What is hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is a protein in the blood that provides oxygen exchange between the lungs and the rest of the body.
Keep in mind, low hemoglobin is not always a symptom of the disease and is a fairly common occurrence for some people; For example, the amount of hemoglobin in the blood decreases during menstruation and also during pregnancy.
In some clinical cases, due to certain diseases or conditions, the body produces much lower doses of red blood cells (erythrocytes).
Diseases and conditions that cause your body to produce fewer red blood cells than normal include:
- Aplastic anemia
- Certain medications
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cirrhosis
- Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
- Hypothyroidism
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Vitamin deficiency anemia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lead poisoning
Diseases and conditions that cause your body to destroy red blood cells faster than they can be made include:
- Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
- Hemolysis
- Thalassemia
A low hemoglobin count can also be due to blood loss, which can occur because of:
- Bleeding in your digestive tract, such as from ulcers, cancers or hemorrhoids
- Menstruation
- Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding)
When to see a doctor
The hemoglobin level in the blood is checked based on laboratory analysis. After the diagnosis of low hemoglobin, other tests are prescribed to determine the underlying cause.
See your doctor if you experience symptoms of low hemoglobin:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Pale skin and gums
- Shortness of breath
- A fast or irregular heartbeat
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/low-hemoglobin/basics/causes/sym-20050760
