What is a common cause of losing red blood cells leading to anemia?

Losing red blood cells can lead to anemia primarily due to bleeding. When there is significant blood loss, whether through injury, surgery, or chronic conditions like gastrointestinal bleeding, the volume of circulating red blood cells decreases. Red blood cells are essential for transporting oxygen throughout the body, so their loss can compromise oxygen delivery to tissues, resulting in symptoms of anemia such as fatigue, weakness, and pallor.

While infections can contribute to anemia by impacting bone marrow function or increasing red blood cell destruction, or dehydration can lead to hemoconcentration that makes it seem like red blood cell levels are low, they are not direct causes of red blood cell loss. Increased fluid intake does not typically result in the loss of red blood cells. Overall, bleeding is the most straightforward and common mechanism leading to the reduction of red blood cell count and subsequent anemia.