Overview

Anemia means that your body does not have enough red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body.

When you have anemia, you may feel dizzy, tired, and weak. You may also feel your heart pounding. For some people, it's hard to focus and think clearly.

One common cause of anemia is bleeding. Bleeding from ulcers, heavy menstrual periods, cancer, or other problems can cause anemia.

Your treatment will depend on what is causing the heavy bleeding. It may also include iron pills. Iron helps your body make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen. If you have severe anemia, you may need a blood transfusion to give you red blood cells as quickly as possible.

Sometimes it takes several months to get iron levels back to normal.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
• Your doctor may recommend eating more foods that have a lot of iron in them. These include red meat, poultry, and eggs. They also include beans, raisins, iron-fortified cereals, whole grain bread, and leafy green vegetables.
• Iron pills can cause constipation. If you take them, there are things you can do to avoid constipation. Drink plenty of fluids, eat foods with a lot of fibre, and exercise every day.