Health Tip: Know Your Risk for Anemia

By Diana Kohnle, HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- Anemia occurs when the blood lacks enough red blood cells, often due to poor diet or disease.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute mentions these risk factors for anemia:

• Eating a poor diet that's deficient in minerals, vitamins or iron.


• Being pregnant, which increases blood volume and draws iron and folic acid from the blood.


• Having a baby, especially if the infant is born prematurely.


• Losing blood, often due to injury or surgery.


• Having a chronic illness or infection.


• Having a family history of inherited anemia.

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