Anemia (or anemia in another way) is a condition characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood, usually combined with a simultaneous decrease in red blood cells. Most often, it is secondary and is a sign of a disease in the body. Symptoms of anemia are experienced by people of different ages and gender. Usually, with its manifestations, patients complain of a constant feeling of fatigue and weakness, weakness and dizziness, excessive irritability and a sense of anxiety. When aggravating anemia, people are diagnosed with shock conditions, severe hypotension, coronary, pulmonary insufficiency and hemorrhagic shock. As a rule, when confirming anemia, the main tactics of treatment are aimed at eliminating the signs of a concomitant pathology and eliminating the root cause of anemia.
Adult Anemia
Symptoms of anemia among the adult population of the planet are one of the most common ailments. Medicine distinguishes between several types of anemia, separating them for reasons of occurrence:
- Iron deficiency. It occurs against a background of impaired production of red bodies in the blood. The appearance of such a pathology is based on a lack of iron in the body, which is responsible for the level of hemoglobin. This form of anemia most often affects women, children and people with a limited diet.
- Hemolytic. It occurs due to the rapid death of red blood cells. Usually this is a congenital or hereditary pathology (thalassemia, ovalocytosis). Often, symptoms of hemolytic anemia occur against the background of acquired autoimmune diseases.
- Aplastic. It belongs to the group of so-called depressive blood conditions due to the rapid destruction of red blood cells in the bone marrow. This subspecies of anemia is a serious condition and requires medical intervention and control.
- Sideroblastic. A kind of anemia due to low levels of iron in the blood. It occurs due to the fact that the bone marrow ignores this element in the synthesis of hemoglobin. This pathology is most often a genetic disease, it can be triggered by the appearance of autoimmune pathologies and tumor processes. The cause of the symptoms of anemia is sometimes associated with alcohol or heavy metal poisoning, as well as treatment with tuberculostatic drugs.
- B12 deficient. It occurs against the background of a lack of B vitamins in the body involved in the formation of red blood cells. Often, when this form of anemia is detected in patients, malignant anemia is detected in the central nervous system and brain.
- Posthemorrhagic. May occur in acute or chronic form. The root cause of this pathology in any form of flow is prolonged blood loss.
- Sickle cell. Pathological genetic condition. It is characterized by a modified form of the structure of red blood cells.
- Megaloblastic. The cause of this form of anemia is chronic vitamin deficiency as a result of which structural changes in red blood cells occur.
- Folic deficiency. A lack of folic acid in the diet leads to the formation of megaloblasts in the bone marrow and the destruction of red blood cells.
- Normochromic. The pathological condition of the blood with its normal color. Blood color indicates the degree of saturation of red blood cells with hemoglobin. However, the pathology is caused by insufficient production of erythropoietin in the body.
- Hypochromic or otherwise hypochromia. Pathology due to a decrease in the color index of blood. This term can be applied to all forms of anemia.
Depending on the manifestation of the symptoms of anemia and the causes of their occurrence, other forms and subspecies of anemia can be distinguished.
Background of the incidence
According to WHO statistics, about 25% of the world's population suffers from various forms of anemia. The risk group for the development of such pathologies includes:
- Followers of various diets and vegetarian nutritional principles. An unbalanced diet leads to insufficient consumption of necessary trace elements, which leads to the appearance of pronounced signs and symptoms of anemia in adult women. The treatment in this case is a diet correction.
- Professional athletes and patients with acute and chronic forms of certain diseases, as well as people experiencing constant physical activity.
- Persons experiencing constant hemorrhage due to physiological factors (heavy periods in women and diseases accompanied by internal hemorrhages).
- Donors who donate blood regularly.
- People suffering from a deficiency of essential trace elements, including those involved in the process of hematopoiesis.
- Women who lack vitamins and minerals during pregnancy and lactation.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Persons who have undergone infectious diseases that have caused structural changes in blood elements.
