The deterioration due to a lack of oxygen is known to many. The fact is that for normal life, all body tissues require nutrition. This refers to a sufficient amount of oxygen needed by the cells. This is especially true of brain tissue and heart. An insufficient supply of oxygen to the cells is observed with anemia. There are several varieties of this pathology. Some are caused by birth defects, others develop due to various disorders. Nevertheless, the main criterion for all anemia is an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the blood. The manifestations of this pathology include pallor, a change in laboratory parameters and organ hypoxia.
What is anemia?
Anemia is a disease of the hematopoietic system due to a lack of hemoglobin. Normally, this protein should be maintained at a certain level (120-140 g / l in women, the indicator for men is 140-160). Hemoglobin deficiency can occur for various reasons. Regardless of why anemia occurred, it leads to a state of hypoxia. After all, hemoglobin is necessary for the transfer of oxygen to all organs and systems. Therefore, its lack leads to the fact that cells are deficient in O 2 . Each type of anemia is characterized by its own clinical picture and laboratory data. But an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the blood is always diagnosed. Most often, anemia is suspected in the presence of symptoms such as pale skin and general weakness. This disease is quite common among pregnant women. A slight decrease in hemoglobin in most cases is not dangerous and is easily corrected with diet and medications. Severe anemia can lead to serious disorders. Therefore, it is necessary to provide emergency assistance with it.
The severity of anemia
Allocate 3 degrees of severity of anemia. They differ in the clinical picture and different levels of hemoglobin in the blood. Among them:
- Mild anemia . The hemoglobin content at this stage is 120-90 g / l. Pathology is characterized by minor hemodynamic disorders. In some cases, it does not appear. Sometimes there is pallor, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness.
- Anemia of moderate severity. At this stage, the amount of hemoglobin is 90-70 g / l. Symptoms are more pronounced. Fainting conditions, memory and thinking disorders, drowsiness can be observed.
- Severe anemia is observed with hemoglobin levels below 70 g / L. It is a dangerous condition for the body. It leads to a disorder of all functional systems due to a pronounced lack of oxygen.
Types of Severe Anemia: Classification
A severe degree of anemia can develop against the background of any varieties of this disease. Such a diagnosis is made regardless of the cause of the pathology. The main criterion is a pronounced hemoglobin deficiency of less than 70 g / l. However, distinguishing one type of anemia from another is very important. After all, the choice of treatment methods depends on this. The classification of the disease is as follows:
- Hemoglobin deficiency caused by iron deficiency (IDA). This type of disease is more common than others. It is due to impaired absorption of iron or a small intake of this element with food.
- In 12 , severe anemia is deficient. It is caused by vitamin deficiency. Often found in people with chronic gastritis.
- Severe aplastic anemia. It refers to congenital pathologies.
- Hemolytic anemia. This pathology is considered an autoimmune disease. It can be either congenital or acquired.
- Severe degree of Fanconi anemia. This disease refers to congenital defects of the hematopoietic system.
Severe anemia: causes of pathology
It is worth remembering that, regardless of the degree and variety, anemia never appears on its own, for no reason. In order to proceed with the treatment of pathology, it is necessary to find out what triggered the ailment. Most often, severe iron deficiency anemia occurs. It occurs for the following reasons:
- Inadequate supply of necessary products. This refers to foods rich in iron. Products containing this element are meat, liver, pomegranate, apples, etc.
- Impaired absorption of iron in the intestine. It develops due to lack of enzymes or due to chronic diseases of the digestive tract.
- Different types of blood loss. Therefore, it is so important to collect a gynecological history (duration and profusion of menstruation), to find out if there are hemorrhoidal nodes. As a result of these diseases, severe chronic anemia often develops. Acute hemorrhage can occur with a complication of peptic ulcer, cirrhosis of the liver, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian apoplexy and rupture of the cyst.
- Severe injuries.
In 12, deficiency anemia occurs with diseases of the stomach (chronic atrophic gastritis), organ resection in cancer pathologies, perforated ulcer.
Other causes of hemoglobin deficiency are congenital and autoimmune lesions of the red sprout of blood, hemolysis (destruction) of red blood cells.
