Which of the following is a common symptom of anemia?

Shortness of breath is a common symptom of anemia because this condition involves a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, which reduces the blood's capacity to carry oxygen. As the body struggles to deliver enough oxygen to the tissues, it compensates by increasing the respiratory rate, leading to shortness of breath, especially during physical exertion or even at rest in more severe cases.

This response is linked to the body’s physiological need for oxygen, which becomes more pronounced in the presence of anemia. Other symptoms such as dizziness and headaches can also occur as a result of inadequate oxygen supply to various organs, but shortness of breath is particularly associated with the body's immediate response to low oxygen levels.