Final answer:
Anemia can be caused by a range of factors, including inadequate dietary iron, chronic bleeding, vitamin deficiencies, inherited disorders, and chronic diseases affecting the bone marrow or RBC production. It is a common condition that can lead to symptoms like weakness and fatigue due to poor oxygen delivery to the body's tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anemia is a condition characterized by a deficiency in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) or the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. This leads to decreased oxygen transport to the body's cells and can result in symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, and poor concentration. Anemia has a wide range of causes. Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent type, often due to insufficient iron intake or chronic bleeding. Other causes include vitamin deficiency anemia, where there is a lack of essential vitamins such as B12 and folate necessary for RBC production. Additionally, anemias can be caused by inherited disorders like sickle cell anemia, diseases affecting bone marrow and stem cells, chronic kidney disease which results in lower production of erythropoietin (EPO), hypothyroidism, certain cancers, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Blood loss anemias may result from ulcers, gastrointestinal cancers, excessive menstruation, or usage of substances like NSAIDs which can cause gastritis. Therefore, anemia can arise from three main processes: significant blood loss, destruction of RBCs, or inadequate production of RBCs.