- Chemical and radioactive poisoning.
Pathology Features
Medicine distinguishes between the forms and types of anemia according to certain symptoms characteristic of a particular variety of pathological condition. The common symptoms of anemia in an adult are:
- Yellow skin tone and enlarged spleen in size.
- Sensations of unpleasant tingling in the limbs, regardless of the time of day.
- Darkening of the color of urine.
- Permanent inflammation in the oral cavity (cracks, ulcers and wounds).
- Dryness of the oral mucosa and the appearance of cracks in the corners of the lips.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- Disorders of the organs of touch, smell and taste buds.
- Long healing of minor skin lesions.
- Sensation of weakness and weight loss.
Often, along with the diagnosis of symptoms of anemia in adults and the treatment of the determining causes of its occurrence, secondary immunodeficiency syndrome is detected, which contributes to the appearance of fungal and catarrhal diseases.
Anemia provokes an exacerbation of chronic and congenital pathologies of the brain, central nervous and cardiovascular systems. Often this manifests itself in the form of an ischemic attack and provokes the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke. With age, the symptoms of anemia in women and men appear much more often. According to WHO statistics, the frequency of such manifestations in the elderly increases by 25%. Age-related anemia is expressed by such symptoms as: frequent attacks of cardiac arrhythmias and regular colds and inflammatory processes of various etiologies in the body.
Dangerous blood pathologies: B12 deficiency
One of the main functions of hemoglobin is the task of transporting oxygen to all tissues and organs. Therefore, with a decrease in its level, the body begins to experience oxygen starvation.
All forms of anemia are undesirable phenomena for the full functioning of the human internal organs. However, if anemia caused by a lack of iron, in most cases can be cured by diet correction and the use of vitamin-mineral complexes, then the treatment of other forms requires complete medical intervention and careful monitoring of the condition of the body.
So, with pernicious anemia caused by a lack of B vitamins in the body (deficient form of B 12 anemia), the symptoms at the beginning of the development of the pathology are almost invisible. The patient feels periodic weakness, dizziness and rapid fatigue. Such phenomena are most often attributed to age or some kind of disease. Pernicious anemia gradually progresses: the mucous membranes of the eyes and skin become yellow, inflammation in the mouth constantly occurs in the form of stomatitis and glossitis.
Untimely access to a doctor leads to disorders of the nervous system. The most serious complication is spinal cord injury. Against the background of the neglected course of B 12-deficient anemia, psychoemotional disorders occur, accompanied by hallucinations.
To diagnose this pathology, it is enough to conduct a general blood test: an increase in red blood cells signals the occurrence of an undesirable process. The malignancy of this type of anemia is indicated by a modification of platelets and leukocytes. In this case, the doctor prescribes additional tests on an individual basis.
For successful treatment of symptoms In 12-deficient anemia, it is important to identify pathology in the early stages. Therefore, even with suspected anemia, it is necessary to undergo the necessary studies to exclude the likelihood of pernicious anemia.
Iron Risk
An insufficient amount of iron in the body provokes iron deficiency anemia. This is a common occurrence throughout the world. Since iron is the main building material for hemoglobin, the amount of pigment in the blood will directly depend on the amount of trace element. However, pathology develops intensely if an imbalance of its presence in the body appears.
Iron deficiency anemia occurs due to:
- Inadequate intake of iron-containing food.
- The rapid growth of the body in adolescence.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- Compliance with certain methods for losing weight.
- Vegetarian food.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by insufficient production of gastric juice (low acidity) or during operations on the digestive organs.
- Heavy bleeding.
- After treatment of acute or chronic renal failure with hemodialysis.
Diagnosis of the pathological process is carried out on the basis of clinical blood tests. In some cases, to accurately determine the cause of the pathological process, the doctor may prescribe endoscopic examinations of the stomach, which allows revealing hidden sources of bleeding.
For the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, the daily diet is usually adjusted and special medications containing the necessary element are prescribed.
