Siamak T. Nabili,MD, MPH
Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP,FACR
What does a low hemoglobin
level mean?
A
low hemoglobin level is referred to as anemia
or low red blood count. Lower than normal number of red blood cells is referred
to as anemia and hemoglobin level reflects this number. There are many reasons
for anemia.
Some
of the more common causes are:
- loss of
blood (traumatic injury, surgery, bleeding, colon
cancer or stomach
ulcer),
- nutritional
deficiency (iron,
vitamin
B12, folate),
- bone marrow
problems (replacement of bone marrow by cancer),
- suppression
by chemotherapy
drugs,
- kidney
failure, and
- abnormal
hemoglobin structure (sickle
cell anemia or thalassemia).
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