What causes low hemoglobin. What is the danger of low hemoglobin. Normal hemoglobin levels

Hemoglobin is a complex chemical compound a protein with an element of iron, which is present in red blood cells. The function of hemoglobin in human body is one of the most important - it is involved in the delivery of oxygen molecules to all tissues and organs of the body.

Oxygen is an element indispensable for the life of a living being; it takes part in the receipt and exchange of energy and in carrying out recovery reactions. The action of hemoglobin is based on the capture of oxygen in the lungs, carrying out further oxidation and transferring it to all body structures.

When hemoglobin is lowered, this means the onset of oxygen depletion of all body cells and weakening of the immune system. In order to prevent a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood below normal, you need to know what to do with a lack of iron in the body. Let's see in what cases the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases, what are its norms in different people and in what ways to increase the lack of this substance at home.

Hemoglobin norm

The level of hemoglobin in the blood depends on the well-being and health of a person. If the hemoglobin levels are below normal, then we are talking about anemia, which is considered a rather formidable and dangerous disease.

The norm of hemoglobin in the blood depends on the gender of the person:

In children, the content of hemoglobin is normal, as in adults: before birth, HbA already begins to be synthesized, which by the year of life practically replaces the fetal hemoglobin that served the child during fetal development.
In women, from 115 to 145 g / l (during pregnancy from 110 g / l);
In men, from 130 to 160 g / l.

According to the volume of hemoglobin decrease, iron deficiency anemia can be of several degrees:

mild (hemoglobin content from 110 g/l to 90 g/l);
medium (hemoglobin content from 90 g/l to 70 g/l);
severe (hemoglobin content less than 70 g/l).

There is also latent anemia (hidden). It is characterized by the normal presence of hemoglobin in erythrocytes against the background of a decrease serum iron. At the same time, the symptoms of its decrease are manifested quite clearly. Similar state often seen in women during pregnancy.

Symptoms of low hemoglobin

In addition to a blood test, which immediately reveals a lack of this important protein in the body, there are a number of symptoms: they can independently assume a low level of hemoglobin in the blood.

For men and women, these are:

general weakness of the body, drowsiness;
pale skin, sometimes it even seems “transparent”;
bluish lips;
the skin becomes dry and begins to peel off;
in especially advanced cases, nails begin to break and hair fall out;
for children, the main sign of a lack of hemoglobin is frequent illness.

While recognizing the symptoms of low hemoglobin in adults, you can successfully bring it back to normal without resorting to the help of doctors. But first, you need to know the reasons that reduce the content of this important element in blood.

Causes of low hemoglobin

Why is hemoglobin lowered in adults, what does this mean? The body can lose hemoglobin various reasons. This happens most quickly with blood loss - both explicit and hidden. Explicit bleeding occurs with heavy and prolonged menstruation in women (more than five days), various injuries, injuries or operations.

Poor nutrition with insufficient amounts of animal proteins, vitamins and trace elements leads to. Often low hemoglobin occurs in people who promote vegetarianism or long time being on a diet. AT childhood anemia develops with an unbalanced or inadequate diet.

Occult bleeding is possible with some gastrointestinal diseases, pathologies of female reproductive system(, etc.). to a decrease in hemoglobin and short life red blood cells can lead to autoimmune diseases, infections or hereditary diseases.

Effects

In adults, a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin leads to the fact that the body does not receive the required amount of oxygen. violated general state patients and the above complaints appear.

The consequence of this may be a decrease in immunity and, as a result, an increase in the frequency of infectious diseases.
In most cases, there is fast fatiguability human and constant weakness.
can cause deformation in human epithelial tissues - mucosa respiratory tract, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and upper protective layers of the skin.
Often, anemia causes disorders nervous system: irritability, unreasonable mood swings appear, concentration of attention decreases.

In addition, with anemia, there may be such manifestations as cracked lips, severe muscle weakness, hair loss, brittle nails, and an addiction to special odors that other people find unpleasant.

Low hemoglobin during pregnancy

Reduced hemoglobin during pregnancy is a common occurrence for expectant mothers. A significant deviation from the norm can adversely affect the health of both mother and baby. This is fraught with the following complications:

hypotension of the uterus (decrease in the contractility of its muscles);
hypoxia ( oxygen starvation fetus);
delay, and even cessation of growth and development of the fetus;
low birth weight;
disturbances in the work of the respiratory and nervous systems.