Inhibition of hematopoiesis
It happens that for some reason the bone marrow ceases to adequately produce blood cells. This is a dangerous and severe pathology. There are many factors that cause this dysfunction. Such a malfunction in the body's work happens with a genetic predisposition, the appearance of viral infections or as a result of poisoning with chemicals. Symptoms of aplastic anemia are similar to manifestations of radiation sickness.
However, this form of anemia appears imperceptibly. At the initial stages, the patient has a slight increase in body temperature, accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure, regular nosebleeds or bleeding gums. Immunity gradually decreases, frequent colds and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract occur.
For the diagnosis of allogeneic pathology, a clinical blood test is necessary. As a result of the studies, a decrease in red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in the blood is detected. An accurate diagnosis of the resulting bone marrow dysfunction requires a puncture and / or trepanobiopsy. Similar studies exclude other pathologies: leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, etc. To successfully treat the symptoms of anemia in both adults and children, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is required.
Heredity: risk of blood defects
Some genetic changes in the blood lead to structural changes in red blood cells. As a result, red blood cells lose their flexibility and mobility. As a result of stagnation in the circulatory system, they quickly die. The organs and tissues of the human body experience oxygen starvation. Untimely identification and treatment of symptoms of sickle-cell type anemia leads to serious conditions, including death.
The inheritance of this disease and its further development may be heterozygous or homozygous. In the first case, the child inherits the defective gene from one of the parents, therefore both normal and sickle-shaped red blood cells are present in his blood. In the second case, the gene is transmitted by both parents, therefore, only sickle-shaped red blood cells are present in the child's body. In this case, the disease is determined early and is severe. Most of the homozygous children die in childhood.
Anemia caused by a gene mutation in blood cells occurs in infants 4–6 months of age. In clinical studies, an increase in HbS is detected and the number of sickle red blood cells reaches 85–90%. Such babies lag behind their peers in physical and mental development. Violations of the development of the anatomical structure are visually revealed: the shape of the skull has a tower appearance with a thickening of the frontal sutures in the shape of a crest, kyphosis of the thoracic spine and lordosis changes in the lumbar region are clearly manifested. Signals of the occurrence of genetic changes in the blood are: early diseases of the joints of the limbs, their symmetrical swelling, chest pain, yellow tint of the skin and sclera of the eyes, splenomegaly. Such children often get sick.
Three stages are distinguished in the development of this genetic disease. The first occurs at the age of the child from six months to three years, the second - from three to 10 years, the third - in adolescents older than 10 years. With stress, dehydration, infections, pregnancy and other provoking factors, people suffering from such a hereditary pathology often develop sickle cell crises. Untimely access to a doctor in this case often leads to anemic coma and death.
However, under normal conditions, heterozygous carriers of the defective gene feel completely healthy. Life-threatening and life-threatening symptoms of anemia in women, children and men occur in situations associated with hypoxia (during intense physical exertion, during air travel, diving, high-altitude ascents and other factors).
Despite the fact that sickle cell anemia is considered an incurable blood disease, many people suffering from this disease acquire families and live to an advanced age. The main thing is to pay sufficient attention to the state of your health. For adequate supportive therapy and treatment of the symptoms of anemia of this type, a hematologist should conduct life-long monitoring of certain therapy aimed at preventing the occurrence of sickle cell crises. With the development of hemolytic, aplastic, vascular-occlusal, sequestration and other syndromes, emergency hospitalization and symptomatic therapy are necessary.
Such genetic abnormalities in most cases occur in several regions of Africa, the Near and Middle East, the Mediterranean basin, and India. There, the frequency of symptoms and signs of anemia of this kind often reaches 40%. In our country, such phenomena occur much less frequently.
Such a disease cannot be prevented, however, conducting genetic screening before pregnancy planning will reduce the risks of having a baby with sickle cell anemia.
