Anemia is a condition that develops when the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to the organs. If your red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, your body doesn't get enough oxygen. For this reason, doctors sometimes describe someone with anemia as having low blood counts. A person suffering from anemia is called anemic. It can reduce quality of life and increase the risk of death. Anemia is the most common blood condition in the United States. It affects approximately 3.5 million Americans (medicine E 1). Women and people with chronic conditions are at greater risk of anemia (Mayo Clinic 1). Some forms of anemia are hereditary and newborns can be affected from birth. Women of childbearing age are especially susceptible to a form of anemia called iron deficiency anemia, which is most common due to blood loss during menstruation and increased blood requirements during pregnancy. Older adults may also be at greater risk of developing anemia due to poor nutrition and other medical conditions. There are many types of anemia. All are very different in causes and treatments. Some forms of anemia, such as that which develops during pregnancy, are even considered normal. Some other types of anemia include folic acid deficiency anemia, when folic acid levels are low due to inadequate dietary intake or faulty absorption, pernicious anemia, when the body's inability to adequately absorb vitamin B12, hemolytic anemia, when red blood cells are destroyed prematurely, sickle cell anemia, when a hereditary hemoglobin abnormality occurs and occurs mainly in African or Mediterranean populations, and aplastic anemia, when c 'is a decrease in bone tissue...... middle of paper...... every day, follow a healthy diet to maintain strength and finally talk to your doctor or a team of health professionals about medications you can take to help you manage anemia. Works Cited "Causes of Anemia, Symptoms, Treatment - When to See a Doctor Treatment on EMedicineHealth." Emedicine Health. May 2003. Web. 13 April 2011. "Anemia". PubMed Health. April 2009. Web. April 12, 2011. Mayo Clinic Staff. "Anemia: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. 1998. Network. April 13, 2011. .Staff, WebMD. “How anemia is diagnosed and treated.” WebMD: Better information. Better health. Network. April 14. 2011. .