In addition, many physicians believe that low hemoglobin in a woman during childbirth can negatively affect the health of the child in the future. Such children study poorly at school, often get sick, suffer from various pathologies of internal organs. Therefore, if during pregnancy it is below normal, treatment under the supervision of a doctor is essential.

How to increase hemoglobin?

What to do? In order to increase hemoglobin in the blood, just in case, you need to know the reason for its fall. You can use foods that increase hemoglobin (iron, B vitamins) as much as you like, but if they are not properly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, then success may not be expected.

The main pathogenetic method of therapy is the intake of iron-containing drugs (Heferol, Ferroplex, Ferlatum and others). As a rule, oral forms are prescribed, but in severe cases, drugs are recommended to be administered parenterally. Treatment of patients prone to intestinal dysfunctions involves the parallel administration of enzyme and enveloping preparations.

With good tolerance of prescribed drugs, they are used in maximum doses followed by maintenance therapy with a decrease in dosage for several months. At the same time, the level of iron in erythrocytes and blood serum is necessarily monitored. If necessary, vitamin B12, B9 and ascorbic acid are also prescribed. In severe cases resort to transfusion of whole blood or red blood cells.

Iron supplements for low hemoglobin in adults

Drugs to increase hemoglobin are prescribed only by a doctor and, of course, under his strict control. This is explained by the presence side effects after taking medications, among which are: nausea, a feeling of irritability of the stomach, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting.

The following drugs that increase hemoglobin in the blood are very common and popular:

Ferro foil;
Sorbifer Durules;
Ferretab;
Ferrum lek;
Hemofer drops;
totem;
Maltofer.

The course of treatment lasts from two weeks to three months. Wherein visible result occurs after about 2-3 weeks of taking the medication. If there is no ascorbic acid in the composition, then it is necessary to additionally take vitamin C up to 0.3 g per day.

If low hemoglobin is detected and treatment with tablets is prohibited, it is forbidden to drink funds containing calcium at the same time, since they are antagonists. Therefore, it is impossible to drink iron with milk, which is greener than coffee.

Diet

Products that contribute to nutritional therapy for low hemoglobin include:

Varieties of red meat - rabbit, beef.
White meat chicken.
Beef tongue, beef liver.
Egg yolks.
Seafood, fish.
Legumes.
Buckwheat and other cereals.
Carrots, beets, dark green vegetables.
Walnuts.
Pomegranate, apples and berries are high in vitamin C.

In no case should you take such a diet with low hemoglobin too literally and switch to proteins alone - it is difficult for the body to absorb all this. Be sure to garnish the meat with vegetables and herbs, and eat wholemeal cereals for breakfast. As an addition to nutrition to increase hemoglobin, it can be advised to drink juices - grape, pomegranate, carrot, beetroot, apple.

At the same time, to improve the absorption of iron, it is necessary to minimize the consumption of dairy products, fatty foods, flour products, green tea and coffee.

Hemoglobin- a blood protein that provides oxygen transportation to all tissues and organs of the body. Low hemoglobin leads to oxygen starvation of cells. (iron deficiency) affects the work of all organs of the body.

The norm of hemoglobin is set depending on the number of years, sex. The norm for women is 120-160 grams / liter. Low hemoglobin in men - below 130-170 g / l. This difference is due to the fact that men have a higher concentration of testosterone. Low hemoglobin in a newborn is less than 145 g / l. A decrease in the rate in children under one year is considered normal. By 2-3 months to the level of 90-135 g / l. When a child reaches 1-2 years old, the indicator should be at least 105-145 g / l.

Low hemoglobin during pregnancy is very dangerous. For this purpose, throughout the pregnancy, they take a blood test. Normal performance hemoglobin during pregnancy correspond to 110-150 g / l.

Symptoms

When hemoglobin is low, this can be seen even by external signs.

External symptoms of low hemoglobin in women and men:

The skin becomes dry, pale,
the corners of the lips begin to crack,
the condition of nails and hair worsens.

Other signs of low hemoglobin:

dizziness, general weakness, fatigue;
noise in ears;
headache, fainting, drowsiness;
constant thirst;
sleep disturbances, insomnia;
violations eating behavior, lack of appetite, taste disturbance;
the occurrence of pain during physical exertion;
muscle weakness;
hyperhidrosis;

Hyperhidrosis is one of the signs of low hemoglobin

Normal attraction to odors (attracts the smell of acetone, paint, etc.).

