Worried by constant weakness, fatigue, dizziness? There is a reason to take an analysis to determine the level of hemoglobin in the blood. What kind of substance is this, what are the functions in the body, what are the dangerous indicators below normal, and what to do if hemoglobin is low, how to increase its level with drugs and alternative methods, we will tell in this article.
What is hemoglobin?
Translated from the ancient Greek language, the word "hemoglobin" is translated as "blood" and "ball". This is such a protein in the human body (and animals) that contains iron and has the ability to bind to oxygen. There is hemoglobin in red blood cells - red blood cells.
What is necessary to ensure that the blood test does not show low hemoglobin, how to increase performance? For the normal operation of this protein, it is necessary to saturate the body with iron from food, namely from animal proteins.
The role of hemoglobin in the human body
The main function of hemoglobin is the binding of its molecules to oxygen, the transfer of the latter throughout all tissues and organs. The normal operation of many systems depends on this function. In addition, hemoglobin binds to carbon dioxide, transferring it to the lungs. In the body, this function is no less important than the delivery of oxygen to tissues. But at the same time, precisely because of the indicated property of hemoglobin, carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous for a person, which quickly enters the bloodstream, poisoning a person.
With the slightest violation of hemoglobin functions, oxygen deficiency develops, metabolic and regenerative processes are disrupted. Is hemoglobin low diagnosed? How to increase its level in the blood, we will describe in detail below.
A blood test to determine the level of hemoglobin
The most reliable and indicative method for determining hemoglobin levels in the blood is a standard general blood test. Observing a few simple recommendations, during the day you can find out the indicators of this protein in the patient’s blood in this way. How to prepare for the analysis:
- It is required to exclude the use of alcoholic beverages and fatty foods 3 days before the planned study.
- An analysis of hemoglobin is given on an empty stomach, since food, especially liquid, significantly reduces real indicators.
- Physical activity should also be temporarily limited before taking the test.
- If the patient is a pregnant woman, it is important to inform the doctor who gives the direction for blood donation, since the hemoglobin rate for expectant mothers is much lower.
The laboratory assistant will conduct a series of chemical reactions, compare the results with the samples and indicate the result in quantitative terms. Is low hemoglobin diagnosed? How to increase its performance, tell the attending physician.
Hemoglobin measurement at home
Thanks to technological advances in medicine, portable compact devices have appeared for reliable, quick and affordable hemoglobin measurement at home. Such devices are called blood meters. Most often, they are able to determine the level of not only hemoglobin in the blood, but also glucose, as well as cholesterol. Such devices are easy to use - just drop a little blood on the sensor, and within a few seconds you can find out that the hemoglobin is low. How to increase it, what are the possible causes of this condition, you can first find out using special programs installed on portable devices. But regardless of the information received, if abnormalities are found, you should consult a doctor.
There are non-invasive (the use of which does not require biological material) instruments for measuring hemoglobin. Often such devices are used by athletes to track the effectiveness of a workout. Such devices are equipped with a touch sensor, which is attached to the finger. The principle of operation of such devices is similar to the spectroscopy procedure. Many of these devices contain the “bluetooth” or “USB” functions, thanks to which it is easy to transfer the results to a smartphone, tablet or laptop. Then, having installed special programs or applications, find out the results that the electronic storage medium will provide in expanded form, with recommendations and a preliminary diagnosis.
The disadvantage of such innovative medical devices is their rather high cost. And the wider the range of functions the device is equipped with, the more expensive it is to pay for it.
Norms of indicators
How to understand that hemoglobin is low, how to increase it and eliminate minor deviations? For this, it is necessary to evaluate various factors and compare the indicators obtained after analysis with the established standards. So, for a man, the normal indicator of hemoglobin in the blood is 130–170 g / l, while for a woman it is 120–150 g / l. This is due to hormonal differences in the sexes. In addition, the weak half loses a significant amount of iron every month during menstruation, which directly affects the results of hemoglobin in the blood.
For pregnant women, the hemoglobin rate is even lower. This fact is explained by the fact that the consumption of iron increases for the growth and development of the future baby.
