Anaemia in women: The ‘pale’ facts defined

By Dr Amrish Kamboj, MD (Pathology )

With every breath we take, oxygen is picked up by haemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in the red blood cells, and carried to tissues throughout the body. Women who have insufficient levels of haemoglobin or red blood cells can’t get all the oxygen they need. This condition, called anaemia, can result in weakness, fatigue, headaches, heart palpitations, difficulty in concentrating, and other symptoms. With severe anaemia, other symptoms, such as shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat, may be experienced.

Anaemia is a very common finding in a large number of patients. It affects an estimated 400 million women throughout the world. Women and people with chronic diseases are at the greatest risk for anaemia.