Etiology

The causes of low hemoglobin can be associated with various diseases. Including:

Other causes of low hemoglobin in men and women:

Side effects arising from the use of certain medications. This may occur after taking either ibuprofen.
Frequent blood donations.
The period of pregnancy, aggravated by severe.
Uterine bleeding that may occur in the postpartum period.
Inadequate nutrition. Often, iron deficiency can occur as a result of not getting iron from food. This, for example, is observed in vegetarians who do not eat animal products.
stressful conditions.
High physical exercise.

Low hemoglobin in men and women may be associated with nicotine addiction.

Note! Low hemoglobin in baby is directly related to the diet and lifestyle of the mother during pregnancy. However, sometimes hereditary factors, infections can also be the cause.

The required level of hemoglobin in the blood will be provided only if a number of conditions are met:

the intake of the required amount of iron into the body from the external environment;
absorption of iron by the walls of the stomach and small intestine;
the presence of animal protein in the food consumed;
supplementation with vitamin B12 and folic acid, which are directly related to the creation of red blood cells in the bone marrow;
absence pathological processes disrupting hematopoietic processes.

Effects

Not everyone knows why low hemoglobin is dangerous. First of all, with a low level of hemoglobin, the central nervous system and brain are damaged. The consequences of low hemoglobin extend to all organs and systems that, due to malnutrition, cannot fully perform their functions. A feature is that not all organs have nerve endings, so pain does not occur and it is impossible to guess about development.

Important! Another serious point why a decrease in hemoglobin is dangerous is that with low hemoglobin it decreases significantly. As a result, the course of even a common cold can be greatly aggravated.

Low hemoglobin during pregnancy can lead to the following consequences:

short ;
fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen, which can lead to the development of various pathologies);
slowing down the development of the fetus;
underweight at birth in a child;
dysfunction of the nervous and respiratory systems;
intellectual and physical disabilities in the child.

Expectant mothers love to seek advice on the forum, but here you can not ignore the advice of a doctor.

Low hemoglobin in pregnant women is set in trimesters and is less than:

in the first - 112 -160 g / l;
in the second - 108-144 g / l;
in the third - 100-140 g / l.

Danger for children

Iron deficiency in a child's body affects, as well as mental and physical development.

Signs of low hemoglobin in children:

child grows slowly
not gaining weight
he is not active
complains of dizziness
often suffers from colds.

If symptoms of low hemoglobin are detected, it is necessary to take a blood test in line order.

By the way, both high and low hemoglobin are dangerous.

Diagnostics

To identify iron deficiency anemia 3 analyzes are carried out.

First, it is a detailed blood test from a finger. Thanks to him, the amount of hemoglobin contained in a liter of blood, the average volume and size of an erythrocyte are determined. They also know the number of reticulocytes - this indicator is characterized by the regenerative function of the bone marrow.

The second analysis that is carried out is the determination of the concentration of iron in the blood serum. Blood for this study is taken from a vein. With a low rate, we are talking about insufficient absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract, or low iron intake from food.

The third ongoing study allows you to identify the iron-binding ability of blood serum. An increase in this indicator indicates an iron deficiency in the foods consumed or a low absorption of iron by the digestive system.

After confirming low hemoglobin, it is necessary to find out why it develops, since the causes, consequences and treatment of low hemoglobin are related. To this end, the doctor examines the history of the patient's condition, finding out if he is a vegetarian.

Also, the list of examinations includes a visit to the surgeon, who will conduct an examination for the presence. To identify pathologies of the small intestine, an irrigoscopy is prescribed. Women must attend.

Once again, it must be emphasized that no online consultation or forum can replace a full-fledged examination.

Treatment and preventive measures

The doctor will tell you what to do if low hemoglobin is detected. Treatment is focused not only on bringing blood-related indicators to normal (this is both hemoglobin and erythrocytes), but also on normalizing the concentration of iron in the blood serum, restoring reserves in the depot (the depot in this case is the liver, spleen, muscle tissue).

The first step in treatment is to eliminate the cause of low hemoglobin. If bleeding is detected, eliminate them.

The main method of how to increase hemoglobin is oral and injectable iron into the body. It is advisable to take drugs by mouth before injection. In this case, injections are recommended to be done under the supervision of a specialist, because. there is a high chance of developing allergic reactions for iron supplements.

Usually, iron in the treatment of anemia in an adult is prescribed at a dosage of 100-300 mg per day. Treatment is carried out until the required level of hemoglobin is reached, and then continues for another six months, but at a lower dosage. After reaching the desired indicators, the dosage is reduced by 2-3 times. This treatment is focused on replenishing iron stores in the depot.

