From this article you can find out what high ESR and low hemoglobin say in the results of a blood test. Let's start with the fact that the hemoglobin level is a fairly significant indicator. It is he who helps to control the state of the entire circulatory system of a person. And ESR, what is it? This abbreviation is understood as an indicator of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. And this is an important indicator in the results of laboratory blood tests. The value of ESR may vary depending on the state of the patient's body. It is worth noting that in pregnant women and people with a serious pathology, this indicator will be approximately the same.
So, let's talk about why high ESR with low hemoglobin. After all, this combination can help identify serious pathologies. Not all people know the relationship of these two indicators. Indeed, with increased ESR, hemoglobin decreases and vice versa. Now we will understand why such a combination is a sign of pathology.
Low hemoglobin
Many people are interested in the question of why high ESR and low hemoglobin are a sign of the disease and what are the causes of these deviations. Let's start with low hemoglobin, namely, what this deviation from the norm says and what are the reasons.
Immediately, we note that it is impossible, without seeing the patient and without knowing the whole picture of the state of health, to evaluate the causes and consequences of this manifestation. After all, there are a lot of them:
- malaria;
- pregnancy;
- iron deficiency;
- removal of the stomach;
- blood loss;
- folic acid deficiency;
- cancer;
- the effects of toxic substances on the body and so on.
It is also important to know that a low indicator tells us about anemia (lack of blood cells, which are necessary for oxygen transportation). The most common cause of low hemoglobin is anemia. But we will dwell on this issue in more detail in the next section of the article.
Anemia
Before we look at the causes of high ESR and low hemoglobin, we offer a little talk about the different types of anemia. Let's start with the very function of hemoglobin in our body - this is the transportation of oxygen (from the lungs, necessary for cellular respiration) and carbon dioxide (in the opposite direction - to the lungs, exchanging it for the necessary oxygen).
Low hemoglobin in men and women in the blood:
- men - 120 grams per liter of blood;
- women - about 117 grams per liter of blood.
Of course, many other indicators are taken into account:
- height;
- age;
- weight;
- living conditions;
- nutrition and so on.
The rate of hemoglobin in men and women:
- men - from 130 to 172 grams per liter of blood;
- women - from 120 to 160 grams per liter of blood.
The most common cause of low hemoglobin is anemia (anemia). The most common species in descending order of frequency:
- iron deficiency (little gets into the body of iron or it is poorly absorbed by the body);
- low hemoglobin due to chronic diseases, oncology, radiation therapy, chemotherapy;
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- diseases of the red bone marrow;
- leukemia;
- multiple myeloma;
- lack of vitamin B 12 (there can be a lot of reasons);
- folic acid deficiency;
- autoimmune hemolytic anemia;
- spherocytosis;
- cold illness;
- blood loss and so on.
Low hemoglobin in children
High ESR and low hemoglobin are interconnected things. In this section, we will analyze the causes of a lower hemoglobin in the blood of a child. Just note that all of the above reasons are suitable for children, but there are still some features that can occur in crumbs (babies).
- Exhaustion of iron in the body of the child. This can happen at the age of the baby up to six months, if the reserves of iron, which the mother passed on to the child during fetal development, have completely exhausted themselves.
- The rate may also fall with late feeding.
- Outdoor games and a long stay in the fresh air contribute to normal health and the amount of hemoglobin in the baby’s blood.
- Another reason for lowered hemoglobin in a child is improper nutrition of a mother during lactation.
Please note that this is not a cause for panic, but serves as a signal to contact a pediatrician and a hematologist for advice on this matter.
High ESR
So, ESR - what is it? Under the acronym refers to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In simpler terms, how quickly red blood cells settle to the bottom of the tube. As a rule, ESR has a very low result, but in women, especially during pregnancy, it can increase significantly.
Thus, one of the reasons for high ESR and low hemoglobin in girls is pregnancy. Perform a home test that will refute or confirm suspicion. But this is far from the only reason. This may include:
- infection
- the effects of toxic substances on the human body;
- fracture;
- severe bruise;
- advanced form of anemia;
- diseases related to the hematopoietic system;
- cancer.
What are the deviations from the norm?
High ESR and low hemoglobin in the analysis results indicate that the body is undergoing an inflammatory process, and the immune system is currently weakened and cannot cope with the problem on its own. To increase immunity (increase in hemoglobin), it is recommended to drink pomegranate juice, eat liver, apples and other fruits rich in vitamin C. A visit to the doctor in this situation is required. At critically low hemoglobin, drugs containing iron are prescribed, and the cause of an elevated ESR level is identified.
This combination is not very good, but it is quite common. Doctors recommend in this case to visit an oncologist. But malignant neoplasms are far from the only reason for such analysis results. There may be suspicion of other problems:
- a running infectious process, especially for those people who take medications that contribute to the development of anemia for treatment;
- toxic effects of poisons, hemolytic agents, heavy metals and so on;
- various blood diseases;
- injuries
- impaired functioning of certain organs.
Treatment and prevention
Now we turn to the issue of treatment of high ESR and low hemoglobin. If after carrying out all the necessary studies the true cause of anemia has not yet been revealed, then the ESR is monitored in dynamics (analyzes must be taken once every 2 months). At this point, symptomatic therapy is performed. As a rule, in 80% of patients after the elimination of anemia, the ESR indicator also returns to normal.
If the indicators are elevated even after treatment, then it is necessary to identify the patient in a hematological hospital. There, the patient is monitored and recorded for the clinical manifestations of the disease. It is worth paying attention to the fact that it is impractical to prescribe treatment, guided only by the ESR indicator.
First, signs of anemia are stopped. For example, take ESR - 72 mm / h and low hemoglobin. This is a critical case, accompanied by a lot of symptoms:
- nausea;
- weakness;
- Dizziness
- tachycardia.
They must be eliminated and concurrently carried out iron deficiency therapy.
As for preventive measures, it is recommended that absolutely everyone (adults and children) take a detailed blood test at least 2 times a year. This helps to identify pathology at an early stage and prevent the development of the disease.