Patient Education Anemia Anemia is defined as a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the circulation. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all of the tissues in the body. If the number of red blood cells is reduced, the tissues will not receive the supply of oxygen that is needed for growth and maintenance.
People often have no symptoms in anemia, so many times it is discovered on a routine exam.
If anemia is more severe, it can cause symptoms. At these times, people may complain of shortness of breath, fatigue, poor concentration, dizziness, ringing in the ears, rapid heart beat, or loss of appetite. IDA IDA means that you do not have enough iron to form red blood cells. This can happen for a variety of reasons. The iron is usually taken several times a day.