Interpretation Of Lab Results

 Definitions & types of anemia and its treatments Definition     Return to  Anemia is a lower than normal number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the blood, usually measured by a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the red pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen.

Diagnosing Anemia In many cases, doctors don't discover anemia until they run blood tests as part of a routine physical examination.  A complete blood count (CBC) may indicate that there are fewer red blood cells than normal.  Other diagnostic tests may include: 

Signs and Symptoms of Anemia The most common sign of iron deficiency and other types of nutritional anemia is mild paleness of the skin, along with decreased pinkness of the lips, the lining of the eyelids, and the nail beds.