What Are The Symptoms Of Anemia?
Edited by Guy Slowik MD FRCS. Last updated on July 16th 2011
A person with anemia will feel tired and weak. That's because the body's tissues are not getting enough oxygen. In fact, fatigue is the main symptom of most types of anemia. The severity of the symptoms of anemia is in part related to how severe the anemia is. Mild anemia can occur without symptoms and may be detected only during a medical exam that includes a blood test.
Symptoms of anemia include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Fainting
- Breathlessness
- Heart palpitations (rapid or irregular beating)
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
Common signs include:
- Pale complexion
- The normally red lining of the mouth and eyelids fades in color
- Rapid heartbeat (
tachycardia ) - Abnormal menstruation (either absence of periods or increased bleeding)
Other signs depend on the cause of the anemia. These can include spoon-shaped finger nails and toenails in iron-deficiency anemia, mild
