We are used to thinking about our health last. Often people suffer a cold “on their feet”, prescribe vitamins and painkillers for themselves, and the medical examination has not yet become a habit among Russians.
At first glance, “trifling” symptoms can signal a serious illness, so it is very important to listen to your body. Signs of anemia in women are often attributed to excessive workload and stress. However, diagnosis and timely treatment can significantly improve the condition of patients.
What is anemia?
This is a clinical and hematological syndrome in which the hemoglobin level in the blood decreases and the number of red blood cells decreases. Anemia itself is not a disease, therefore in medicine there are seven of its classifications according to various criteria.
Most often, specialists diagnose iron deficiency anemia, in which there is an imbalance in one of the most important elements. It is iron that is part of many enzymes involved in the life of the body.
The causes and symptoms of anemia in women require special attention. At first, the fair sex may not even be aware of their ailment. Increased fatigue or drowsiness, a bad mood and even hair loss are often attributed to vitamin deficiency.
Unfortunately, multivitamin complexes can only temporarily weaken the signs of anemia in adult women, but an independent solution to the problem is impossible.
Hemolytic, iron deficiency, aplastic or B12 deficiency - it is impossible to determine the type of anemia only on the basis of patient complaints, so do not postpone a visit to the doctor.
Diagnostics
Even if you read all the literature and find out all the signs of anemia in women, only a specialist can diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Diagnosis is based on the following studies:
- biochemical analysis of blood (determination of the level of OZHSS, iron, hemoglobin, bilirubin and ferritin);
- general blood test (determination of the number of reticulocytes and platelets, the study of the morphology of red blood cells).
In addition, the doctor can prescribe a bone marrow puncture, endoscopic and radiological examination of the intestines and stomach, tomography of the lungs or ultrasound examination of the kidneys - all measures are carried out to exclude various diseases.
Iron-deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency occurs in the following diseases or physiological conditions:
- Blood loss of various origins. Most often, increased iron consumption occurs with bleeding from the digestive canal (peptic ulcer, gastritis) and uterine (uterine fibroma). Less commonly, traumatological, pulmonary, renal or nosebleeds become the cause.
- Unbalanced diet. In adults and children, iron deficiency is observed during fasting, chronic malnutrition, as well as in the case of a uniform diet with a high content of sugars and fats. Babies may not get enough of the important element in iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy.
- Violation of the absorption of iron. Absorption of iron is impaired due to cicatricial, atrophic and inflammatory processes in the small intestine. In addition, specialists also recall physiological conditions, due to which the need for iron increases sharply. These include pregnancy and lactation - at this moment the first signs of anemia in women appear. There is not enough stock in the body on the placenta, fetal needs or blood loss during childbirth.
During the first two years of life, due to rapid growth, the child also needs iron. The next stage of accelerated development occurs during puberty, in girls this is associated with the onset of menstruation.
At risk
Why are we talking specifically about women? Experts estimate that latent iron deficiency is observed precisely in women of childbearing age (20-30%), and every third representative of the fair sex suffers from iron deficiency anemia.
Main reasons:
- pregnancy;
- uterine bleeding;
- pathological menstruation.
Symptoms of Anemia in Women
The main signs of anemia can cause a lot of inconvenience. General malaise and weakness, decreased performance and drowsiness - these are the most common complaints of the fair sex. Additionally, dry mouth, shortness of breath, palpitations and swallowing appear. In severe anemia, dizziness and headache accompany fainting.
Unfortunately, an imbalance in the iron will certainly affect the appearance:
- Skin: pale color (sometimes with a greenish tint), cracks, peeling, dryness and loss of elasticity.
- Nails: loss of gloss, change in shape (koilonychia), brittleness and exfoliation.
- Hair: a tendency to gray hair, loss, dull color, split ends.
Decreased appetite, the need for salty, spicy or acidic foods, a perversion of taste and smell - all these are signs of iron deficiency anemia in women, which quickly disappear with proper treatment.
Treatment
The tactics for treating anemia depend on the severity of the condition and the type of anemia. First of all, it is necessary to establish the cause of its occurrence and, if possible, eliminate it.
An integrated approach will not only help eliminate the signs of anemia in women, but also replenish the supply of necessary substances in the body. An important step is the observance of a therapeutic diet.
With iron deficiency anemia, the attending physician prescribes iron preparations. According to WHO recommendations, preference is given to drugs with ferrous iron. The duration of treatment should not be less than three months.
Iron-containing preparations are presented in large quantities on the pharmaceutical market:
- Ferrum Lek.
- "Sorbifer durules."
- "Zhektofer."
- Totem.
- "Conferon."
- "Ferrocerone."
- Maltofer.
- "Ferroplex".
- "Tardiferon."
- "Feramide."
Iron Products
Iron preparations are prescribed based on laboratory results, and help eliminate the signs and symptoms of anemia.
Tips for treating women also include a balanced diet that includes foods high in iron:
- Vegetables: mushrooms, green radish, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, beans, parsley, carrots, broccoli, green peas and Brussels sprouts.
- Fruits: apricots (dried apricots), watermelon, persimmon, raisins, currants, dates, pomegranates and prunes.
- Red meat. This product should not be abused, it is enough to eat a small amount of lean meat 2-3 times a week. Offal, such as beef liver, is incredibly useful.
- Cereals: wild rice, bulgur, oatmeal, basmati rice, barley and corn.
A special diet saturated with foods with iron is a fairly effective way to increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood. However, in an emergency, when the level of hemoglobin tends to be critically low, the attending physician takes more effective measures.
ethnoscience
In folk medicine, there is certainly a cure for any ailment. It turns out that signs of anemia in women, according to ancient recipes of healers and healers, can be removed with the help of ordinary products.
Tip number 1. Radish - this vegetable has already been on our list. During the day, eat a teaspoon of grated radish (6 meals). The course of treatment is one month.
Tip # 2. Milk with garlic will help to normalize the pressure, as well as get rid of drowsiness, weakness, lack of appetite and vitality . Boil a glass of milk and add 2-3 crushed cloves of garlic. Drink three times a day for 30 ml.
Tip number 3. Elderly patients suffering from anemia, it is useful to drink kefir with honey. A glass of fermented milk drink requires a tablespoon of honey.
Tip number 4. For cooking, you will need dried strawberry leaves. Pour a tablespoon of boiling water and insist for twenty minutes. Drink, with the addition of milk and honey, replace tea, drink twice a day.
Prevention
We know that the fair sex is prone to self-improvement. However, experiments with appearance do not always end well.
The main danger is represented by diets based on the use of a single product or severely limiting the diet. If for a weight loss a woman refuses for a while from iron-containing products, then her health should be controlled.
Coffee lovers should reconsider their habits, because excessive consumption of a fragrant drink speeds up the leaching of iron from the body.