Anemia is defined as a decrease in normal number of red blood cells or a condition where there is less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood and generally speaking, the causes of anemia are high rates of blood loss, the body not producing enough red blood cells or there being a high rate of destruction of red blood cells in the body.

Blood loss is one of the causes of Anemia: If the body has suffered a loss of blood due to surgery, injury, trauma, excessive blood donation, in childbirth etc, these factors could well be the causes of anemia.

There could also be chronic causes of anemia such as that resulting from heavy menstrual periods, inflammation of the stomach, ulcers of the stomach, fissures and hemorrhoids, etc.

Sometimes, cancer of the colon or stomach can cause bleeding leading to anemia. Certain high dosage medications used over a long period of time can cause anemia due to bleeding in the stomach.

Inadequate Red Blood cell production is the cause of anemia: Either due to genetic conditions or because of other factors, the body sometimes does not produce enough number of red blood corpuscles.

Nutritional factors such as iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency can often be the underlying causes of anemia. Sometimes, it is pregnancy that can cause a woman to become anemic, and at times certain hormone deficiencies may also cause anemia.

Aplastic anemia is another condition that is either acquired or inherited, which may prevent the body from producing enough red blood cells.

Excessive destruction of Red blood cells is one of the causes of anemia: A red blood cell has a life span of about three months; however certain conditions cause them to be destroyed before that time, thereby causing hemolysis or anemia caused by excessive red blood cell destruction.

Sickle cell anemia is one of the inherited conditions which cause the red blood cells to assume a sickle shape due to which these cells break down quicker and are unable to provide requisite levels of nutrition and oxygen to the different parts of the body

Thalassemia cause lack of certain enzymes in the body, can also lead to the destruction of healthy red blood cells as can certain disorders of organs such as the liver.

Certain medications also cause a destruction of red blood cells, causing anemia. In addition, certain conditions such as immune reactions, certain infections, certain toxins, and a number of medical procedures can also become the causes of anemia.