Symptoms of low hemoglobin

As soon as iron enters our body, it reacts with a special protein that is found in red blood cells, due to which hemoglobin is formed. The main task of the latter is to supply tissues with oxygen, which enters through the lungs, and then remove carbon dioxide. In appearance, the task is simple and straightforward, but at the same time it is very responsible. Therefore, a lack of hemoglobin in the blood is fraught with serious health problems. What exactly is this dangerous and how the deficit can be prevented and replenished - we will tell in this article.

What is the risk of low hemoglobin

When the level of hemoglobin in the body is below normal, this is the basis for the doctor to give the patient diagnosis of anemia... The main danger of a lack of this substance is that organs and tissues cease to receive oxygen in sufficient quantities, which seriously affects the quality of their vital activity. Poor work of organs leads to the fact that they begin to fail one after another, the body begins to wear out quickly and the normal functioning of the whole system is disrupted.

The lack of hemoglobin in the blood leads to the fact that immunity weakens and the person starts to get sick often, especially for children. In the latter, physical and mental development is impaired, the brain does not work as actively. Due to the low level of hemoglobin, rapid fatigue appears, which develops into chronic fatigue, drowsiness. It is also fraught with chronic stomach diseases, blood loss, intestinal pathologies, infectious diseases, blood diseases, and in especially advanced stages it can turn into oncology and even death.

Given the severity of the consequences, the importance of monitoring blood hemoglobin levels is obvious. This is especially true for children, pregnant women and women over 45, who are more susceptible to similar health problems.

The norm of hemoglobin in the blood

The hemoglobin rate is determined individually, taking into account the patient's age, gender and condition. So, for example, in pregnant women, the rate will be higher even in comparison with their non-pregnant peers. You can determine the norm for the level of hemoglobin using the following tables.

The cause of low hemoglobin in the blood

The level of hemoglobin in the blood can decrease for various reasons, some of which are quite natural. This is mainly observed with serious blood loss, even of an internal nature. In women, the cause can be heavy periods... Injury, surgery, hemorrhoids, injuries - all this can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin. As for hidden bleeding, they can be observed in some types of diseases of the internal organs, which the patient himself may not even know about. At risk are women with pathologies of internal reproductive organs: uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts and others. Autoimmune diseases, various infections, hereditary predisposition and the fleeting life of red blood cells are accomplices of low hemoglobin.

Children most often begin to suffer from anemia due to a meager and unbalanced diet, when there are very few iron-containing foods on the menu. Inveterate donors are prone to anemia, whose blood is simply not able to recover in a short time. As a result, actively helping others, a person ruins his health. Donation is a noble cause, but everything should be in moderation and not to the detriment of your body.

Symptoms of low hemoglobin in the blood

Only an appropriate analysis can accurately determine the level of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it is possible to understand that something is wrong with the body by the signs, which in most cases signal a hemoglobin deficiency.

The primary signs can be called rapid fatigue and a constant feeling of fatigue, the patient wants to sleep and cannot wake up in any way. In addition, there may be frequent dizziness, migraine, irregular heartbeat and disruptions in blood pressure. In advanced stages, hemoglobin deficiency can also manifest itself in fainting.

Anemia often manifests itself in severe dryness of the skin, the formation of cracks in the corners of the mouth (see " seizures"), Brittle nails and hair, the latter begin to fall out abundantly and grow slowly. In some patients, disturbances in the sense of taste and smell were recorded.

If you notice several of the listed symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. The longer you delay with the disease, the more dire consequences it will lead, especially since some of the consequences are irreversible.

How to increase hemoglobin in the blood

Treatment, or rather the restoration of the level of hemoglobin, should be comprehensive, but always under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Once the doctor determines the level of the problem, he will prescribe the necessary procedures and take specialized medications. For his part, the patient himself can take no less effective measures in order to raise the level of hemoglobin in the blood. First of all, you need to establish a healthy lifestyle, give up bad habits and establish a full-fledged balanced diet, including in the diet foods that increase hemoglobin and contain a lot of iron.

Products that increase hemoglobin in the blood

Including foods with a high iron content, it is worth taking into account the peculiarity of the trace element. There are two types of it: heme and non-heme. Their main difference is that the first variation is absorbed by the body much better. But the second cannot be assimilated on its own if vitamin C does not additionally participate in the process.

Suppliers of heme iron include:

• Beef.
• Pork.
• Tuna.
• Hen.
• Shrimp.
• Mutton.
• Halibut.

Non-heme iron suppliers:

• Avocado.
• Pumpkin.
• Beet.
• Dates.
• Raisins.
• Asparagus.
• Potatoes.
• Green pea.

In order for non-heme iron to be safely absorbed by the body, along with the listed products, you must simultaneously consume citruses, fresh bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, strawberries, kiwi, papaya and other foods that are rich in vitamin C.

It is very useful to include foods rich in vitamin B12 in the diet to increase hemoglobin, and these are:

• eggs;
• liver;
• legumes;
• green vegetables.

For effective replenishment of iron, and with it the level of hemoglobin in the blood, it is worth abandoning foods that contribute to the decrease and removal of iron from the body. These "pests" include:

• caffeinated drinks;
• alcohol;
• milk products;
• foods that contain a lot of fiber;
• preparations with a high content of soda and calcium.

In raising the level of hemoglobin, do not forget about one more very important thing - a good mood. It has long been proven that stress and depression seriously affect the state of the body and lead to a deficiency of important trace elements and vitamins, including hemoglobin.