How can chronic blood loss lead to anemia?

Chronic blood loss leads to anemia primarily by depleting iron stores in the body, which affects red blood cell production. When there is prolonged loss of blood, the body loses not only red blood cells but also the iron contained within those cells. Iron is a critical component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. As iron stores become depleted, the body struggles to produce new red blood cells to replace those that have been lost. This reduced capacity to produce hemoglobin contributes to a state of anemia, characterized by decreased oxygen delivery to tissues and resultant fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms.

In contrast, the other options relate to processes or conditions that are not directly tied to the mechanism of anemia caused by chronic blood loss. Increased white blood cell production, enhanced antibody production, and multiple infections do not explain how blood loss affects red blood cell levels or iron availability, which are the key factors leading to anemia in this context.