Anemia

Anemia is defined as a low number of red blood cells. It shows up on your blood test as low hemoglobin, which is the main protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen and delivers it throughout your body. If your hemoglobin is low enough, your tissues or organs may not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia include tiredness, weakness, leg cramps, shortness of breath, pale skin, and cold hands and feet.

One study showed that anemia affects 12.5 percent of people over 60, and that the rate rises as you age. Another study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, showed that about one in five patients was anemic.

A friend of mine was hospitalized more than once with anemia, in her case caused by blood thinners that resulted in gastrointestinal bleeding. Transfusions were required. Other causes include hereditary conditions, vitamin B12 deficiency, lack of iron in your diet, bone marrow disorders, kidney failure, heart disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Remedies include over-the counter iron tablets—which often have unpleasant side effects—and intravenous iron infusions, which have been shown to be effective.

The World Health Organization defines 13 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter as normal for men and 12 for nonpregnant women. As luck would have it, I’d had a blood test prior to my spine surgery last year, so I looked up the results. Everything was normal (displayed in green) except my hemoglobin, which was high (displayed in red with warning sign). According to the Cleveland Clinic web site, above 16 is high for women. Mine was 16.1. Dehydration is one cause. That’s probably me. But other causes include kidney cancer and congenital heart disease. At any rate, I’m clearly not anemic and have none of the symptoms.

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