Which condition is characterized by a decreased ability to transport oxygen and increased fatigue?

Anemia is a condition characterized by a decreased number of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, which reduces the blood's capacity to carry oxygen to tissues. This decreased oxygen transport leads to symptoms such as increased fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath, as the body's organs and muscles do not receive the oxygen they need to function efficiently. In the case of anemia, the reduced oxygen levels directly impact a person's energy levels and overall wellness, prompting fatigue as the body struggles to meet its metabolic demands.

In contrast to anemia, conditions like asthma primarily affect the airways and involve difficulty in breathing, which can lead to fatigue during physical activities but do not inherently decrease the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin. Hypercapnia is an excess of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, typically resulting from inadequate respiratory function, and while it can lead to fatigue, it is not characterized primarily by a decrease in oxygen transport. Leukemia, a type of cancer that affects blood cells, can lead to anemia as a secondary condition, but it is primarily associated with an overproduction of dysfunctional white blood cells, causing a variety of symptoms and complications unrelated to direct oxygen transport deficits.

Thus, anemia stands out as the most accurate choice for a condition directly linked to