Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that is part of red blood cells, the main function of which is to supply cells with oxygen. Reducing its level in the blood can pose a serious danger to the body. To determine the causes of hemoglobin deficiency and find out how to raise it, you need to see a doctor and undergo an appropriate examination.
- Low hemoglobin
- reasons
- Symptoms
- How to raise
- Medicines
- Products
- Herbs
- blood transfusion
- have
- child during pregnancy
Low hemoglobin
Reduction in blood hemoglobin concentration is called anemia( or anemia) and is the most common disorder of hematopoiesis inworld. Iron, B12, or folic acid deficiency anemia is an independent disease, but often accompanies other diseases, appearing as their symptom.
to table of contents ^Causes of
The norm of hemoglobin in the blood is:
- For women - 120-160 grams per liter of blood. At pregnancy, the indices slightly decrease and vary depending on the term, making 110-150 grams.
- For men - 130-170 grams.
- For children - 100-140 grams per liter of blood before the age of 1 year with a gradual increase in indices.
The decrease in protein in the blood can be caused by the following factors:
- Clear blood loss( trauma, surgery, blood donation, hemorrhoids bleeding, profuse menstruation, bleeding gums) and hidden( in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract).
- Processes that cause a reduction in the lifespan of erythrocytes or their destruction: long-term infectious diseases( hepatitis, tuberculosis, pyelonephritis), disorders in the immune system( lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), hereditary predisposition.
- Diseases associated with impaired absorption of iron and vitamin B12 in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract( atrophic gastritis, ulcer, inflammation of the intestine).
- Malignant neoplasms and blood diseases.
- Glistular infestations - parasites absorb useful substances.
- Increased consumption of iron in the body - this condition is typical for pregnancy, lactation, the period of child's growth, puberty.
- Unbalanced food - the absence in the diet of animal protein, as well as products containing iron, vitamins B, C, PP, folic acid.
- Long-term exposure to toxic substances - work in hazardous production, living in an environmentally polluted area.
- Frequent stress.
Symptoms
- General weakness, fast fatigue, drowsiness.
- Frequent headaches, dizziness( until fainting).
- Lowering blood pressure.
- Rapid heart rate, shortness of breath.
- Constantly cold limbs, increased sensitivity to lower air temperature, frequent colds.
- Pallor( in some cases, icterus) of the skin and mucous membranes. Scatter and peeling of nails.
- Dim color of hair, slowing of their growth, loss.
- Dryness of the skin, the appearance of cracks in the corners of the mouth.
- A change in the mucous membrane of the tongue is a red, painful, "polished" tongue.
- Disorder of taste and smell - the desire to eat inedible products( chalk, clay, sand, wood, paper), addiction to the smell of acetone, gasoline, exhaust.
- Constant slight increase in body temperature( up to 37-37.5 ° C).
- The initial stage of anemia occurs with a mildly expressed clinical picture or is asymptomatic.
How to raise
You can increase the hemoglobin level in the blood in various ways. In parallel with the elimination of bleeding and the diseases that caused it to fall, the following methods are used:
to the table of contents ^Medications
The administration of medicines and their dosage is carried out exclusively by a doctor - many agents irritate the gastric mucosa and can provoke diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:
- Iron preparations - formin the form of tablets for oral administration is preferable to parenteral injection( injection).Most often appoint Maltofer, Sorbifer durules, Fenyuls, Ferretab composite, Hematogen.
- Vitamin B12 - is administered subcutaneously with a decrease in hemoglobin due to a deficiency of this substance.
- Folic acid( vitamin B9) - is taken in the form of tablets.
Products
A diet that includes the intake of foods rich in iron and folic acid helps to raise hemoglobin:
- Meat dishes - veal, beef( meat, liver, tongue), rabbit meat, pork.
- Fish and seafood, black and red caviar.
- Eggs( especially yolks).
- Black bread, bran, cereals( buckwheat, oats, wheat), beans.
- Berries, vegetables and fruits - are a source of vitamins( especially ascorbic acid) and promote better absorption of iron, as well as strengthening immunity. Useful black currants, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, mountain ash, dog rose, pomegranate, kiwi, citrus, apples, plums, beets, carrots, cabbage, dried fruits.
- Greens - parsley, dill, celery, onions, spinach, lettuce leaves. Dried mushrooms, nuts, honey.
- Cocoa( chocolate).
Caution should be taken of the following products:
- Tea and coffee - they contain substances that wash iron out of the body, so their use should be limited or eliminated.
- With the calcium content - this substance interferes with the assimilation of iron, such products and preparations should be taken separately with iron-containing products. At the same time, calcium is necessary for a deficiency of B vitamins, in this case, on the contrary, the use of dairy products is indicated.
Herbs
Among the folk remedies that provide the body's need for iron, folic acid, vitamins, the most popular are:
- Buckwheat flowers or buckwheat flour - are infused with water with the addition of honey.
- Phytosbora from yarrow herb, nettle leaves, rose hips and mountain ash - is used in the form of water infusions.
- Dandelion - to prepare the decoction, stems or plant roots are used.
- Lime flowers - water infusion of the crushed raw material is mixed with honey.
- Germinated wheat grains, soaked in boiling water.
- Aloe - the crushed leaves of an adult plant are mixed with lemon and poured with honey.
Blood transfusion
Carried out in the absence of positive dynamics from other methods of increasing hemoglobin and after a thorough examination. Transfusion of erythrocyte mass is a rather serious procedure and a lot of stress for the body, but if the problem is caused by a disease, this method will not help to solve it.
to the table of contents ^In a child
A lowered level of hemoglobin is doubly dangerous for a growing organism. Insufficient supply of tissues with oxygen can lead to pathologies of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as violations in the intellectual, psychoemotional, psychomotor spheres.
In newborns, the hemoglobin content in the blood is very high, but by 2 months the index reaches a minimum. This is due to the depletion of stores of nutrients accumulated during the stay in the womb. If the baby is breastfed, the mother's nutrition is very important. For children-artificers special milk mixtures containing all the necessary elements have been developed.
In pregnancy,
In the second trimester of pregnancy, the placental circulatory system develops, the blood volume increases, it becomes more fluid, contains less red blood cells and, consequently, hemoglobin. Reducing the indices to 110 grams per liter is the norm.
An earlier( before 20 week) drop in protein levels or a lower blood level indicates anemia, and may lead to negative consequences:
- Premature termination of pregnancy.
- Chronic hypoxia( lack of oxygen), intrauterine growth retardation.
- Problems with the placenta - hypoplasia( heterogeneous structure), dysfunction, presentation, premature detachment.
- Gestosis( late toxicosis).
- Weak labor activity.
- Hypotonic( uterine) bleeding during labor and during the puerperium.
- Asphyxia of the newborn.
- Decreased production of breast milk.
For preventive purposes pregnant women are recommended to take iron, folic acid, vitamin complexes, and also to take blood for analysis.