Children have no gender differences in the norms of hemoglobin. But then the results vary significantly depending on the age of the child. So, in the first few weeks of life, the hemoglobin has high rates - from 130 g / l to 190 g / l. Gradually decreasing, normally in a one-year-old baby he should be at the level of 110-130 g / l. Then, annually increasing by 3 g / l, by the age of 14-15 the indicators reach the level of an adult.
What to do if a baby is diagnosed with low hemoglobin, how to increase this indicator for a child? Since most medications are contraindicated in pediatric practice, most often a special diet is prescribed or traditional medicine methods are used.
Low hemoglobin: causes and effects. How to raise it?
Having received the result of the analysis, which indicates that the hemoglobin level in the blood is lowered, it is necessary to assess the likelihood of the influence of external factors and, on the recommendation of the doctor, re-retake the analysis. If the result is confirmed, then the attending physician can detect the following pathological conditions in the human body:
- The first thing that a specialist suspects with low hemoglobin levels is iron deficiency anemia. It develops with the diet of the patient, which contains an insufficient amount of iron. Often there is such a pathological condition in people who follow unbalanced diets or are fond of fasting. Sometimes iron deficiency anemia develops after a surgical operation, with significant body loss. Laboratory detected hemoglobin low - how to increase? Iron preparations in case of iron deficiency anemia are prescribed if following a special diet does not produce the desired results.
- In addition to a lack of iron, hemoglobin can decrease due to a lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid. These substances must also enter the human body in the required amount from food or by taking vitamin preparations.
- Chronic gastritis can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood.
- Various autoimmune disorders. For example, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
- Infectious diseases that are long lasting: pneumonia, tuberculosis, hepatitis.
- Blood oncology or other malignant tumors, including the gastrointestinal tract.
Why is low hemoglobin dangerous?
The main danger of a lack of hemoglobin in the blood is a violation of the oxygen exchange process in the tissues of the internal organs. Depending on the severity of the condition, characteristic symptoms develop, disturbances in the functioning of systems and organs, and the standard of living worsens significantly. In severe cases, severe anemia is formed, which is difficult to correct and leads to a limited lifestyle of the patient.
An even greater danger is the lack of hemoglobin in children and pregnant women. What to do if low hemoglobin is diagnosed during pregnancy, how to increase? The reviews claim that the diet does not always cope with the task, so doctors can make decisions about the appointment of iron preparations, since this condition is very dangerous for the expectant mother - the risk of various pathologies and developmental disorders of the fetus develops. The risk of preterm birth is increasing. In the early stages, low hemoglobin in the blood of a woman often leads to a miscarriage or missed pregnancy, the formation of physiological pathologies in a child. There are known cases of stillbirth or serious pathologies in a newborn that are incompatible with life.
Low hemoglobin in children contributes to a lag in physical and intellectual development, the inability of the child to concentrate. In this case, memory and processes of the central nervous system are disturbed, concomitant diseases of internal organs develop. If the child has low hemoglobin, how to increase? Folk remedies are often used to treat children, since most recipes are based on the use of iron-containing products, infusions and herbs that do not pose a danger to the baby's health.
Symptoms of low hemoglobin
If hemoglobin is slightly reduced and this condition is temporary, a person may not feel any symptoms. Otherwise, the patient may be accompanied by the following conditions:
- general weakness;
- muscle pain
- discoloration of the skin: yellowness and pallor appear;
- dyspnea;
- drowsiness;
- fast fatiguability;
- low pressure;
- fragility of hair and nails;
- dry skin, cracks in the corners of the mouth;
- stomach pains;
- violation of taste and olfactory sensations;
- arrhythmia.
In severe cases, fainting, pain in the heart area may be present.
Products to increase hemoglobin levels
If hemoglobin is low, how to increase? Traditional recipes and methods of official medicine are unanimous in the opinion that the patient’s diet should be adjusted first. By regularly using the following products, you can increase hemoglobin in the blood:
- red meat;
- liver;
- offal;
- nuts (walnuts, pistachios, peanuts, cashews, pinecones);
- dried mushrooms;
- cereals and bran;
- Garnet;
- banana;
- raspberries;
- Red grapes;
- beet;
- apples
- rosehip (decoction);
- Rowan;
- carrot.
