h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Surely there are more symptoms of anaemia than just breathlessness? I for one would be interested to learn how to tell if one is anaemic, without having to see a GP. Just my

The only main symptoms are being tired all the time, and getting out of breath for sever aneamia. Aneamia by defination is a laboratory diagnoses, the only way a can tell for definate that your are aneamia is a blood test, not by any other signs. Therefore it's really impossible to tell without getting a blood test done. A full blood count (FBC) is often one of the first blood tests a will do when someone presents with tirdness or other symptoms, as aeamia can be a sign of many other diseases.

I've been told (though I'll let the Bab Doctor confirm) that a quick empirical test is to look at the inside of your lower eyelid. If it's pale, you *might* be anemic, but if it's bright pink, then likely not.

yeah that's true, there are other, (rarer) signs of anaemia, as well, spoon shaped nails (cholionica), and a mark arond the side of the mouth, (angular stomatis) but you can be slightly anaemic without any other them!

You mean I was *right*? *jaw drops*

Of course, I left the 'y' off of 'Baby'

Well it stands to reason,though many people will have significant aneamic without anyof the signs being present. They're only really still taught as a hangover from when laboratroy tests weren't available.

Well, I'd say that they're still pretty good indicators that you should see your doctor and get some tests...

I do worry about giving out medical advice on the internet, I would *think* by the time that they appeared you would have gone to your dr anyway..

Both very good points... *shuts up*