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- Services and providers for Anemia in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Anemia is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Anemia
Also called: Iron poor blood
If you have anemia, your blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest of your body. The most common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Your iron might be too low because of heavy periods, pregnancy, ulcers, colon polyps, colon cancer, inherited disorders or a diet that does not have enough iron. You can also get anemia from not getting enough folic acid or vitamin B 12. Blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, or cancer may also lead to anemia.
Anemia can make you feel weak, cold, dizzy and irritable. It is confirmed with a blood test. Treatment depends on the kind of anemia you have.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
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| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Overviews
- Anemia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Latest News
- Anemia Rates Down for U.S. Women and Children(12/08/2008, HealthDay)
- Transfusing Anemic Cancer Patients Boosts Clot Risk(11/28/2008, HealthDay)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Blood Smear(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Bone Marrow Tests
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Complete Blood Count(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Fanconi Anemia: Diagnosis(Fanconi Anemia Research Fund)
- Ferritin Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Hemoglobin Variants(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Serum Iron Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- TIBC (Total Iron-Binding Capacity) & Transferrin Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Treatment
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Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation(Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) - Large PDF file
Also available in Spanish
- What to Know: ASCO's Guideline on Epoetin and Darbepoetin Treatment(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
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Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation(Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) - Large PDF file
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Nutrition
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Iron(National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements)
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Vitamin B12(National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements)
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Iron
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Specific Conditions
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Anemia (Normocytic Anemia)(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
- Anemia from Excessive Bleeding(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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Anemia: When Low Iron Is the Cause(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
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Aplastic Anemia(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA)(National Cancer Institute)
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Fanconi Anemia(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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Fanconi's Anemia (FA, or Fanconi Anemia)(National Cancer Institute)
- Hemoglobin C, S-C, and E Diseases(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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Hemolytic Anemia(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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Iron-Deficiency Anemia(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria(Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation)
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Pernicious Anemia(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Sideroblastic Anemia(Iron Disorders Institute)
- Vitamin Deficiency Anemia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Anemia (Normocytic Anemia)(American Academy of Family Physicians)
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Related Issues
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Anemia(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center)
Also available in Spanish
- Anemia & Cancer(National Anemia Action Council)
- Anemia & Critical Illness(National Anemia Action Council)
- Anemia & Rheumatoid Arthritis(National Anemia Action Council)
- Anemia & Surgery(National Anemia Action Council)
- Anemia and Diabetes(American Diabetes Association) - Links to PDF
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Anemia in Kidney Disease and Dialysis(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Anemia of Chronic Disease(Iron Disorders Institute)
- Aplastic Anemia: Blood Transfusions(Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation)
- Aplastic Anemia: Wellness(Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation)
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Anemia(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center)
- Anatomy/Physiology Return to top
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Anemia(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Anemia, Aplastic(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Anemia
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: X-linked sideroblastic anemia(National Library of Medicine)
- What Is Fanconi Anemia?(Fanconi Anemia Research Fund)
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Genetics Home Reference: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
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Research
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IV Iron Effective in Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia(National Cancer Institute)
- New Studies on Anemia Drugs' Risks(Food and Drug Administration)
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IV Iron Effective in Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Blast counts in bone marrow aspirate smears: analysis using the...
- Article: Hematologic safety of dapsone gel, 5%, for topical treatment of...
- Article: Unexplained decline in the prevalence of anemia among US children...
- Anemia -- see more articles
- Aplastic anemia -- see more articles
- Medical Encyclopedia Return to top
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Aplastic Anemia: Glossary(Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation)
- Blood Banking Glossary(American Red Cross)
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Directories
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Directory of Hematologic Diseases Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Directory of Hematologic Diseases Organizations
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Organizations
- Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation
- Fanconi Anemia Research Fund
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Newsletters/Print Publications
- FA (Fanconi Anemia) Family Newsletter(Fanconi Anemia Research Fund)
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Statistics
- FASTATS: Anemia/Iron Deficiency(National Center for Health Statistics)
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Children
- About Anemia(Nemours Foundation)
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Anemia(Nemours Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
- Some Toddlers at Greater Risk for Iron Deficiency(Nemours Foundation)
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Teenagers
- Anemia(Nemours Foundation)
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Women
- Anemia(National Women's Health Information Center)
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Anemia(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
- Women & Anemia - Childbirth and Postpartum Anemia(National Anemia Action Council)
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Seniors
- Anemia & Aging(National Anemia Action Council)
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Date last updated: 27 January 2009 Topic last reviewed: 19 November 2008 |