Anaemia or low haemoglobin (Hb) is a common blood disorder that can affect people across all age groups. Haemoglobin is a protein in our red blood cells (RBC) that acts as a transport vehicle for oxygen to all tissues of our body. These RBC and other blood cells are produced in a spongy structure known as bone marrow that is present in most of the long bones in our body. “When such protein becomes low, they can lead to various symptoms that differ across age groups and vary according to severity. If one has persistently low Hb, and it develops slowly over a period of time, like nutritional deficiency, patients may exhibit few symptoms, appear pale, and have easy fatigability. On the other hand, if it develops quickly, as in blood loss or when the blood is breaking (Hemolytic anaemia) or blood cancers, it can be life-threatening with extreme breathlessness, swelling etc,” said Dr Anand Kumar K, consultant hematologist, bone marrow transplant physician and pediatric oncologist, Sparsh Hospital. Read more here..