Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that is the main element of red blood cells. It is he who stains blood in red. Its level reflects the ability of liquid connective tissue to saturate organs and systems with oxygen. Low hemoglobin is a pathological condition that indicates a violation of the hematopoiesis process. The natural result of oxygen starvation of organs is a malfunction in their work. A slight decrease in hemoglobin requires dietary adjustment, with a significant deviation of the indicator in a smaller direction, medications are prescribed. Another name for the pathology is iron deficiency anemia.
Causes
Low hemoglobin is a condition that can occur under the influence of a large number of provoking factors.
The most common of these are:
- Unbalanced diet. Passion for various diets and following the principles of vegetarianism leads to the fact that the body receives an insufficient amount of iron and vitamins (especially those belonging to group B).
- Blood loss. They can develop after injuries, surgery, during ectopic pregnancy and various diseases of the internal organs.
- Pathologies of a chronic nature. Against the background of their course, the degree of assimilation of iron by the body decreases. This process is especially pronounced in old age.
- ARI, ARVI. Colds are one of the most common causes of low hemoglobin. As a rule, after recovery, his indicator again increases to normal (provided that the patient has followed all the doctor’s prescriptions regarding diet and medication).
- Blood diseases. Pathologies of liquid connective tissue in most cases are accompanied by rapid destruction of red blood cells, due to which hemoglobin is also destroyed.
- Autoimmune diseases. They are characterized by an erroneous attack by the body's defenses of their own cells. Against the background of this process, changes in the composition of the blood occur.
- Pregnancy. In women, low hemoglobin can be detected during gestation. This is due to the increased need for iron in the body. To normalize the indicator, the attending physician prescribes the use of safe medications.
- Helminthic invasion. Parasites absorb nutrients that enter the body through food, including vitamin B12, which is necessary for the absorption of iron.
- Donation A person who regularly donates blood may show low hemoglobin. All donors must adhere to the principles of healthy nutrition in order to prevent the development of a violation.
- External factors. Often, low hemoglobin is the result of prolonged exposure to stress, the irrational organization of work and rest, high-intensity physical exertion, overexcitation, and living in adverse environmental conditions. The indicator is also affected by bad habits. Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol-containing drinks lead to its decrease.
In order to normalize the hemoglobin level, it is necessary to initially eliminate the provoking factors. Otherwise, the pathological condition will develop regularly.
Symptoms
If the hemoglobin index is slightly reduced, a person may not feel any discomfort. In many cases, the level of iron-containing protein is normalized after eliminating the provoking factor that affects the body for a short period of time. In such situations, a person does not even know that he had a decrease in hemoglobin.
With a pronounced pathological process, there are alarming signs that are often attributed to other diseases. Symptoms of low hemoglobin are the following conditions:
- rapid onset of fatigue, even with minor exertion;
- lethargy;
- drowsiness;
- frequent episodes of dizziness;
- migraine;
- decreased attention span;
- periodic occurrence of reversible memory dips;
- blurred consciousness during a sharp movement from horizontal to vertical;
- swelling of the extremities;
- the appearance of bruises with minor bruises;
- heartburn during and after eating;
- change in gastronomic preferences;
- dark circles under the eyes;
- pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, often they acquire a bluish tint;
- cracks in the corners of the lips.
These signs are continuous. In addition, in women, low hemoglobin is accompanied by a deterioration in the appearance of the hair: they become brittle and dull. Nails also lose strength, white spots form on them, their stratification occurs.
Who to contact?
If alarming symptoms appear, you must make an appointment with the therapist. The specialist during the consultation will assess the patient's condition and draw up a referral for examination. If the results of the tests show low hemoglobin, the doctor will recommend the patient to consult a hematologist. This is a specialist in the treatment of blood diseases. It is he who will tell what to do with low hemoglobin.
Diagnostics
In order to determine the level of iron-containing protein, it is necessary to donate blood. Before analysis, it is forbidden to eat food for 8-10 hours. It is allowed to drink clean still water. In addition, before the study it is not recommended to smoke, subject the body to physical activity and be under stress.
The rate of hemoglobin depends on the age and gender of the person. Its indicator is measured in g / l.
Normal Values:
- 135-195 - in a baby in the first six months of life. Then the indicator gradually decreases to 125-160.
- 110-130 - in a child aged 1 year.
- 115-135 - this level is the norm in 6-year-old children.
- 120-145 - in adolescents during puberty.
- 130-170 - in adult males.
- 120-155 - in women.
In pregnant women, a figure of 110-140 g / l is considered normal. This is due to the fact that the body uses a greater amount of iron during the gestational period. Regardless of the causes of low hemoglobin, its consequences are extremely dangerous, especially during pregnancy. In this regard, every woman carrying a child regularly takes blood for the timely detection of anemia.
Drug treatment
If the hemoglobin level has decreased slightly, the patient only needs to make adjustments to the diet. With a pronounced deviation of the indicator in a smaller direction, you can not do without taking medications. They are appointed on an individual basis based on the results of the diagnosis and patient health indicators.
Currently, there are many drugs on the pharmaceutical market for the treatment of anemia. Doctors prescribe those that contain ferrous iron, since it is much better absorbed by the digestive system.
Most often, experts recommend the following drugs with low hemoglobin:
- Sorbifer Durules;
- Actiferrin;
- Totem
- "Hemofer";
- Fenyuls;
- Tardiferon;
- Ferrum Lek;
- "Ferroplex".
