Complications

Left untreated, anemia can cause many health problems, such as:

• Extreme fatigue. Severe anemia can make you so tired that you can't complete everyday tasks.
• Pregnancy complications. Pregnant women with folate deficiency anemia can be more likely to have complications, such as premature birth.
• Heart problems. Anemia can lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). When you're anemic your heart pumps more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen in the blood. This can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure.
• Death. Some inherited anemias, such as sickle cell anemia, can lead to life-threatening complications. Losing a lot of blood quickly results in acute, severe anemia and can be fatal. Among older people, anemia is associated with an increased risk of death.