Regular rational use of the above products will help increase low hemoglobin and continue to maintain performance within normal limits, without resorting to more radical methods of treatment.
Medications to increase hemoglobin
Unfortunately, often a diet rich in iron-containing products cannot quickly eliminate hemoglobin low. How to increase? Medicines that contain iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 will help you cope with the problem in a short time.
If hemoglobin is below 60 g / l, then resort to an emergency measure - blood transfusion. This procedure has a number of contraindications and side effects, therefore it is used only in extreme cases.
If hemoglobin is below 90 g / l, then the doctor may recommend an intravenous or intramuscular injection of the iron preparation. This method will have a quick effect, but it is often also not recommended to use it because of the possible development of adverse reactions. Typically, injections are prescribed to increase the parameters to 90 g / l, after which tablets or syrup are prescribed.
Iron preparations are not always well tolerated by patients: they often complain about abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, and sometimes vomiting can disturb. In addition, the course of treatment with such agents is often quite long - until the hemoglobin levels corresponding to the norm increase.
To date, pharmacological products offer a wide selection of drugs that fight low hemoglobin, for example:
- solution for injection "Venofer";
- iron gluconate in tablet form;
- Sideral capsules;
- oral solution "Totem";
- syrup, tablets and drops "Felnius";
- dragees "Ferropleks" and others.
It is worth clarifying that the body absorbs ferrous iron much better, so it is important to consider this point when choosing a medication to increase hemoglobin. In addition, often doctors prescribe additional intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 preparations.
Folk ways
How to increase low hemoglobin in the blood if it is lowered slightly or there are contraindications for taking medications? To cope with the problem, recipes of traditional medicine will help. Most of them are based on the use of iron-containing foods and herbs. We offer several effective and affordable recipes:
- Quickly enough, you can increase hemoglobin with the help of vegetable juice. It is necessary to mix pomegranate, carrot, beet and apple juice in equal proportions. It is recommended to consume such a tasty medicine 2 tablespoons 20 minutes before meals three times a day. The minimum course is 10 days.
- A mixture of grated carrots, dried apricots and raisins will increase hemoglobin in a short time.
- Blood curd with chokeberry and chokeberry will improve blood composition.
- Linden infusion with honey is not only a tasty and easy-to-manufacture agent for increasing hemoglobin, but also very effective.
- Dandelion jam with lemon will cope with low hemoglobin and saturate the body with vitamins.
It is important to note that any drugs to increase hemoglobin in the blood should not be consumed simultaneously with dairy products, since the latter interfere with the absorption of iron.
Low hemoglobin in expectant mothers
During pregnancy, the consumption of iron by the body increases significantly. If the body’s reserves are not adequately replenished with this element from food, then hemoglobin indicators are rapidly falling. This condition accompanies every third pregnant woman in the first two trimesters and is almost inevitable at the end of the third. What to do if low hemoglobin is detected in pregnant women, how to increase performance? Here you can not do without consulting a doctor - only he can prescribe the necessary methods and medicines.
The treatment of the expectant mother is complicated by the fact that many medications and even traditional medicine recipes are contraindicated for women in this position, as they can have a negative effect on the intrauterine development of the baby. In addition, they often lead to constipation, which women in this position are already subject to.
But at the same time, ignoring and appropriate treatment low hemoglobin in a pregnant woman is an extremely dangerous and unjustified action, since such a condition entails fetal hypoxia with various possible complications.
What can a doctor recommend if low hemoglobin during pregnancy, how to increase its level? Most often, experts offer a future mother a diet enriched with iron-containing products. But unfortunately, such therapy does not always bring results, since a significant increase in the level of indicators requires the use of a large number of recommended products, which is also undesirable for a pregnant woman and her baby. For example, an excess of certain substances can cause digestive upsets, allergic reactions, and more.
Therefore, doctors, weighing all the risks, prescribe iron preparations. You should strictly adhere to the recommendations of a specialist in order to exclude the development of undesirable reactions.
Hemoglobin plays an important role in the body. A decrease in its level affects the work of many internal organs and the general condition of the patient. Therefore, it is important not only to take prophylactic tests in a timely manner in order to detect abnormalities, but also to ensure that iron reserves in the body are regularly replenished with the help of proper nutrition.