Patients in whom it is impossible to eliminate the causes of low hemoglobin (typical for cases of heavy and prolonged menstruation) need anti-relapse therapy. This treatment is carried out with a reduced dosage of drugs (about 30-60 mg / day) in courses of 30 days several times a year or monthly courses of 7-10 days.

In cases where low level hemoglobin is due to vitamin B12 deficiency, an injection of the vitamin is prescribed daily in a volume of 200-500 mcg. The course of treatment is 4-6 weeks, after which the treatment is continued, administering the drug once a week for several months. With a deficiency of folic acid, it is taken at 5-15 mg / day for 20-30 days.

Note! Improvements from therapy will be noticeable a month after the start of treatment for low hemoglobin - you should not expect instant results.

Drugs for low hemoglobin in adults that can be bought without a prescription: ferretab composite, sorbifer durules, totem (in liquid form), fenules, vitamin B12 and folic acid.

All drugs intended for injection can only be bought with a doctor's prescription.

It is recommended to take iron supplements that increase hemoglobin before meals. If the composition of the drug does not include vitamin C, then it is very important to additionally take ascorbic acid.

The peculiarity is that when taking (especially long-term) iron preparations, signs of intolerance to this element may develop. It manifests itself as follows:

lack of appetite;
vomiting, nausea;
soreness in the abdomen;
stool disorder.

In the treatment of anemia, nutrition with low hemoglobin is of great importance. Meat products, especially beef, must be included in the diet. For better absorption of iron, foods rich in vitamin C are needed: blackcurrant, kiwi, rose hips, citrus fruits. Very useful pomegranate and pomegranate juice. If low hemoglobin is detected in an infant, a woman must also change her diet.

Pomegranate is an effective fruit for increasing hemoglobin

ethnoscience tells how to increase hemoglobin with herbs. A decoction of nettle, yarrow, wild rose and mountain ash is suitable. It is taken half a glass 2-3 times a day. This collection is relevant for the unresolved cause of low hemoglobin.

In emergency cases, blood transfusion may be used for low hemoglobin. Blood transfusion with low hemoglobin is carried out after determining the blood type, Rh factor. During the entire procedure, a doctor is nearby. The procedure is carried out slowly - about 50 drops per minute. Discharged home after transfusion on the 3rd day, after passing all tests and identifying control indicators. However, even after the procedure, the patient should monitor his well-being and if negative symptoms see a doctor.

Indicate any deviations from the norm can:

pain in the body;
skin reactions;
hypotension;
fever;
headache;
vomit;
the occurrence of edema;

To protect yourself from frequent colds and avoid other health troubles, you need to take care of useful balanced diet. Everyone knows this, but, unfortunately, we do not always manage to have a full meal, provide ourselves healthy breakfast, work and not get sick at the same time. The fact that it is necessary to reconsider the lifestyle is evidenced by low hemoglobin, the causes of which are sometimes very difficult to establish.

The danger of low hemoglobin

If you have a low level of hemoglobin, you need to normalize it as soon as possible. At the same time, it is necessary to determine the cause of the problems. The hemoglobin molecule is a combination of iron and protein. When it is destroyed, anemia occurs, better known under such a name as “low hemoglobin”. The culprit of this may be infectious diseases, metabolic disorders. A common cause is a lack of iron or oxygen. It is hemoglobin molecules that supply oxygen to all organs. If it is not enough, the organs do not receive sufficient nutrition.

Low hemoglobin cannot be determined by appearance. This is the main danger of the problem. Symptoms may not appear for a long time or not at all. And only when the level of hemoglobin decreases even more, the signs become more noticeable. It can be shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, often want to sleep, general fatigue. All these symptoms are similar to the syndrome chronic fatigue. Possible chapped lips severe dryness skin, brittle nails, hair loss. Paleness of the skin, which many consider the main sign of anemia, is not significant, as it can be physiological feature or a sign of other diseases. But pale or bluish lips and ears, most likely a consequence of a lack of hemoglobin.

Causes of a decrease in hemoglobin levels

Blood loss, including hidden. In the first case, it can be visible bleeding in women with polymenorrhea - heavy, prolonged periods, bleeding gums, hemorrhoids, as well as blood loss due to injuries and operations. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are one of the causes of blood loss. At female diseases(ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids) speak of such a concept as pseudo-blood loss. With this phenomenon, the cavity of the uterus or ovaries is periodically filled with blood, followed by the conversion of hemoglobin into other compounds and gradual resorption.
Processes that shorten the lifespan of red blood cells or destroy them - hereditary pathologies, infectious diseases.
Donation.

