Anaemia is a common condition that often results from other illnesses or deficiency states. The term, which literally means “without blood”, is used to denote an abnormally low red blood cell count.

Healthy red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, have a lifespan of around 120 days. The bone marrow produces them continuously at a rate of about 2.5 million new red cells per second. Production is driven by the hormone erythropoietin, synthesised in the kidneys.