyes turn a
yellow color. The buildup of a substance called bilirubin causes this
yellowing. This happens when the baby's body breaks down too many old
red blood cells, making a large amount of bilirubin. The baby's liver can
filter out a normal amount of bilirubin each day. When there is a high
number of red blood cells broken down and more bilirubin than the liver
can handle, your infant’s skin begins to turn yellow. Call your baby’s
pediatrician immediately if you notice any yellowing of the skin so that she
can begin treating your baby's jaundice and anemia.
 Rapid Heartbeat or New Heart Murmur
Pay attention to heart changes. When not enough oxygen is getting

to your baby’s tissues and organs, her body may compensate by raising
her heart rate. The heart tries to pump more blood and oxygen to tissues
throughout her body. Stress on the heart can cause a murmur. Ask the
pediatrician if anemia could be causing your baby’s increased heart rate or
new murmur. If anemia could be the cause, have your infant’s blood tested
for anemia.
 Decreased Appetite
Babies with anemia become tired easily and may be too weak to
properly suck. If you notice your baby has a decreased appetite, begin
taking notes of how often and for how long your baby nurses. Or, if your
baby drinks formula, make note of the volume of formula your baby drinks
at each feeding. Share this information with your pediatrician.
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 Excessive Sleeping or Fatigue
If your baby sleeps an excessive amount, call your pediatrician.

This can be a sign of anemia. Because he does not have enough oxygen
in his blood, an anemic baby may be too weak to play or remain awake for
normal periods of time. Keep a journal of how long your baby sleeps in a
24-hour period. When your baby is awake, make notes on how active he
stays. Show the pediatrician your notes to help diagnose and treat any
possible anemia.
 Irritability
Does your baby seem unusually cranky when she is awake? If she
has anemia, your infant may be over-tired, or hungry but too weak to eat.
This can make a baby become more irritable than normal. Ask your doctor
if your baby’s irritability maybe a sign of underlying anemia.
Some individuals with anemia have no symptoms. Others with

anemia may feel:
 Tired
 Fatigue easily
 Appear pale
 Develop palpitations (feeling of heart racing)
 Become short of breath
Additional symptoms may include:
 Hair loss
 Malaise (general sense of feeling unwell)
 Worsening of heart problems
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It is worth noting that if anemia is longstanding (chronic anemia),
the body may adjust to low oxygen levels and the individual may not feel
different unless the anemia becomes severe. On the other hand, if the
anemia occurs rapidly (acute anemia), the patient may experience
significant symptoms relatively quickly, and even with relative mild
fluctuations of hemoglobin levels.
The most common symptom of megaloblastic anemia is fatigue.

Symptoms can vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:
 shortness of breath
 muscle weakness
 abnormal paleness of the skin
 glossitis (swollen tongue)
 loss of appetite/weight loss
 diarrhea
 nausea
 fast heartbeat
 smooth or tender tongue
 tingling in hands and feet
 numbness in extremities
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Sign and Symptoms of Anemia

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Anemia Symptoms

Because a low red blood cell count decreases oxygen delivery to

Symptoms of anemia may include the following:

Symptoms of severe anemia may include :

 Chest pain, angina, or heart attack

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can be mild at first, and

The symptoms of moderate to severe iron deficiency anemia include :

The most common symptom of megaloblastic anemia is fatigue.

Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia

The progression of pernicious anemia is slow. It may be difficult to

Commonly overlooked symptoms include :

In rare cases of pernicious anemia, people may have neurological

Other symptoms of a B-12 deficiency, which can overlap with pernicious

 nausea and vomiting

Symptoms of Anemia During Pregnancy

The most common symptoms of anemia during pregnancy are :

 Pale skin, lips, and nails

In the early stages of anemia, you may not have obvious

 Paleness of the skin

Symptoms of Anemia in an Inflant

Anemia is a common blood disorder in infants, affecting normal

 Paleness of Skin, Lips and Nail Beds

Anemic babies can develop a condition called jaundice. You will be

 Rapid Heartbeat or New Heart Murmur

Pay attention to heart changes. When not enough oxygen is getting

If your baby sleeps an excessive amount, call your pediatrician.

Some individuals with anemia have no symptoms. Others with

Additional symptoms may include:

The most common symptom of megaloblastic anemia is fatigue.

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