About NAAC
National Anemia Action Council, Inc. (NAAC) is a nonprofit advisory council comprised of anemia experts dedicated to raising the awareness of healthcare professionals and the public regarding the prevalence, symptoms, consequences, and treatment options of anemia.

Welcome to Our Inaugural Issue

NAAC is proud to deliver the first issue of Anemia Watch. We thank you for subscribing to our quarterly publication and encourage you to browse this issue and read the full feature articles located on our website, www.anemia.org. Anemia Watch is created with the patients’ well-being in mind and reflects our mission to raise awareness about anemia among patients, consumers and the people who treat them.

If you know a friend who may be interested in Anemia Watch, would like to view our other publications, or no longer wish to receive Anemia Watch, please follow the links below to our website.

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Feature Articles

What is Anemia?
Anemia is a condition of lower than normal levels of healthy red blood cells and their oxygen carrying component called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. People with anemia, therefore, do not get enough oxygen delivered to the important tissues of the body. This results in many symptoms such as tiredness and weakness, and is why prolonged anemia can cause damage to the heart and other organs...[Full Article]

Anemia is Not a Normal Consequence of Aging
Anemia is a common condition in people over age 65, affecting more than 3 million people in the United States. Anemia is considered by many to be a relatively harmless and a normal part of the aging process. In fact, anemia is neither normal nor harmless and if left untreated can have far reaching effects on your health, welfare and independence....[Full Article]

Anemia and Nutrition: The Importance of Iron
Good nutrition is one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle. The best way to give your body the balanced nutrition it needs is by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day; including lean meats and dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. For people suffering from anemia, a healthy...[Full Article]

Frequently Asked Question

Q: I tried to donate blood, but was denied because my blood count (hematocrit value) was too low. What hematocrit value is required to donate blood? What should I do about my low hematocrit value?

A: Hematocrit is a measure of the percentage of red blood cells in a blood sample. To donate...

[Full Answer]

Anemia in At-Risk Groups

A considerable percentage of people in each at-risk group have anemia. See our anemia statistics for more information about at-risk populations.

Tell Us What You'd Like to See in Anemia Watch
The National Anemia Action Council values your opinion and would like to provide the best service to our readers. Please send staff your suggestions for topics concerning anemia that you'd like to learn more about. Suggestions | NAAC Website Evaluation

SPOTLIGHT: Dialysis Patient Citizens
Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) is a non-profit organization serving more than 20,000 dialysis patients and their families. “Over the past four years, acting as the voice of dialysis patients of all modalities and backgrounds across the United States, we have grown to become the largest patient-led organization advocating...[More About DPC]

Other Patient Resources

Information Handouts - Educational information describing anemia caused by different conditions including: aging, cancer, diabetes, vitamin deficiency, chronic kidney disease and more
Frequently Asked Questions - Answers to patients' questions
Anemia Glossary - Definitions for medical terms relating to anemia
Feature Articles - Articles covering anemia-related information
Symptoms Quiz - Questionnaire to print and take to a physician
Anemia Watch - Our free quarterly e-newsletter about anemia issues for patients, caregivers and allied healthcare providers