Anemia (Anaemia) Symptom Checker
Anemia symptom checker: tick the symptoms and risk factors that apply to see if a haemoglobin (CBC) test is worth asking for, and which signs are urgent.
Written by HealthSensibly Editorial TeamReviewed by the HealthSensibly editorial teamUpdated
Recognising anaemia
With anaemia, a low haemoglobin level means your blood delivers less oxygen around the body. Mild cases may go unnoticed; as levels fall, people tend to feel tired, short of breath and light-headed, and may look pale. Over half of women in India have anaemia, most commonly due to low iron. The WHO cut-offs are haemoglobin under 12 g/dL for women who are not pregnant, 11 g/dL during pregnancy and 13 g/dL for men.
| Frequent causes | For example |
|---|---|
| Iron deficiency | Heavy periods, pregnancy, an iron-poor diet, blood loss |
| Low vitamin B12 or folate | Vegan eating, poor absorption, certain medicines |
| Long-term illness | Inflammatory conditions, kidney disease |
| Inherited | Sickle cell, thalassaemia trait |
The checker totals your symptoms and risk factors and suggests whether a complete blood count (CBC) is a good idea. Please do not begin iron tablets before testing — anaemia is not always caused by low iron. Fainting, chest pain, black tarry stools or severe breathlessness mean you should seek urgent care.
Told you have iron deficiency? The iron-rich eating plan and the daily iron calculator can help.
Common questions
Which blood test diagnoses anaemia?
Haemoglobin is measured with a complete blood count (CBC). To track down why it is low, your doctor may also check ferritin (stored iron), B12 and folate.
Will eating better fix anaemia on its own?
A mild iron shortfall can improve with food, but most people need a few months of iron tablets first and then rely on diet to stay topped up.
How serious is anaemia for a pregnant woman?
It matters — it increases the chance of an early birth and low birth weight and makes bleeding after delivery riskier. For this reason every pregnancy includes routine testing and iron-folic acid tablets.
Can men be anaemic too?
Yes. The WHO threshold for men is 13 g/dL, and causes such as hidden blood loss should be checked by a doctor.
Sources: WHO: Anaemia · NHS: Iron deficiency anaemia
Checked against the sources listed. This is general guidance only and not a substitute for medical advice — please speak to your doctor about your own situation.
More free health tools
Who wrote and checked this
Our editors write every tool explainer and guide in plain language from current guidelines and research, and list the sources on the page.
We check every tool and guide against the sources listed on the page and update it when guidance changes.
Updated: · How we write and review content