What is considered a low red blood cell count? Low red blood cell count or erythrocytopenia is when the number of red blood cell count goes below a certain level. Low levels of the protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen, called hemoglobin, is the main sign of anemia. Some people learn they have low hemoglobin when they donate blood. Low red blood cells, called anemia, is the most common type of low blood count. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body, so when they drop you tend to feel it: crushing fatigue, dizziness, headaches, pale skin, shortness of breath, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Curious what causes low red blood cells? This piece breaks down ten medical reasons behind anemia and explains how each one affects your health. Anemia refers to low levels of healthy red blood cells. Symptoms include feeling very tired, weak and short of breath. Treatment depends on the type of anemia. Diet and lifestyle chances can help increase a low red blood cell count. Learn about methods that may help, as well as when to contact a doctor. A low red blood cell count means you have anemia, a condition that could be caused by a variety of factors like blood loss, genetic disorders, cancer treatments and other causes. Discovering anemia is often the starting point to diagnosing an underlying condition. Low red blood cells (anemia) mean the body may not be getting the oxygen it needs. Treatment for low red blood cells depends on the type of anemia. If low red blood cells are caused by iron deficiency, the first step is to determine what is causing the low iron. Low red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit almost always drop together because they measure overlapping aspects of the same thing: how much oxygen-carrying capacity your blood has. The causes range from something as fixable as an iron-poor diet to something as serious as bone marrow failure. Low red blood cells can stem from nutrient gaps, hidden blood loss, kidney disease, bone marrow issues, and more. Here’s what’s behind a low count.