Anemia
Anemia— when your blood lacks healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin— is a common complication of IBD and affects 21% of people with ulcerative colitis, according to a study published in Frontiers in Medicine. Continuing inflammation and loss of blood is likely to cause anemia. Iron deficiency without anemia can affect the quality of life. Severe anemia with iron deficiency is characterized by fatigue, paleness of the skin, shortness of breath, or pain in the chest.