Symptoms - Anemia

Signs and symptoms vary depending on the cause of your anemia, but may include:

Fatigue
Pale skin
A fast or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dizziness
Cognitive problems
Cold hands and feet
Headache
Initially, anemia can be so mild it goes unnoticed. But signs and symptoms increase as anemia worsens.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you're feeling fatigued for unexplained reasons, especially if you're at risk of anemia. Some anemias, such as iron deficiency anemia, are common. But don't assume that if you're tired, you must be anemic. Fatigue has many causes besides anemia.

Some people learn that their hemoglobin is low, which indicates anemia, when they go to donate blood. Low hemoglobin may be a temporary problem remedied by eating more iron-rich foods or taking a multivitamin containing iron. However, it may also be a warning sign of blood loss in your body that may be causing you to be deficient in iron. If you're told that you can't donate blood because of low hemoglobin, see your doctor.