Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations, also known as noticeable heartbeats, is also another symptom of low hemoglobin. [3] Hemoglobin is the protein found in red blood cells that aids in transporting oxygen throughout the body. Low levels of hemoglobin means the heart has to work harder than it normally would, to carry oxygen. This may result in the feeling of the heart beating at an abnormally fast rate or irregular heartbeats. In severe cases, it may lead to a heart murmur,[4] an enlarged heart, [5] or heart failure. [6]
Shortness of Breath
As previously mentioned, hemoglobin enables the movement of oxygen around the body through the red blood cells. This means that low hemoglobin levels equal low oxygen levels. In turn, the muscles would be unable to perform basic activities, such as walking, due to the lack of adequate oxygen. As a result, there would be an increase in the breathing rate as the body would attempt to get more oxygen.