What is Anaemia?
Anaemia means your blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. The result: fatigue, weakness, breathlessness, pale skin and inability to concentrate. Anaemia is not a disease itself — it's a sign of an underlying problem. Finding and treating that problem is the key to recovery.
What tests diagnose anaemia?
| Test | What it shows | Normal (Women / Men) |
|---|---|---|
| CBC — Haemoglobin | Amount of haemoglobin | 12–15.5 / 13.5–17.5 g/dL |
| MCV (Mean Cell Volume) | Size of red blood cells | 80–100 fL |
| Ferritin | Iron stores | >12 ng/mL |
| Serum Iron / TIBC | Iron in blood / carrying capacity | 65–175 µg/dL / 250–370 µg/dL |
| Vitamin B12 | B12 stores | 300–900 pg/mL |
Types of anaemia and how to tell them apart
Iron Deficiency Anaemia (most common in India)
Low Hb + Low MCV (small red cells — microcytic) + Low ferritin + Low serum iron + High TIBC. Causes: poor diet, heavy periods, pregnancy, GI bleeding, worm infestation. Treatment: iron supplements + treating the cause.
Vitamin B12 / Folate Deficiency Anaemia
Low Hb + HIGH MCV (large red cells — macrocytic) + Low B12 or folate. Very common in strict vegetarians in India. Symptoms also include nerve tingling, memory problems, sore tongue. Treatment: B12 injections or supplements + folic acid.
Anaemia of Chronic Disease
Mildly low Hb + Normal or low MCV + Normal/high ferritin + Low serum iron + Low TIBC. Occurs in chronic infections (TB, HIV), autoimmune disease, kidney disease, cancer. Treat the underlying disease, not the anaemia directly.
Thalassaemia (common in India)
Low Hb + Very low MCV (very small cells) + Normal ferritin + Family history. Thalassaemia is an inherited condition affecting haemoglobin production. Thalassaemia trait (carrier) causes mild anaemia that doesn't need treatment. Thalassaemia major is severe and needs regular transfusions.
When is anaemia an emergency?
Questions to ask your doctor
- What type of anaemia do I have — is it iron, B12 or something else?
- What is causing it — do I need to investigate for gut bleeding or malabsorption?
- Do I need injections or will tablets work?
- How long before my haemoglobin improves?