One reason for iron deficiency is an unhealthy diet that lacks vitamins and minerals.

How does low hemoglobin manifest?

Asthenic- Weakness, drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, low blood pressure.

Dystrophic- in most cases, low hemoglobin indicates a lack of iron in the body. As a result, the following phenomena occur:

brittle nails,
hair loss,
dry skin, cracks in the corners of the mouth,
violation of taste and smell, sometimes a person begins to eat inedible substances - chalk, coal, earth, etc.
slight increase in body temperature.

On the initial stage clinical manifestations, as a rule, are mild, and in some cases there are no symptoms.

Low hemoglobin as a sign of illness

An insufficient level of hemoglobin is often one of the signs of certain diseases. These include:

chronic posthemorrhagic iron deficiency anemia - various blood loss,
alimentary anemia, caused by a lack of iron in the diet,
anemia during pregnancy, lactation, during growth and maturation, when iron consumption is increased,
diseases in which the process of absorption of iron and vitamin B12 is disturbed - chronic gastritis, enteritis, after removal of part of the stomach or small intestine,
diseases due to disorders in immune system, at which the death of erythrocytes occurs - rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, glomerulonephritis, etc.
prolonged infectious diseases,
worm infestation,
malignant blood diseases.

In 90% of cases, the first four groups of diseases are the cause of the problem.

Low hemoglobin in pregnant women

This problem is very relevant. Children and expectant mothers are most susceptible to the disease. A decrease in the level of hemoglobin in pregnant women occurs due to the increased expenditure of iron on both the mother's organs and the fetus. It is very important to ensure regular stay at fresh air in this case, the body receives more oxygen.

Many people wonder why doctors are always concerned about this problem. The fact is that internal organs oxygen is needed, and in large quantities. With its lack, wilting and aging occur. In some cases, the organs cease to fully perform their functions, as they do not have enough nutrition. But the main problem is that many organs do not have nerve endings, as a result of which they cannot get sick. Danger can be seen only when the situation becomes critical.

In pregnant women, hemoglobin drops rapidly, which immediately negatively affects the development of the fetus. This is especially dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy. And it needs to be treated. This is why a blood test is performed before each examination. If this factor is not taken into account, the fetus will not receive sufficient nutrition, stop development or greatly slow it down. In another way, this is called fetal hypoxia - the child begins to suffocate, which threatens with atrophy of organs, muscles, and disorders of the nervous system.

If a person has an insufficient level of hemoglobin, urinary incontinence is possible, which is due to severe muscle relaxation. All these problems can not only worsen life, but also cause more serious consequences.

Hemoglobin can be increased with medicines containing iron. It is impossible to completely compensate for the lack of food. But the use of foods high content iron will definitely give positive result. If the hemoglobin level is normal, iron-containing foods should be included in the daily diet. This will support the health and nutrition of the body.

Consequences of low hemoglobin levels

Due to the lack of iron in the body, the supply of oxygen to cells is disrupted. Consequently:

anemia develops.
immunity decreases, the likelihood of infectious diseases is much higher,
growth retardation and mental development in children, increased fatigue, problems with academic performance,
feeling constant fatigue in adults
negative changes in tissues and organs,
increased risk of developing cardiomyopathy. If anemia is not treated, the body, in order to provide itself with the missing amount of oxygen, makes the heart work with a double load, which inevitably leads to heart failure. The amount of blood passing through the heart increases. This causes dilatation of the left ventricle and its gradual hypertrophy, and ultimately leads to the death of a person,
edema appears on lower limbs the liver enlarges.

Particularly affected by low hemoglobin are epithelial tissues: mucous membranes of the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract, skin. One of the causes of dermatitis, eczema and other skin diseases is an insufficient level of hemoglobin. Violation of the gastric mucosa inevitably impairs the absorption process nutrients. Intestinal infections and ARI can occur twice as often.

Insufficient hemoglobin levels affect the nervous system. As a result, there is a lag in the psychomotor development of children, impoverishment of their emotional sphere with a predominance of bad mood, irritability, lethargy, tearfulness. Schoolchildren have reduced concentration, they quickly get tired. There may also be a decrease in pressure, frequent dizziness, palpitations. In children under the age of five years, anemia is considered to be a hemoglobin level below 110 g / l, in adults - below 120 g / l.

