Anemia: Causes, Types, and How It Affects Your Health

When your blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Also known as low blood count, it's one of the most common blood disorders worldwide. You might feel worn out, dizzy, or short of breath—not because you're lazy, but because your tissues aren't getting what they need to function.

Anemia isn't one thing. It's a group of conditions, and the most common type is iron deficiency anemia, a condition where the body lacks enough iron to make hemoglobin. This happens often from heavy periods, poor diet, or slow bleeding in the gut. Then there's vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, a form caused by not getting enough B12, often due to absorption problems or vegan diets. And don't forget anemia linked to chronic diseases like kidney failure or lupus—both of which show up in our post collection. Each type has different causes, symptoms, and fixes.

People with anemia don't just feel tired. They might have pale skin, cold hands, headaches, or a racing heart. In severe cases, it can strain the heart or lead to complications if ignored. The good news? Many types are easy to fix once you know what's causing them. Blood tests can spot low iron, low B12, or abnormal red blood cell shape. Treatment isn't always pills—it could mean changing your diet, fixing a hidden bleed, or adjusting medications that affect your bone marrow.

Our collection of posts dives into how anemia connects to other conditions you might not expect. For example, atenolol—a blood pressure drug—might influence bone health and red blood cell production. Canagliflozin, used for diabetes, can affect kidney function, which plays a role in making red blood cells. Even azathioprine, an immune suppressant, can lower blood counts as a side effect. And while anemia itself isn't the main topic of every post, it's often a hidden thread tying together fatigue, medication side effects, and chronic illness.

You'll find real-world insights here—not just textbook definitions. Whether you're wondering why you're always exhausted, if your meds are making things worse, or how to tell if your anemia is from iron or something deeper, the articles below give you the facts without the fluff. No guesswork. Just clear, practical info to help you understand what's going on in your body—and what to do next.