Normally low hemoglobin counts

A slightly low hemoglobin count isn't always a sign of illness — it may be normal for some people. Women who are pregnant commonly have low hemoglobin counts.

Low hemoglobin counts associated with diseases and conditions

A low hemoglobin count can be associated with a disease or condition that causes your body to have too few red blood cells. This can occur if:

1. Your body produces fewer red blood cells than usual
2. Your body destroys red blood cells faster than they can be produced
3. You experience blood loss

Diseases and conditions that cause your body to produce fewer red blood cells than normal include:

1. Aplastic anemia
2. Cancer
3. Certain medications, such as anti-retroviral drugs for HIV infection and chemotherapy drugs for cancer and other conditions
4. Chronic kidney disease
5. Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
6. Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
7. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
8. Iron deficiency anemia
9. Lead poisoning
10. Leukemia
11. Multiple myeloma
12. Myelodysplastic syndromes
13. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
14. Vitamin deficiency anemia

Diseases and conditions that cause your body to destroy red blood cells faster than they can be made include:

1. Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
2. Hemolysis
3. Porphyria
4. Sickle cell anemia
5. Thalassemia
6. Vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation)

A low hemoglobin count can also be due to blood loss, which can occur because of:

1. Bleeding from a wound
2. Bleeding in your digestive tract, such as from ulcers, cancers or hemorrhoids
3. Bleeding in your urinary tract
4. Frequent blood donation
5. Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding)

• Definition
• When to see a doctor

April 07, 2018