What causes anaemia and when does it become serious?
Anaemia occurs when the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues. Causes range from nutritional deficiencies and chronic disease to inherited conditions and bone marrow failure. It becomes serious when it signals an underlying blood disorder, organ disease, or malignancy. S.L. Raheja Hospital in Mumbai offers specialist haematology services for the accurate diagnosis and management of all anaemia types.
Tip: Anaemia is a symptom, not a single disease. Identifying the root cause is essential before starting any treatment.
What are the main types of anaemia?
Anaemia is broadly classified by its underlying mechanism. Understanding the type guides the correct treatment pathway.
| Type | Primary Cause | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Deficiency Anaemia | Low iron stores | Most common type globally |
| Vitamin B12 / Folate Deficiency | Poor diet or malabsorption | Large, abnormal red blood cells |
| Aplastic Anaemia | Bone marrow failure | All blood cell lines reduced |
| Haemolytic Anaemia | Premature red cell destruction | Can be inherited or acquired |
| Sickle Cell Anaemia | Inherited haemoglobin mutation | Misshapen red blood cells |
| Anaemia of Chronic Disease | Long-term illness (e.g. kidney disease, cancer) | Linked to inflammation |
What are the symptoms of anaemia?
Symptoms vary with severity and the speed of onset. Mild anaemia may cause no symptoms at all, while rapidly developing anaemia can be medically urgent.
- Fatigue and weakness — the most common complaint across all anaemia types
- Pale or yellowish skin, gums, or inner eyelids
- Shortness of breath on minimal exertion
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- Dizziness or light-headedness, especially on standing
- Cold hands and feet
- Headaches and difficulty concentrating
- Chest pain (in severe cases)
- Brittle nails and hair loss (particularly in iron deficiency)
- Numbness or tingling in hands and feet (B12 deficiency)
Warning: Chest pain, severe breathlessness, or fainting associated with anaemia require immediate emergency assessment. Do not delay seeking care.
What is the difference between iron deficiency anaemia and aplastic anaemia?
These two conditions are frequently confused but have very different causes, severity, and treatment pathways.
Iron deficiency anaemia is caused by insufficient iron — due to poor dietary intake, chronic blood loss (such as heavy menstrual periods or gastrointestinal bleeding), or impaired absorption. Red blood cells become small and pale. It is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide and is generally treatable with iron supplementation and addressing the underlying cause.
Aplastic anaemia is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition in which the bone marrow stops producing enough blood cells of all types — red cells, white cells, and platelets. Causes include autoimmune attack on the bone marrow, exposure to certain toxins or medications, viral infections, and inherited syndromes. Treatment may require immunosuppressive therapy or a bone marrow transplant.
- Iron deficiency: small red cells, low ferritin, responds to iron therapy
- Aplastic anaemia: low counts across all cell lines, requires specialist haematology input
- Both require accurate diagnosis before treatment is started
How is anaemia diagnosed?
Diagnosis begins with a clinical history and physical examination, followed by targeted blood tests. The goal is not just to confirm anaemia but to identify its cause.
- Full Blood Count (FBC) — measures haemoglobin, red cell size, white cells, and platelets
- Peripheral blood smear — examines red cell shape and structure under a microscope
- Iron studies — serum iron, ferritin, and transferrin saturation
- Vitamin B12 and folate levels
- Reticulocyte count — assesses bone marrow response
- Haemoglobin electrophoresis — detects inherited haemoglobin disorders such as thalassaemia or sickle cell
- Bone marrow biopsy — required when aplastic anaemia or a blood malignancy is suspected
In cases where anaemia of chronic disease is suspected, investigations for the underlying condition — such as kidney function tests or inflammatory markers — are also performed. S.L. Raheja Hospital in Mumbai provides comprehensive haematology diagnostics to guide precise treatment decisions.
When should I see a haematologist for anaemia?
Not all anaemia requires specialist input, but certain features indicate that a haematologist should be involved promptly. Seek specialist assessment if any of the following apply:
- Fatigue or breathlessness that has persisted for more than 4 weeks without a clear explanation
- Haemoglobin level below the threshold recommended by your doctor, or falling despite treatment
- Anaemia accompanied by unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or recurrent infections
- Low counts in more than one blood cell line (red cells, white cells, or platelets)
- Anaemia that does not respond to iron or vitamin supplementation after 8–12 weeks of adequate therapy
- Family history of inherited blood disorders such as thalassaemia or sickle cell disease
- Suspected blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract (dark or tarry stools, rectal bleeding)
- Any concern that anaemia may be related to a blood disorder or malignancy
Tip: Anaemia can be an early indicator of conditions such as chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal malignancy, or a primary blood disorder. Early specialist review improves outcomes.
Can anaemia be a sign of cancer?
Yes. Anaemia can be associated with several cancers, and in some cases it is the first detectable sign of an underlying malignancy. The relationship works through multiple mechanisms:
- Anaemia of chronic disease — many solid tumours and blood cancers suppress normal red cell production through inflammatory pathways
- Bone marrow infiltration — leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma can crowd out normal blood cell production in the marrow
- Blood loss — gastrointestinal tumours may cause slow, occult bleeding leading to iron deficiency anaemia
- Haemolysis — some cancers trigger the immune system to destroy red blood cells
- Treatment-related — chemotherapy and radiotherapy can suppress bone marrow function
When anaemia is accompanied by unexplained weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes, persistent fever, or night sweats, prompt evaluation by a haematologist and, where indicated, an oncology specialist is essential. S.L. Raheja Hospital in Mumbai offers integrated haematology and oncology services to investigate and manage these presentations.
What foods help treat anaemia?
Dietary changes can support recovery in nutritional anaemia, particularly iron deficiency and B12 or folate deficiency. They are an adjunct to medical treatment, not a replacement for it.
For iron deficiency anaemia:
- Red meat, poultry, and fish (haem iron — most readily absorbed)
- Legumes: lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans
- Dark leafy vegetables: spinach, fenugreek leaves
- Fortified cereals and breads
- Pumpkin seeds and tofu
- Consume with vitamin C-rich foods (citrus, tomatoes) to enhance iron absorption
- Avoid tea, coffee, and calcium-rich foods immediately around iron-rich meals — these inhibit absorption
For B12 deficiency anaemia:
- Eggs, dairy products, and meat
- Fortified plant-based milks and nutritional yeast (for vegetarians and vegans)
- B12 injections or high-dose supplements may be required if absorption is impaired
Dietary modification alone is rarely sufficient when anaemia is moderate to severe. Always confirm the anaemia type with blood tests before making significant dietary changes.
How does S.L. Raheja Hospital support patients with anaemia in Mumbai?
S.L. Raheja Hospital in Mumbai — located at Raheja Rugnalaya Marg, Mahim West — provides dedicated haematology services for patients presenting with anaemia across the full spectrum of severity. The department evaluates both common nutritional deficiencies and complex blood disorders, including aplastic anaemia, haemolytic conditions, and anaemia associated with chronic disease or malignancy.
Where anaemia is linked to an endocrine or metabolic condition, patients benefit from coordinated input from the endocrinology team. When kidney disease is the underlying cause, the nephrology department works alongside haematology to manage anaemia of chronic kidney disease. For anaemia associated with gastrointestinal blood loss, the gastroenterology team provides diagnostic endoscopy and further evaluation.
This multidisciplinary approach ensures that the root cause of anaemia is identified and treated, not just the haemoglobin level.
Book a haematology consultation at S.L. Raheja Hospital
Use the booking form on this page or email us at info@rahejahospital.com to arrange an appointment.