Low Haemoglobin: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Haemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When haemoglobin levels are lower than normal, the body may not receive enough oxygen, which can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath or pale skin.

Normal Haemoglobin Levels

Haemoglobin levels for men: 13.5 – 18.0 g/dL
Haemoglobin levels for women: 12.0 – 15.0 g/dL

Haemoglobin levels below these ranges may be considered low, but your doctor will interpret your result based on your age, sex, symptoms, pregnancy status and overall health.

Low haemoglobin is commonly linked to anaemia, but the underlying cause can vary. It may be due to iron deficiency, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, blood loss, chronic disease, pregnancy, inherited conditions or bone marrow disorders.

Understanding the cause of low haemoglobin is important because treatment depends on what is affecting red blood cell production, oxygen-carrying capacity or blood loss.

Symptoms of Low Haemoglobin

Low haemoglobin, commonly referred to as anaemia, is a dip in your body’s red blood cells or haemoglobin’s numbers in your blood. This can impact anyone, including people who perceive themselves as typically healthy. Many factors can contribute to low haemoglobin levels, such as a poor diet, chronic diseases, or certain medical conditions.

Here are some common signs that your haemoglobin levels may be lower than the optimal range:

Symptoms	Description
Fatigue	Constant tiredness and energy deficiency, despite having sufficient rest.
Weakness	Generalised weakness and feeling physically lethargic.
Shortness of breath	Trouble breathing or breathlessness, specifically during physical activities.
Pale skin	Your skin is looking noticeably pale, specifically on your face and palms.
Dizziness or light-headedness	When you stand up, you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Headaches	Constant headaches that may be caused by lower oxygen supply to your brain.
Cold hands and feet	Inadequate circulation, resulting in colder extremities.
Irregular heartbeat	An irregular heartbeat is caused by anaemia that can impact your heart’s function to pump blood.

Low haemoglobin can lead to many health issues, such as feeling fatigued daily, shortness of breath, and headaches to serious conditions. If left unaddressed, the seriousness and possible complications will vary based on the cause, extent of haemoglobin deficiency, and the individual’s overall health.

Causes of Low Haemoglobin

Some factors are the cause of a decrease in haemoglobin concentration within the blood:

Causes	Explanation
Iron deficiency	Iron is important for the production of haemoglobin. Iron deficiency in your diet, ineffective iron absorption from your digestive tract, or chronic loss of blood (for example: from heavy menstrual flows or gastrointestinal bleeding) can cause iron-deficiency anaemia.
Vitamin deficiencies	A lack of vitamins like B12 and folate is important for the production of red blood cells. For example, pernicious anaemia is the result of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Chronic diseases	The production of red blood cells can be affected by chronic kidney diseases, inflammatory disorders, and specific types of cancers, which can cause low haemoglobin levels.
Blood loss	Heavy menstrual bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, or trauma can cause a loss of red blood cells, leading to low haemoglobin levels.
Pregnancy	Haemoglobin is diluted by increased blood volume during pregnancy, and increased demand for iron can lead to anaemia during pregnancy if unfulfilled by dietary intake or supplements.
Genetic factors	Some anaemic patients may have genetic disorders such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassemia, which can lead to decreased haemoglobin levels.
Bone marrow disorders	The bone marrow is where the production of red blood cells occurs. Once impacted by diseases, the bone marrow’s ability to produce enough red blood cells is affected.

Why Is It Important to Find the Cause of Low Haemoglobin?

Low haemoglobin is not a diagnosis on its own. It is a blood test finding that may be caused by different conditions, including iron deficiency, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, chronic disease, blood loss, pregnancy, inherited blood disorders or bone marrow problems.

Finding the cause is important because treatment depends on what is causing the low haemoglobin. For example, iron deficiency may be treated with iron supplements and dietary changes, but ongoing blood loss, heavy menstrual bleeding or gastrointestinal bleeding may need further investigation and treatment. Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, chronic disease, inherited anaemia and bone marrow disorders may require different approaches.

Taking supplements without knowing the cause may delay the correct diagnosis, especially if low haemoglobin is related to internal bleeding, chronic illness or a blood disorder.

A doctor may recommend blood tests, iron studies, vitamin B12 and folate tests, a peripheral blood smear or other investigations to understand the reason for low haemoglobin and guide the most suitable treatment.

Diagnosing Low Haemoglobin

Low haemoglobin is diagnosed by evaluating a patient's medical history, conducting a physical examination, and performing laboratory tests.

Blood tests: Provide comprehensive details for red blood cells, haemoglobin levels, and associated parameters to detect any abnormalities.

Iron studies: Tests for serum iron, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) are included to evaluate the body’s iron levels and iron storage.

Peripheral blood smear or bone marrow biopsy: These are further tests to explore the cause of low haemoglobin further, particularly if it is linked to more complex issues.

Treating Low Haemoglobin

There are several types of treatments for low haemoglobin levels based on the underlying cause, such as:

Type of anaemia	Types of treatment options
Iron-deficiency anaemia	Oral iron supplements such as ferrous sulfate. If oral supplements do not work or are not tolerated, intravenous iron may be given to you. Increase your intake of foods abundant in iron like red meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals. Treating gastrointestinal bleeding or heavy menstrual bleeding, which are sources of chronic blood loss.
Vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia	Depending on how serious the deficiency is and your body’s ability to absorb vitamins, Vitamin B12 supplements can be given orally or through an injection. Your diet should include more B12-rich foods, such as meat, eggs, dairy products, and fortified cereals.
Folate-deficiency anaemia	Oral folic acid (folate) supplements. Folate-rich foods like green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, and fortified grains should be eaten more.
Anaemia of chronic disease	Chronic diseases such as kidney disease, cancer, or rheumatoid arthritis should be treated.
Aplastic anaemia	Bone marrow stimulants. Blood transfusions to increase red blood cell counts temporarily. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant may be a necessary procedure in serious cases.
Haemolytic anaemia	Steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs are used to lower your immune response if your anaemia is autoimmune. Blood transfusions. Treating hidden infections or discontinuing causative medications. Splenectomy (spleen removal) may be necessary in specific cases.

Knowing When to Call a Doctor

If you are going through continuous symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, or pale skin, consult a healthcare professional right away. Early diagnosis and medical attention can help you avoid health complications and improve overall outcomes.

Schedule an Appointment at Gleneagles Hospitals

If you suspect that you have low haemoglobin, contact us to make an appointmenttoday for a consultation, or stop by our Haematology Department at your nearest Gleneagles Hospitals.

Find A Doctor

Enquiry