Last Updated on November 14, 2025 by Ugurkan Demir

Anemia is when you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. This means your body can’t get enough oxygen. It can happen for many reasons, like not getting enough nutrients, having chronic diseases, or genetic problems. At Liv Hospital, we focus on safe, proven treatments for anemia. We help patients feel better and more confident in their health.

Anemia happens when you don’t have enough red blood cells, which can make your body work less efficiently. Sometimes, you might not even notice it at first, but when symptoms appear, they can greatly affect your life. In this article, we’ll explore why anemia happens and answer an important question — which of the following is not a cause of anemia?

Key Takeaways

• Anemia is a condition characterized by low red blood cell count or hemoglobin.
• Common causes include iron deficiency, vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, and chronic illnesses.
• Genetic disorders, such as sickle cell disease, can also cause anemia.
• Understanding the underlying causes is key for the right diagnosis and treatment.
• Not all factors are directly related to anemia; we will explore these factors in detail.

Understanding Anemia: Definition and Overview

Anemia is a condition where the blood can’t carry enough oxygen. It’s more common than you might think and affects many areas of health. It happens when there are fewer healthy red blood cells or less hemoglobin, making it hard for tissues to get the oxygen they need.

What Happens in the Body During Anemia

When you have anemia, your body’s tissues and organs don’t get enough oxygen. This is key for them to work right. Anemia can be caused by iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, chronic diseases, or genetic disorders. People with anemia often feel tired, weak, and pale, and may have trouble breathing or feel dizzy.

Key Indicators and Symptoms of Anemia

The signs of anemia can change based on the cause and how bad it is. Common signs include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, and dizziness. If anemia isn’t treated, it can lead to serious problems. It’s important to catch these signs early so you can get help fast.

Global Prevalence and Impact

Anemia is a big health problem worldwide, affecting about 9.3% of the population in the U.S. and many others globally. Women, young kids, and people with chronic diseases are at higher risk. The World Health Organization says iron deficiency is the main reason for anemia everywhere.

“Anemia is a widespread condition that requires awareness and understanding to manage effectively. By recognizing its causes and symptoms, we can take steps towards prevention and treatment.”

Common Causes of Anemia

Anemia is a complex condition with many causes. Knowing these causes is key to diagnosing and treating it. We’ll look at the main causes, like nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases.

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common anemia worldwide. It happens when the body doesn’t have enough iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Iron deficiency can come from not eating enough iron, losing blood too much, or needing more iron during pregnancy. Symptoms include feeling tired, weak, and pale, and having trouble breathing.

To diagnose iron deficiency anemia, doctors do blood tests. These tests check iron levels and red blood cell count.

Vitamin Deficiency Anemia (B12 and Folate)

Vitamin deficiency anemia is caused by not having enough vitamins B12 and folate. These vitamins are key for making red blood cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency can happen if you don’t eat enough of it, like vegetarians and vegans. It can also happen if your body can’t absorb it well, like in pernicious anemia.

Folate deficiency anemia is common in people who don’t eat well, pregnant women, and those with certain health issues. Symptoms include feeling tired and weak, and neurological problems with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Chronic Disease-Related Anemia

Chronic diseases like kidney disease, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis can cause anemia. This is because of inflammation and less erythropoietin production. Anemia of chronic disease is a big problem for people with long-term illnesses. It can really affect their quality of life.

Cause	Description	Common Symptoms
Iron Deficiency	Lack of sufficient iron for hemoglobin production	Fatigue, weakness, pale skin
Vitamin B12/Folate Deficiency	Inadequate vitamins for red blood cell production	Fatigue, weakness, neurological issues
Chronic Disease	Inflammation and reduced erythropoietin production	Varies depending on the underlying disease

Knowing the common causes of anemia is key for doctors to treat it well. By finding the cause, we can give the right treatment. This helps improve patient outcomes.

“Anemia is not just a condition; it’s a signal that something is amiss in the body. Understanding its causes is the first step towards effective management.”

—  Senior Hematologist

Genetic and Inherited Causes of Anemia

Some anemias come from genetic mutations that affect hemoglobin and red blood cells. These genetic disorders are passed down and can cause serious health issues. Knowing these genetic causes is key to diagnosis and treatment.

Genetic and inherited anemia mainly affect red blood cell production or function. We’ll look at the main genetic conditions that cause anemia.

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that makes abnormal hemoglobin, called hemoglobin S. This abnormal hemoglobin makes red blood cells sickle-shaped under certain conditions. This leads to their early destruction and anemia.