The mechanism of severe anemia
Why does severe anemia develop? This primarily happens if the patient does not notice the changes that occur with an unexpressed hemoglobin deficiency. Especially often, this phenomenon can be observed in chronic blood loss. Since the human body gets used to the constant “oxygen starvation”, it is compensated by various mechanisms (increased cardiac activity). IDA develops due to lack of iron. As a result, hemoglobin molecules do not form in the required amount. With 12- deficiency anemia, vitamins are not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. This is due to inflammation or organ resection. Severe anemia is often found in congenital types of the disease. They develop due to immaturity with hematopoiesis. At the same time, a large amount of adipose tissue is found in the bone marrow.
The clinical picture in severe anemia
If the hemoglobin level drops below 70g / l, a severe degree of the disease is diagnosed. At the same time, the compensatory mechanisms of the body no longer work. For this reason, oxygen deficiency is felt in all functional systems. As a result, the following symptoms develop:
- Pronounced pallor of the skin.
- Impaired consciousness. In severe anemia, drowsiness or fainting may occur.
- Drop in blood pressure.
- Heart palpitations.
- Dizziness.
- Severe weakness. In this condition, a person cannot get out of bed, dizziness is observed upon raising his head, and fainting is possible.
- Dyspnea.
If assistance is not provided on time, disruption of vital systems and organs is possible. In such cases, acute renal failure, cardiogenic shock is often observed.
Anemia in pregnant women: features
Anemia refers to the symptoms that pregnant women often complain about. This is due to the fact that, in addition to the mother's body, oxygen is also necessary for the child. Due to the appearance of an additional circle of blood circulation (placental), a decrease in hemoglobin is often observed. Therefore, the normal rate during pregnancy is 110 g / l. With a sharp drop in hemoglobin, urgent help is needed. A severe degree of anemia in pregnant women is dangerous not only for the mother, but also for the baby. Most often, it develops due to complications such as placental abruption or spontaneous miscarriage. Therefore, with bleeding from the genital tract, you must immediately call a doctor.
Diagnostic signs of anemia
In order to diagnose anemia, it is enough to check the blood test. A severe degree of the disease is noted with a hemoglobin level below 70 g / l. Clinical signs include pallor, decreased blood pressure, tachycardia, dizziness, and fainting. Often severe anemia is accompanied by blood loss. To identify the cause of the decrease in hemoglobin, a number of laboratory studies are needed. For the diagnosis of IDA, a biochemical blood test is done. At the same time, changes such as a decrease in serum iron and an increase in OZHSS are observed. To diagnose other types of anemia, a microscopic analysis of blood and cerebrospinal fluid is necessary. For this purpose, a spinal puncture is performed.
What diseases do severe anemia differentiate with?
In some cases, anemic syndrome is observed in diseases of the hematopoietic system and liver. A decrease in hemoglobin accompanies almost all oncological pathologies. This is especially true for blood cancer - leukemia. You can distinguish them from anemia by changing other indicators in the KLA. These include: a decrease in platelet and white blood cell counts, accelerated ESR. There are also differences in the clinical picture (low-grade fever, swollen lymph nodes). Anemic syndrome is present with cirrhosis of the liver, chronic hepatitis. To diagnose these pathologies, an abdominal ultrasound is performed, special laboratory tests.
Severe anemia: treatment of the disease
Regardless of the cause of the development of anemia in severe cases, a transfusion of blood or red blood cells is necessary. In addition, symptomatic therapy is performed. In case of electrolyte imbalance, physiological saline and preparations containing potassium are administered. If bleeding is the cause of the anemia, emergency surgery is necessary. In addition, drug therapy is carried out. With hemostatic purpose, sodium ethamylate, aminocaproic acid is administered. With aplastic anemia, a bone marrow transplant is necessary. If the cause is a lack of vitamin B 12 , lifelong replacement therapy is performed.
The consequences of severe anemia
Keep in mind the dangers posed by severe anemia. The consequences of this condition are cardiogenic shock, acute renal failure, as well as impaired functions of other vital organs. These complications can be fatal. Therefore, even with minor bleeding, you must immediately consult a doctor.