A low hemoglobin count can be associated with a disease or condition that causes the body to have too few red blood cells. This can occur if:

• The body produces fewer red blood cells than usual.
• The body destroys red blood cells faster than they can be produced.
• There is blood loss.

Some of the common causes of low hemoglobin include:

• Bleeding in the digestive tract, such as from ulcers, cancers, or hemorrhoids.
• Diseases or conditions that affect the bodys ability to produce red blood cells, such as different kinds of anemia and cancer.
• Iron deficiency, which is the most common type of anemia and occurs when there is too little iron in the body to make hemoglobin.
• Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.
• Certain medicines.

Healthcare providers diagnose low hemoglobin by taking samples of the patients blood and measuring the amount of hemoglobin in it. They may also analyze different types of hemoglobin in the red blood cells, or hemoglobin electrophoresis. Several factors affect hemoglobin levels, including bone marrow production of red blood cells, diseases, conditions, and other factors that affect red blood cell production. Healthcare providers treat low hemoglobin by diagnosing the underlying cause and treating it. For example, if the hemoglobin levels are low due to iron-deficiency anemia, the healthcare provider may treat the anemia with supplements or recommend an iron-rich diet. In most cases, treating the underlying cause of anemia will bring the hemoglobin level up.