Anemia commonly causes symptoms like weakness and fatigue. Many conditions can cause symptoms similar to anemia, including other blood disorders, hormonal imbalances, and heart or lung issues.

Anemia develops when you have a low number of healthy red blood cells. You may have anemia if your body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells or if your red blood cells don’t function properly.

Red blood cells contain a molecule called hemoglobin that carries oxygen and circulates it throughout your body. A low number of red blood cells impairs your body’s ability to get oxygen to the tissues and organs that need it.

This lack of oxygen leads to the characteristic symptoms of anemia, which may include:

  • weakness
  • paleness
  • fatigue
  • feeling cold all the time
  • chills
  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness or fainting
  • unexplained bleeding
  • jaundice (yellowing of your skin and eye whites)

Read on to learn more about other conditions that may mimic anemia and cause similar symptoms.

What are the different types of anemia?

Anemia can be classified into various subtypes based on its underlying cause, and all of these may cause classic anemia symptoms. The different types of anemia include:

Thalassemia is a group of genetic blood conditions that cause reduced hemoglobin production and anemia. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein in your blood that allows your body to carry oxygen.

Symptoms of thalassemia are caused by anemia, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This means you may experience fatigue, weakness, and dizziness, among other classic anemia symptoms.

Thalassemia is a genetic condition caused by a mutation in the alpha globin or beta globin genes. It could be inherited, which means you have an increased risk of developing it if one of your parents has it.

Treatments for thalassemia may include:

Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, develops when your body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

The most common cause is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s disease. It’s usually treated by taking a synthetic version of thyroid hormone.

Hypoglycemia is the medical name for low blood sugar, which occurs when your blood sugar levels drop below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). It can cause symptoms like:

Low blood sugar symptoms are generally short-lasting and go away once your blood sugar levels return to normal after eating fast-acting carbohydrates.

That said, if you regularly experience hypoglycemia, consider speaking with a doctor to understand the underlying cause and potential management techniques. Hypoglycemia is common in people with diabetes.

Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by pauses in your breathing while sleeping. During the day, you may experience:

Several factors could increase your risk of sleep apnea, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or having a health condition like obesity or diabetes.

Treatment often includes sleeping with a special machine called a CPAP machine.

Several other blood disorders can cause similar symptoms to anemia, such as:

  • Spherocytosis: This hereditary condition causes abnormally spherical red blood cells.
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): MDS refers to a group of cancers where the bone marrow produces too many abnormal blood cells.
  • Polycythemia vera: This is a type of cancer in which the body produces too many red blood cells.
  • Hemochromatosis: This medical condition develops when too much iron builds up in your body due to genetic mutations or other medical conditions.

Kidney disease develops when your kidneys aren’t functioning optimally.

The kidneys filter the blood. If they cannot perform their function, substances can build up in the blood, leading to symptoms like fatigue, muscle cramping, dizziness, and dry skin. Kidney disease often causes anemia due to decreased erythropoietin production.

Some risk factors for kidney disease include:

Severe kidney disease may need to be treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Your adrenal glands produce a hormone called cortisol to help your body combat stress. Adrenal insufficiency is when your adrenal glands don’t produce enough of this hormone.

The most common symptoms are:

  • chronic fatigue
  • weakness
  • hunger loss
  • unexplained weight loss
  • abdominal pain

Adrenal insufficiency is usually caused by autoimmune activity strongly related to certain genes. In rare cases, adrenal insufficiency can lead to a life threatening condition called acute adrenal crisis.

Typically, adrenal insufficiency is managed by taking medications that closely resemble adrenal hormones.

Heart conditions, such as heart failure or coronary artery disease, can affect blood flow and the circulation of oxygen throughout your body.

This lack of oxygen could cause symptoms similar to anemia, such as dyspnea (shortness of breath), fatigue, weakness, and confusion. It could also cause wheezing and swelling in the ankles, legs, and fingers.

Heart disease can develop due to a combination of your genetics, lifestyle habits, and other environmental factors. Lifestyle modifications may be enough to manage mild heart conditions, but surgery or medications may be needed for more serious cases.

Many types of lung conditions can affect breathing and oxygen circulation, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and coughing.

Some lung conditions that may cause symptoms similar to anemia include:

Management for lung conditions varies widely, ranging from lifestyle changes like quitting smoking to extensive medical treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy for lung cancer.

Some infectious diseases, like mononucleosis, can cause unexplained and lingering fatigue that could last several weeks after the infection has cleared.

Mononucleosis is a viral infection transmitted through saliva, and it’s particularly common among young adults and teenagers. It’s generally managed by treating symptoms since there’s no specific cure.

Symptoms of long COVID, also known as post-COVID syndrome, may also resemble those of anemia. These may include fatigue, headache, muscle pain, and shortness of breath, among others.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex condition that causes long-term fatigue and other symptoms, such as general weakness, difficulty thinking, and sleeping problems.

Its cause isn’t known, and treatment usually centers around treating symptoms.

Consider connecting with a doctor if you experience unexplained fatigue that persists for more than a couple of weeks without any obvious physical cause.

To determine the underlying cause, a doctor will perform a physical examination and ask you about your symptoms and your medical history. They may also order any of the following tests:

A doctor can help develop an appropriate treatment plan to manage your symptoms.

Many conditions can cause similar symptoms to anemia, such as other blood conditions, low thyroid levels, or heart and lung problems.

Speak with a healthcare professional if you’ve been experiencing persistent fatigue or other symptoms without an obvious cause.

Many conditions that mimic anemia are manageable with lifestyle changes or medications.