👉 Hemoglobinemia is a condition in which the amount of hemoglobin, or red blood cell protein, in your blood cells is low. Hemoglobin is an essential protein that carries oxygen throughout the body and helps to transport oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. In general, there are two main types of hemoglobinemia: primary and secondary. Primary hemoglobinemia occurs when a person has a genetic defect that makes it difficult for their red blood cells to carry enough hemoglobin.