Anemia in men
The minimum level of hemoglobin in the male body is 130 grams per liter of blood. Symptoms of anemia in men are much less common than in women. This is due to physiological characteristics: the absence of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lactation, during which there is a lack of the necessary trace elements.
Nevertheless, even among the representatives of the stronger sex, anemia is often observed. As a rule, the symptoms of male anemia are a signal of impaired functioning of the internal organs or malfunctioning of entire systems of the body. Often they signal the formation of chronic diseases. Most often, the symptoms of anemia in an adult male indicate the occurrence of latent gastrointestinal bleeding with peptic ulcers or hemorrhoids.
The etiological causes of male anemia can be parasitic infestations and the appearance of benign or malignant neoplasms in the body. Sometimes the occurrence of such phenomena may indicate bone marrow pathologies and blood diseases. , .
, , .
, , . , . , 120 / 110 / .
, . . , . .
–
. . , , . . , , . . , , .
, :
( ), . , :
With physiological anemia during pregnancy, the appearance of hydremia (thinning) of blood in the later stages is considered normal. In this case, an increase in the liquid part of the blood and a decrease in the concentration of red blood cells are allowed if the hemoglobin level does not fall below 110 g / l. Typically, this phenomenon disappears on its own without signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. Treatment for women is required if the level of hemoglobin becomes less than the minimum acceptable norm.
Mild forms of anemia during pregnancy and breastfeeding disappear after childbirth and at the end of the lactation period. Nevertheless, with a small gap between childbirth, the body does not have time to recover. As a result, signs of a pathological condition are amplified. It is believed that the female body needs 3-4 years for complete recovery.
The occurrence of various forms of anemia, including iron deficiency or B12 deficiency anemia (symptoms of any form will be detected identically) is a common phenomenon in women during menopausal changes in the body. Usually, this pathology is detected late and is often diagnosed already in severe stages of anemia. This is due to fluctuations in well-being, constant fatigue, irritability, weakness and dizziness, when a woman believes that all these are harbingers of menopause. The desire to reduce the rate of weight gain during this period by restricting nutrition leads to impaired production of ferritin, which is responsible for the accumulation of iron in the body and releasing it while lowering the level of hemoglobin.
Identification of symptoms of anemia and treatment in adult women is a very important task. Often, such dysfunctions lead to an exacerbation of old chronic diseases, disturbances in the work of cardiovascular pathologies or the appearance of new inflammatory ailments caused by various pathogenesis. Running anemia is one of the common causes of the development of brain pathologies up to the violation of the senses, the appearance of auditory hallucinations or the development of dementia. This is due to insufficient nutrition of brain cells with oxygen and developing hypotension against the background of various forms of anemia.
Anemia in children
Symptoms and treatment of childhood anemia, especially in severe forms, require mandatory medical supervision. Low hemoglobin levels provoke a delay in mental and physical development. Anemia in a child leads to inhibition of cardiovascular function, which often causes drops in blood pressure, shortness of breath, tachycardia attacks and a feeling of lack of air. Such a pathology leads to metabolic disorders in the children's body.
The causes of such phenomena are considered:
- Unbalanced or poor nutrition.
- Gastrointestinal diseases associated with impaired absorption of iron.
- Dysfunctions in the process of metabolism.
- Parasitic infestations.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Poisoning and hypoxia.
Treatment of childhood anemia with diet correction is not always effective, therefore, drug therapy is prescribed.
The form of anemia directly depends on the specific symptoms and course. At the initial stage of treatment of symptoms of anemia in women, men and children, it is quite possible to use folk remedies. However, it is worth remembering that independent struggle with the disease does not always benefit. Often, it is she who becomes the cause of the aggravation of the condition. The best that every patient can do is to balance the daily nutrition menu, enriching it with useful vitamins and minerals. The main treatment is best entrusted to specialists.
Taking care of your health and well-being of your loved ones is very important, so you should never neglect it.