The severity of the symptoms largely depends on how quickly anaemia develops. Many people with iron deficiency anaemia only have a few symptoms. Other types of anaemia can be caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or folate in the body – read more about vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anaemia.
Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type. There are several different types of anaemia, and each one has a different cause. If you have fewer red blood cells than is normal, your organs and tissues won't get as much oxygen as they usually would. Iron is used to produce red blood cells, which help store and carry oxygen in the blood. Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction in the number of red blood cells.