To know if your body has enough iron, if hemoglobin is normal, you need to donate blood for analysis every year. This will allow timely detection of a decrease in the level of erythrocytes in the blood and a change in their shape. The consequences of low hemoglobin are serious and are often signs of other diseases.

prevent Negative consequences low hemoglobin, it is recommended to eat foods rich in iron. These are kidneys, liver, tongue, buckwheat, beans, peas, porcini mushrooms, blueberries, chocolate. One hundred grams of each of these products contain more than 4 mg of iron. Also rich in this element are beef, lamb, horse meat, millet, oat groats, pears, apples, figs, nuts, spinach. Eat more of these foods to increase your hemoglobin levels.

Let's see why women have low hemoglobin - what are the causes and consequences?

Normal level of hemoglobin in the blood

Normal protein values in pregnant women are 110-150 g/l.
In girls and women 120-150 g / l.

Diagnosis, determination of the causes and consequences of anemia in women

Usually, a low hemoglobin level is diagnosed by taking blood tests from a finger, as well as from a vein.

Symptoms of anemia in women

At the initial stage of the onset of anemia, hemoglobin deficiency does not manifest itself in any way. Just with increased physical exertion: climbing stairs, running and others, shortness of breath and fatigue may appear, despite the fact that earlier, with the same load, nothing of the kind was noticed. Also, the lack of this important substance may not be detected at all, the symptoms are felt by the person later.

With a lack of hemoglobin in the female appears:

weakness;
dyspnea;
dizziness;
increased heartbeat;
chronic fatigue;
dry skin;
cracking of the lips;
fragility of nails;
hair loss;
pallor and cyanosis of the skin, mainly of the ears and lips;
slight rise in temperature.

There are also symptoms such as bad mood and weakness. Due to the lack of oxygen in the body slow down metabolic processes, the woman becomes lethargic and lethargic. All these signs in the aggregate may not be observed, since hemoglobin deficiency in girls is expressed in different ways.

With a dystrophic type of iron deficiency in the body, a woman begins to eat chalk and tooth powder, as well as raw foods, which include: minced meat, pasta, cereals.

Also, patients with anemia have the following symptoms: impaired sense of smell, as a rule, they begin to like the smell of acetone, nail polish, etc.

Low hemoglobin: the main causes in women

In women, iron deficiency occurs most often, as this is facilitated by physiological changes in the body. They are associated primarily with monthly menstruation, and during and after childbirth with a large blood loss associated with the birth of a baby and recovery. normal size uterus.

Abundant discharge that occurs during menstruation provokes anemia in many girls. Therefore, in order to prevent it, it is necessary to protect yourself from its appearance by first agreeing with your doctor on the need to take iron supplements.

Hemoglobin deficiency can occur as a result of other diseases, such as ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids. In this case, a false loss of blood occurs, in which blood clots collect in the cavity of the ovaries or uterus, which then dissolve, and hemoglobin is converted into other compounds.

The next cause of anemia in women is infectious diseases, pathologies inherited from parents, that is, congenital.

The lack of hemoglobin in the blood also occurs due to improper, unbalanced nutrition, in which there are no sources of iron: meat products, fruits and vegetables (apples, pears, grapes, spinach)

The fact that a woman donates blood as a donor is also a common cause of low hemoglobin in women in the blood.

Other causes of anemia:

Effects

Due to the anemia of pregnant women, the child may experience oxygen starvation, which leads to various violations in development: these can be anomalies in the development of organs and systems, severe pathologies, reduced brain activity baby, developmental delay after birth, reduced immunity.

And also in women, just as it can lead to such consequences as increased fatigue, bad memory, poor concentration.

And also there are swelling of the legs, an increase in the size of the liver (jaundice), problems with the kidneys. Tearfulness, lethargy and apathy, irritability also become constant companions of a woman who has a lack of hemoglobin.

The consequences of low hemoglobin in the blood of a woman are depression, insomnia, tachycardia.

The woman's body becomes more susceptible to colds, there are SARS, as well as other viral diseases.

Uncommon with low hemoglobin skin rashes like acne, psoriasis, vitiligo, any skin diseases. All these manifestations of anemia are a sign of a lack of folic acid or vitamin B9.

Also, the cause of reduced hemoglobin in women is uncontrolled drinking, thalassemia and the intake of certain medicines that impair the absorption of substances in the intestine.

Low hemoglobin in pregnant women

Anemia often occurs during pregnancy. If on early dates its appearance does not bring tangible problems, then for more later dates anemia can lead to gestosis, dangerous complication in the third trimester of pregnancy.

With anemia, childbirth can be protracted, due to the fact that the cervix does not open well, and there may also be weak labor activity.

