Often, the first test used to diagnose anemia is a complete blood count (CBC). The CBC measures many parts of your blood. The test checks your hemoglobin and hematocrit (hee-MAT-oh-crit) levels. Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body.
How do you check if you are anemic?
To diagnose anemia, your doctor is likely to ask you about your medical and family history, perform a physical exam, and run the following tests:
- Complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is used to count the number of blood cells in a sample of your blood. ...
- A test to determine the size and shape of your red blood cells.
What are the first signs of being anemic?
Signs and symptoms, if they do occur, might include:
- Fatigue.
- Weakness.
- Pale or yellowish skin.
- Irregular heartbeats.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Chest pain.
- Cold hands and feet.
