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== Anemia ==

== Anemia ==

The term "anemia" (uh-NEE-me-uh) is used for a group of conditions in which the number of red blood cells in the blood is lower than normal, or the red blood cells don’t have enough hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin). Hemoglobin—an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood—carries the oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. In people with anemia, the blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest of the body. Red blood cells also remove carbon dioxide, a waste product, from cells and carry it to the lungs to be exhaled.

The term "anemia" (uh-NEE-me-uh) is used for a group of conditions in which the number of red [[blood]] cells in the blood is lower than normal, or the red blood cells don’t have enough hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin). Hemoglobin—an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood—carries the [[oxygen]] from the [[lungs]] to the rest of the body. In people with anemia, the blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest of the body. Red blood cells also remove carbon dioxide, a waste product, from cells and carry it to the lungs to be exhaled.

Red blood cells also are called RBCs or erythrocytes (eh-RITH-roh-sites). Normal red blood cells are all about the same size and look like doughnuts without a hole in the center. They are produced by the spongy marrow inside the large bones of the body. Healthy red blood cells have an average lifespan of 120 days. When they die, the iron from the hemoglobin is recycled to make new red blood cells.

Red blood cells also are called RBCs or erythrocytes (eh-RITH-roh-sites). Normal red blood cells are all about the same size and look like doughnuts without a hole in the center. They are produced by the spongy marrow inside the large [[bones]] of the body. Healthy red blood cells have an average lifespan of 120 days. When they die, the iron from the hemoglobin is recycled to make new red blood cells.

There are many types of anemia. The three major causes of anemia are blood loss, decreased production of red blood cells, or increased destruction of red blood cells. White blood cells and platelets are the two other kinds of blood cells. White blood cells help fight infection. Platelets help blood to clot. In some kinds of anemia, there are low amounts of all three types of blood cells. The most common symptom of all types of anemia is feeling tired because the body is not receiving enough oxygen.

There are many types of anemia. The three major causes of anemia are blood loss, decreased production of red blood cells, or increased destruction of red blood cells. White blood cells and platelets are the two other kinds of blood cells. White blood cells help fight infection. Platelets help blood to clot. In some kinds of anemia, there are low amounts of all three types of blood cells. The most common symptom of all types of anemia is feeling tired because the body is not receiving enough oxygen.