How to increase the level of hemoglobin in women?

How to increase low hemoglobin caused by iron deficiency anemia?

Take medications as directed by your doctor.
Eat foods high in iron: apples, beef liver, grenades.
Drink rosehip broth, pomegranate juice.

Important! It is better to consume iron-containing foods with vitamin C. Since only paired with ascorbic acid iron can be absorbed. When taking drugs, you need to control the level of hemoglobin in the blood, since elevated hemoglobin just as dangerous as the downtrodden.

To increase hemoglobin in women, if the deficiency is caused by a lack of folic acid, you can take special preparations based on it.

A high level of hemoglobin can be obtained if you drink a decoction of stinging nettle during heavy periods. Brew it by standard scheme: 1-2 tbsp to a glass of boiling water. Drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day. The course of treatment is carried out for two weeks during menstruation.

Who to contact with low hemoglobin in women? In case of anemia, you need to consult a doctor: a hematologist, an infectious disease specialist, a nephrologist, a gastroenterologist and an oncologist.

Why do people have low hemoglobin levels? Why pharmaceutical preparations far from always helping, and sometimes even harmful, and how to avoid this? How to easily increase hemoglobin at home? You will learn all this in this article.

Symptoms of low hemoglobin

How can a person determine a decrease in hemoglobin? First of all, it is the presence asthenic symptoms: the patient feels general weakness, gets tired quickly, he has drowsiness, dizziness, possible heartbeat disturbances and blood pressure(reduced). In severe cases, patients may experience.

When a decrease in hemoglobin is a consequence of a lack of iron in the body, there are dystrophic symptoms: the skin is dry, cracks form in the corners of the mouth, nails and hair become brittle, fall out, grow back slowly. There may be disturbances in smell and taste.

Predominantly low hemoglobin is a sign of a disease. The most common ones are:

chronic iron deficiency anemia;

blood loss;

thinning of the gastric mucosa (chronic atrophic gastritis);

inflammatory bowel disease, dysbacteriosis (chronic enteritis);

iron deficiency anemia after surgery;

autoimmune diseases (lupus, glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis);

long infectious diseases(hepatitis, gastroenterocolitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, inflammation of the kidneys, etc.);

malignant pathologies of the blood;

malignant tumor lesions, especially of the gastrointestinal tract.

Determination of hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a complex combination of iron and protein. It is found in erythrocytes - red blood cells. Hemoglobin performs the most important function for the body - the transfer of oxygen molecules to all organs and tissues. It captures oxygen in the lungs and conducts further oxidation, transferring it to all necessary structures. Oxygen is necessary for the body to ensure life, receive and exchange energy and carry out recovery reactions.

To produce hemoglobin, you need to eat iron-rich foods. It is also important that iron is normally absorbed into the small intestine. The content of B vitamins in food, especially vitamin B12 and folic acid, is extremely important. It is also important that there are no pathological changes, i.e. acquired or hereditary diseases blood.

Normally, the amount of hemoglobin in the blood of men is 130-160 g / l, in women - 120-147 g / l. In pregnant women bottom line hemoglobin norms are reduced to 110 g/l.

How much hemoglobin should be?

For the norm of hemoglobin, values \u200b\u200bare taken, different in age, gender and other characteristics of a person.

Hemoglobin is calculated in grams per liter (g/l). For an adult male, 130-170 g/l is normal, while for a woman it is 120-155 g/l. This difference is due to the fact that men have a higher concentration of androgens (a special group of steroid hormones) that stimulate the formation of red blood cells. For pregnant women, normal hemoglobin limits drop to 110-140 g/L as the body begins to use iron more actively.

In people under 18 years of age, the hemoglobin norm is delimited by age and does not depend on gender. In the first two weeks of life, hemoglobin is considered normal 135-195 g / l, then this figure decreases to 125-165 g / l, and by one year it reaches 110-130 g / l. After that, the hemoglobin level gradually increases by about 1-3 g / l per year (both in the lower and upper limits). For example, to school age(6-7 years old) it reaches 115-135 g/l, and by 13-14 years old - 120-145 g/l.

A blood test can show a deviation in the concentration of hemoglobin, not only with metabolic disorders and various diseases but also for other reasons. This is the use on this day or on the eve of fatty, fried, alcohol, excessive mental or physical exertion, taking certain medications, smoking before analysis.

Many people have low hemoglobin, which in 90% of cases is associated with iron deficiency. This syndrome is characteristic of approximately 30% of the population of the entire planet, especially for children and women.