Medications containing iron are usually given orally. It is necessary to take them daily. The dosage is from 100 to 300 mg, it is calculated by the doctor individually. Its increase will not reduce the duration of the pathological process, since the amount of iron absorption by the body is limited, its excess will come out naturally, without any benefit.
At the same time with drugs, it is necessary to take succinic acid or vitamin C. In addition, fructose contributes to the better absorption of the trace element.
In some cases, parenteral administration of drugs with low hemoglobin is indicated. In adults, the following diseases and conditions are indications for intramuscular or intravenous injection:
- pathologies accompanied by impaired absorption in the digestive tract (pancreatitis, enteritis);
- lack of a part of the intestine or stomach;
- digestive system ulcers;
- individual intolerance to iron-containing products;
- preparation for surgery.
The most common parenteral route is Ferrum-Lek, Venofer or Ectofer.
It is important to understand that there are many reasons for the development of pathology in both children and adults. Iron preparations with low hemoglobin should be prescribed only by a doctor. This is due not only to individual health characteristics, but also to various mechanisms of the development of the disease. In addition, most of them have side effects, the occurrence of which requires adjustment of the treatment regimen.
The duration of therapy is approximately 1.5-2 months. In this case, hemoglobin begins to increase after 2-3 weeks. At the same time, the patient is feeling better.
Emergency help
Sometimes it happens that the level of iron-containing protein decreases to a critical level (60-70 g / l). Symptoms of this condition are: severe weakness, fainting, palpitations. In such situations, it is necessary to immediately call an ambulance crew.
The critically low hemoglobin index poses a threat not only to health, but also to the life of the patient. An emergency measure is a blood transfusion from a healthy person to a patient.
The procedure is as follows:
- The doctor conducts studies on the basis of which the hemoglobin level is determined and possible contraindications to transfusion are identified.
- The compatibility of the donor and recipient by blood group and Rh factor is checked.
- To assess the individual response of the patient, a small amount of blood is introduced portionwise.
- After the preparatory phase, transfusion is carried out. With anemia, a red blood cell mass is administered to the patient. It overflows slowly, the process speed is approximately 50 drops per minute. Transfusion is carried out under the supervision of a doctor who constantly assesses the patient’s condition and periodically measures temperature, pulse and blood pressure.
After a blood transfusion, the patient is in the hospital for 3 days. The first day shows bed rest. On day 2, you must pass tests. In the absence of complications, the patient is discharged.
Diet adjustment
With a slight decrease in hemoglobin, a diet is indicated. In addition, it must be followed for preventive purposes. Correcting with severe anemia is impractical, since the iron supplied with food can only make up for its daily losses.
With a slight decrease in hemoglobin, the following products must be included in the menu:
- a hen;
- meat (beef, pork);
- offal;
- legumes (red beans and lentils are recommended)
- buckwheat porridge;
- fresh and baked vegetables;
- fruits;
- freshly squeezed juices;
- caviar (both black and red);
- fish;
- seafood;
- dried fruits;
- nuts (walnuts contain the greatest amount of iron);
- egg yolk;
- bitter chocolate.
If dieting does not lead to a positive result, the doctor may prescribe medication.
Folk methods
Unconventional methods do not exclude the need to visit a doctor. They can be used at the initial stage of anemia and as a prevention of its development.
The most effective recipes containing a large amount of iron:
- Grind and mix in equal proportions beets, white cabbage, bell peppers and dandelion leaves. Add greens to the resulting salad. Consume in the morning.
- Grind 2 cups of walnuts. Pour them with 1.5 liters of honey. Let it brew for 3 weeks, mixing the composition daily. The resulting mixture is consumed three times a day for half an hour before the meal, 1 tbsp. l Store the product in the refrigerator.
- In equal proportions mix rose hips and mountain ash. Pour 3 tbsp. l collecting 40 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for 10 minutes. Use the remedy three times a day for half an hour before a meal.
- Grind with a meat grinder 5 aloe leaves (which must be stored for 3 days in the freezer) and 1 lemon. Add 1 cup of honey to the product, mix. Take three times a day for 1 tbsp. l
Doctors recommend using cast-iron containers when preparing meals. According to studies, a greater amount of iron is stored in food during the heat treatment of food.
Effects
With anemia, the internal organs do not receive enough oxygen. Against the background of this pathological condition, their work is disrupted. The cardiovascular and respiratory systems are especially affected, since they significantly increase the load. In addition, there is a weakening of the body's defenses, in connection with which the risk of developing various diseases increases.
In children, the effects of low hemoglobin are also dangerous. They observed: a delay in mental and physical development, memory impairment, decreased concentration of attention. At the same time, the body exhausted from oxygen starvation is not able to cope with various infections.
Finally
Anemia is a pathological condition characterized by a decrease in the level of iron-containing protein in the blood. The disease has no specific signs, patients can attribute its symptoms to manifestations of meteorological dependence and other ailments. In this regard, with the appearance of the first discomfort, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Only a competent specialist should provide information on how to increase low hemoglobin. At the initial stage of development, it is possible to normalize the level of iron-containing protein with a diet, in advanced cases, you can not do without taking medications. Regardless of the causes of the disease, the consequences of low hemoglobin are extremely dangerous, since the work of all organs is disrupted due to a lack of oxygen.