Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) and/or
hemoglobin. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues, causing tissue hypoxia. Since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. Hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in the red blood cells) has to be present to ensure adequate oxygenation of all tissues and organs. The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction (hemolysis) or deficient
red blood cell production (ineffective
hematopoiesis). In menstruating women, dietary
iron deficiency is a common cause of deficient red blood cell production.
Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood. There are several kinds of anemia, produced by a variety of underlying causes. Anemia can be classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs, underlying etiologic mechanisms, and discernible clinical spectra, to mention a few.
Low Blood Pressure is best understood as a physiologic state, rather than a disease. It is often associated with shock, though not necessarily indicative of it.
Hypotension is not
hypertension, which is
high blood pressure, the opposite of hypotension. Hypotension is a fairly rare problem, hypertension is a much more common problem. Hypotension is usually not a serious problem, although in some cases it can be life threatening.