The symptoms of sickle cell disease include:

• Recurrent episodes of pain
• Increased risk of infections
• Aplastic crises
• Anemia

Managing sickle cell disease involves regular check-ups, pain management, and sometimes blood transfusions.

Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that affects hemoglobin production. It results from mutations in genes that make the alpha or beta chains of hemoglobin. This leads to reduced or no production of these chains.

The main types of thalassemia are:

1. Alpha-thalassemia
2. Beta-thalassemia

Thalassemia major, or Cooley’s anemia, is a severe beta-thalassemia form. It requires regular blood transfusions. Managing iron overload through chelation therapy is also necessary.

Other Hereditary Blood Disorders

Other hereditary blood disorders can also cause anemia. These include:

• Hereditary spherocytosis
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
• Pyruvate kinase deficiency

These conditions affect red blood cells in different ways, causing their early destruction and anemia. Diagnosis often involves genetic testing and blood smear examination.

Understanding genetic and inherited anemia is vital for proper care and management. We will explore more anemia causes in the next sections.

Blood Loss as a Cause of Anemia

Blood loss, whether sudden or gradual, is a major cause of anemia worldwide. It reduces red blood cells, which are key for oxygen transport in the body.

Acute Blood Loss

Acute blood loss happens suddenly, often from trauma, surgery, or internal bleeding. It quickly leads to anemia because many red blood cells are lost quickly. For example, severe injuries or surgical issues can cause a lot of blood loss, requiring quick medical help.

Medical research shows that managing acute blood loss is key to avoiding anemia and other issues.

Symptoms of acute blood loss anemia include dizziness, weakness, and shortness of breath. Quick treatment, like blood transfusions, is needed to fix the red blood cell count and prevent more problems.

Chronic Blood Loss

Chronic blood loss happens slowly over time. It can be due to things like stomach ulcers, cancer, or frequent nosebleeds. This slow loss of blood slowly uses up the body’s iron, causing iron deficiency anemia.

For instance, stomach problems like ulcers or Helicobacter pylori infection can cause chronic blood loss. It’s important to keep an eye on these conditions and treat them to avoid anemia.

Menstruation-Related Anemia

Menstruation is a big risk for iron deficiency anemia in women. Heavy periods can lead to a lot of blood loss, using up iron over time. Women with heavy menstrual bleeding are at high risk.

Understanding and managing menstrual blood loss is key. Treatments might include iron supplements, hormonal therapies, or other ways to reduce bleeding.

Cause of Blood Loss	Common Sources	Potential Consequences
Acute Blood Loss	Trauma, Surgery, Internal Bleeding	Rapid onset of anemia, shock, and organ failure
Chronic Blood Loss	Gastrointestinal ulcers, Cancer, Frequent Nosebleeds	Iron deficiency anemia, fatigue, weakness
Menstruation-Related	Heavy Menstrual Periods	Iron deficiency anemia, fatigue, weakness

In conclusion, blood loss is a big cause of anemia, whether sudden or slow. Knowing the sources of blood loss and managing them well is key to preventing anemia and its complications.

Which of the Following Is Not a Cause of Anemia?

Knowing what doesn’t cause anemia is as important as knowing what does. We need to understand the real causes of anemia and what’s just associated with it.

Hypertension and Its Relationship to Anemia

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, isn’t a direct cause of anemia. But conditions that lead to high blood pressure, like kidney disease, can affect anemia. It’s key to know that high blood pressure and anemia can happen together but aren’t directly linked.

Studies show people with high blood pressure might be more likely to get anemia. This is because of kidney problems or chronic inflammation. So, controlling high blood pressure is important for both blood pressure and anemia.

Allergies and Skin Conditions

Allergies and skin conditions usually don’t directly cause anemia. But severe allergies or long-term skin issues like eczema can cause inflammation. This might affect iron levels or how red blood cells are made.

We must understand the difference between the direct effects of allergies or skin conditions and their indirect effects on anemia. For example, long-term inflammation from skin conditions can lead to anemia of chronic disease. But the skin condition itself isn’t the main cause.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders, like arthritis or fibromyalgia, aren’t usually direct causes of anemia. But the chronic inflammation from these conditions can lead to anemia of chronic disease.

It’s important to understand how musculoskeletal disorders and anemia are related. We need to look at the inflammation and how it affects red blood cell production or iron metabolism.

Distinguishing Between Correlation and Causation

It’s vital to know the difference between correlation and causation when it comes to anemia. Just because two conditions are together, it doesn’t mean one causes the other. For example, high blood pressure and anemia can both be present, but high blood pressure doesn’t directly cause anemia.

