Anemia

Anemia means your blood doesn't carry enough oxygen to the rest of your body because you don't have enough healthy red blood cells. This happens most often when your body doesn't have enough iron to make hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

When you have anemia, your body isn't getting enough oxygen, so your organs have to work harder and you feel exhausted. This tiredness is one of the main signs that your body needs more oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in your red blood cells that gives blood its red color and carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Without enough hemoglobin, your body can't get the oxygen it needs to work properly.

Heavy periods cause you to lose a lot of blood each month, and blood contains iron. When you lose too much blood over time, your body runs out of iron and can't make enough new red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Yes, some types of anemia can be inherited, like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. If anemia runs in your family, your doctor should know so they can check for these genetic types.