Conditions and symptoms
What Is Anemia? Low Hemoglobin on Reports Explained
Anemia · say it: uh-NEE-mee-uhAlso written: anaemia, low hemoglobin, low red blood cells
Short answer
Anemia means the blood has fewer healthy red blood cells or less hemoglobin than the reference range printed on the report.
What it means
Anemia (anaemia in UK English) means there are fewer red blood cells, or less hemoglobin, than normal. Hemoglobin is the protein in red cells that carries oxygen. With anemia, the body may get less oxygen, which can cause tiredness, weakness, breathlessness, pale skin, dizziness or a fast heartbeat. Mild anemia may cause no symptoms.
Anemia appears on medicine labels in two ways. Some medicines can cause it, for example by causing bleeding, breaking down red cells (hemolytic anemia) or slowing the bone marrow, so labels may ask for blood counts. Other medicines, such as iron and some vitamins, are used to treat specific types of anemia.
Anemia is a sign, not a final diagnosis. Common causes include low iron, low vitamin B12 or folate, blood loss, kidney disease and long-term illness. Your report's MCV and other values help show which type it is.
Where you may see it
- Blood count (FBC/CBC) reports, as low hemoglobin
- Medicine labels under 'Blood and lymphatic disorders'
- Iron and vitamin supplement labels
📄 How it looks on a report
Hemoglobin: Low (L). Mild normocytic anemia.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Anemia does not always mean low iron; there are many causes.
- Mild anemia is not always serious, but the cause should be found.
- Iron tablets are not right for every anemia; testing guides treatment.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Anemia”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Albendazole
an anthelmintic drug, a medicine used to treat infections caused by parasitic worms
- Artemether and Lumefantrine
an antimalarial medicine, which is a fixed combination of two blood-stage antimalarial ingredients (artemether, an artemisinin derivative, and lumefantrine)
- Carbamazepine
a mood stabilizer, and an anticonvulsant (seizure) medicine, according to the label
- Cephalexin
a cephalosporin antibacterial medicine (an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections)
- Clopidogrel
A platelet inhibitor of the P2Y12 type (a thienopyridine). It is a blood thinner that keeps platelets from sticking together.
- Dexamethasone
A corticosteroid, a synthetic adrenocortical steroid medicine that lowers inflammation and suppresses the immune system
- Diclofenac Sodium
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The FDA class is not listed on the label.
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
an antihistamine (an antihistaminic agent) given by injection into a vein or deep into a muscle
- Furosemide
A loop diuretic, a type of medicine that helps the body get rid of extra fluid through urine
- Glimepiride
a sulfonylurea, a type of oral medicine used to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Anemia” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “anemia”
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.