To properly diagnose and treat anemia, we must find the real causes. We can’t be fooled by conditions that are just associated with it. This means looking at the patient’s health, medical history, and test results.

The Connection Between Anemia and Fainting

Anemia can cause dizziness and fainting because it doesn’t deliver enough oxygen to the body. When we have anemia, our body can’t transport oxygen well. This can lead to fainting spells.

How Anemia Affects Oxygen Delivery

Anemia means we have less hemoglobin or red blood cells. These are key for carrying oxygen. Without enough oxygen, the brain and other vital organs can get too tired, causing dizziness and fainting.

When Low Iron Levels Can Lead to Passing Out

Low iron levels can hurt our body’s ability to make hemoglobin. This means less oxygen gets delivered. Severe iron deficiency anemia can cause fainting because the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen.

Symptoms	Causes	Consequences if Untreated
Dizziness, fatigue	Low iron levels, vitamin deficiency	Fainting, increased risk of infections
Pale skin, shortness of breath	Chronic diseases, genetic disorders	Organ damage, poor wound healing

Recognizing Warning Signs Before Fainting

It’s important to know the signs before fainting happens. These include feeling dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous, or like you’re going to pass out. Knowing these signs can help you get medical help before you faint.

Emergency Response to Anemia-Related Fainting

If someone faints from anemia, make sure they’re safe and comfortable. Loosen tight clothes, make sure there’s good air, and put them in a recovery position if they’re out cold. Get them medical help right away to find out why and treat it.

Diagnosis and Testing for Anemia

The first step in diagnosing anemia is a complete blood count (CBC) test. This test shows important details about red blood cells and hemoglobin levels. It’s key in spotting anemia and figuring out how severe it is.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A CBC is a main tool for diagnosing. It checks several blood parts, like:

• Red Blood Cell (RBC) count
• Hemoglobin (Hb) level
• Hematocrit (Hct)
• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

These numbers help us sort anemia into types. This guides us to find the root cause.

Additional Diagnostic Tests

After the CBC, more tests might be needed. These include:

• Iron studies to check for iron deficiency
• Vitamin B12 and folate levels for deficiency anemia
• Reticulocyte count for bone marrow health
• Blood smear for red blood cell shape

These tests help pinpoint what’s causing the anemia.

Determining the Underlying Cause

After finding anemia, we need to find what’s causing it. This means looking at medical history, physical checks, and sometimes more tests. Knowing the cause helps us create a good treatment plan.

By using CBC results, more tests, and clinical checks, we can accurately find the cause. This lets us treat it effectively.

Treatment and Management Approaches

Managing anemia needs a detailed plan based on its cause. This plan often includes lifestyle changes, diet adjustments, and medical treatments.

Addressing Nutritional Deficiencies

For iron deficiency anemia, iron supplements are often given. Eating foods high in iron like red meat, spinach, and fortified cereals, is also advised. For vitamin deficiency anemia, taking supplements and eating foods rich in vitamin B12 and folate is key.

• Eat more iron-rich foods
• Take vitamin C to help iron absorption
• Don’t drink tea or coffee with meals to boost iron absorption

Medical Interventions for Chronic and Genetic Anemias

Chronic and genetic anemias often need medical help. Blood transfusions may be needed to increase red blood cells in conditions like thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Medications like hydroxyurea can also help reduce pain in sickle cell disease.

Innovative Treatments and Research Developments

Research on anemia treatment is always advancing. Gene therapy for genetic anemias is showing promise. New medicines that target anemia-specific pathways are also being studied.

1. Gene therapy for genetic anemias
2. Novel pharmaceuticals targeting anemia-specific pathways

Managing Anemia-Related Symptoms

It’s important to manage symptoms to improve life for those with anemia. This includes fatigue management strategies like pacing and regular exercise. Also, making dietary changes to help with symptoms like dizziness and shortness of breath.

By using a wide range of treatments and management strategies, people with anemia can see big improvements in their health and well-being.

Conclusion: Understanding the True Causes of Anemia

Knowing what causes anemia is key to treating it right. We’ve looked at many reasons for anemia, like iron and vitamin shortages, chronic diseases, genetic issues, and blood loss.

It’s important to know the real causes of anemia. Some things, like high blood pressure and muscle problems, might be linked to anemia but aren’t the main reasons.

Healthcare experts can make better treatment plans when they understand anemia’s causes. We stress the need for thorough diagnosis and management to help patients feel better.

In short, knowing what causes anemia is essential for top-notch healthcare. By identifying the main factors behind anemia, we can offer better support and advice to those affected.

FAQ

References:

1. Ankar, A., & Kumar, A. (2024). Vitamin B12 deficiency. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441923/