Ask A Doctor: What Causes Your Red Blood Cells To Be Low?
Red Blood Cells image
Expert opinion from Howard E. Lewine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
A low red blood cell count is known as anemia. There are two main types. Anemia caused by decreased or defective production of red blood cells, and anemia caused by increased destruction of red cells in the blood. Common causes of low red blood cell production include iron deficiency, vitamin B12 and other vitamin deficiencies, and bone marrow problems. Hemolytic anemia due to antibodies made against red blood cell and sickle cell disease are two examples of increased red blood cell destruction.
Expert opinion from Jerry T Todd
Doctor of Medicine · 9 years of experience · USA
Low red blood cells, called anemia, can result from many causes including blood loss. Other causes include lack of nutrients such as iron, folate, and vitamin B12. Certain chronic diseases such as kidney disease can also cause low red blood cell count. There are other rare causes of low red blood cells like certain kinds of cancer.
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Expert opinion from Martin Perlin
Doctor of Medicine · 33 years of experience · USA
Lack of essential factors in hemoglobin synthesis will result in anemia dependent upon which particular, specific factor(s) is/are deficient.
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