Why is low hemoglobin dangerous?

With a decrease in hemoglobin due to iron deficiency anemia, a lot of symptoms can appear. This is weakness, malaise, decreased performance,. Often shortness of breath appears, the heartbeat becomes more frequent, distorted taste sensations and smell, dryness appears in the mouth, and the tongue begins to tingle.

Among external signs anemia can be observed dryness and thinning, pallor and peeling of the skin and lips, brittleness and loss of luster of nails. Women may experience burning or itching of the genital (external) organs. With a strong decrease in hemoglobin, fainting and dizziness begin, a constant headache, rapid fatigue, impaired attention. Muscle relaxation is often observed, which sometimes leads to urinary incontinence.

If hemoglobin is below normal, then malfunctions appear. This can lead to complications in any disease, even if it is an elementary cold.

Decreased hemoglobin is a common occurrence for most pregnant women. A strong deviation from the norm affects the health of both the woman herself and the child she is carrying. In women, there are complications such as uterine hypotension, improper location of the placenta, hypoxia, delay or cessation of fetal development. At born child there may be low weight, underdevelopment, disorders of the respiratory and nervous systems, subsequent deviations in mental and physical development, atrophy of muscles and organs.

If hemoglobin in anemia is slightly reduced, then the problem can be solved by taking vitamins and changing your diet. It should contain meat and offal, fish, pomegranates, buckwheat, apples and freshly squeezed juices. By the way, it is precisely because of the lack of meat and offal in the diet that vegetarians often have low hemoglobin. More serious deviations from the norm are already resolved at the medical level.

Often, a decrease in hemoglobin indicates the presence of a disease or other disorder in the body. It could be an infection hereditary pathology, violation of hemoglobin synthesis, hemoglobin may decrease due to blood loss, and not only obvious, but also hidden, for example, with certain diseases of the stomach or intestines,.

In any case, with a decrease in hemoglobin from the norm, you need to change your diet, and with a large deviation, you should visit a specialist - a hematologist.

Iron absorption, what's the catch?

So why, when taking iron in addition inside, we in most cases do not achieve results?

Most drugs designed to replenish iron in the body are in the form of ferric iron. Unfortunately, this form is very indigestible and is more likely to cause constipation and heaviness in the stomach than help with this problem. The body absorbs only ferrous iron, but such a drug is much more difficult to find.

The second reason for low iron absorption lies in casein. All dairy products contain a special protein - casein. It sticks together with iron and does not allow it to be absorbed and is simply excreted from the body. Therefore, one more important condition- all dairy products (milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, cream, fermented baked milk, including dairy products) should be excluded from the diet, at least not consumed within 5 hours before and after taking iron (if we talk about pharmaceutical preparations).

Thirdly, if you have a low acidity of the stomach, then iron will be less absorbed. And the lower it is, the worse the effect will be!

There is one more important thing: if you have a severely reduced iron, then first of all it will accumulate in the liver, and only then it will appear in the blood, so it should be consumed from 1-2 months to six months.

Causes of low hemoglobin

The body can lose hemoglobin for various reasons. This happens most quickly with blood loss - both explicit and hidden. Explicit bleeding occurs with heavy and prolonged menstruation in women (more than five days), various injuries, injuries or operations.

Hidden ones are possible with some gastrointestinal diseases, pathologies of the female reproductive system (ovarian cyst, uterine fibroids, etc.). Autoimmune diseases, infections or hereditary diseases can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin and a short life of red blood cells.

Also, low hemoglobin is noted in blood donors (with systematic, personnel donation). In children, low hemoglobin may be the result of an unbalanced diet, poor in necessary for the body and minerals.

How to replenish iron levels and increase hemoglobin?

Probably everyone has heard that black caviar increases hemoglobin. Yes, it can even raise hemoglobin in one day, but not everyone can afford it, not to mention the fact that you can’t just buy it on the market, since its sale is prohibited. Sale black caviar carried out only through retail chain stores.

There are more available funds. Dried fruits contain much more iron than fresh fruits, so you can easily make a "concentrate" at home.

Mix dried apricots (or dried apricots), raisins (you can add prunes), walnuts, lemon and honey. In a meat grinder or in a combine, grind everything into a homogeneous mixture. Take a teaspoon 3 times a day before meals.

It will not be superfluous to drink rosehip infusion instead of tea, which also contains a lot of iron, not to mention the fact that rosehip is the champion in vitamin C content. And vitamin C improves the absorption of iron by an order of magnitude, just like (but not dairy products!)