Anemia: symptoms, types and treatment
Educational Program Health / / December 30, 2020
What is anemia
AnemiaAnemia - Symptoms and causes, or anemia, is a condition in which the body lacks red blood cells (erythrocytes).
Erythrocytes transport oxygen to the organs and tissues, which enters the lungs. It participates in metabolism, that is, it helps cells to obtain energy from food. If there is little oxygen, the internal organs cannot work efficiently: they simply do not have enough strength.
In the general analysis of blood, anemia is noticeableAnemia by a reduced level of hemoglobin - a key protein that is part of erythrocytes. It is he who combines with oxygen molecules and transports them throughout the body.
Most of all suffer from this violationGlobal anemia prevalence and number of individuals affected children, women (especially pregnant women) and the elderly. But young men are not immune from anemia and the serious problems associated with it.
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What are the symptoms of anemia
Violation can not always be noticed. When the lack of oxygen is small, it has almost no effect on well-being. But if the lack of red blood cells increases, the symptoms
Anemia anemias manifest themselves quite clearly. Here they are:- Fast fatiguability.
- Weakness, unwillingness to do anything.
- Pale or yellowish skin.
- Easily emerging dyspnea.
- Frequent dizziness, headache attacks.
- Cold, chilly hands and feet.
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
- Discomfort, tightness in the chest.
What are the types of anemia
There are over 400 speciesAnemia anemia, and they are all divided into three groups.
1. Anemia caused by blood loss
This is when the number of red blood cells decreases due to bleeding - obvious external or non-obvious internal. It can arise for the following reasons:
- Abundant menstruation among women.
- Gastrointestinal diseases: ulcers, gastritis, hemorrhoids, cancer.
- Trauma or surgery that was accompanied by blood loss.
- Uncontrolled use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen. They can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, or gastritis.
2. Anemia caused by decreased or defective production of red blood cells
Such cases of anemia are associated with the fact that the body, for some reason, does not produce sufficient the amount of hemoglobin or this protein cannot effectively "cling" oxygen and transport it to organs and fabrics.
This group includes the following types.
Iron-deficiency anemia
This is the most commonAnemia - Symptoms and causes type of anemia. The condition is caused by the fact that the body does not receive enough gland - a trace element that is necessary for the production of hemoglobin.
Vitamin deficiency anemia
Apart from iron, red blood cell production is impossible without vitamins B9 (folic acid) and B12. If your diet is low productswhich contain these substances, anemia may occur. Also, some medications, alcohol abuse and certain intestinal diseases lead to vitamin deficiency.
However, sometimes the same B12 is enough in the diet, but the body simply cannot absorb it. This leads to the emergence of malignant pernicious (lat. perniciosa - "fatal") anemia.
Anemia Associated with Bone Marrow Disorders
Various ailments, such as leukemia or myelofibrosis, disrupt the production of blood in the bone marrow, which is why it is critically short of red blood cells. In addition, the bone marrow can be damaged radiation, chemotherapy, certain medications, or lead poisoning.
Sickle cell anemia
This is an inherited disorder in which red blood cells, normally round, take on an abnormal sickle shape. In this state, they quickly die, which leads to a permanent lack of oxygen carried with the blood.
Anemia Associated with Chronic Disease
This type of anemia occurs when the body does not have enough hormones to produce red blood cells. Hormone deficiency can be caused by aging, progressive kidney disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, various types of cancer.
3. Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells
In such cases, we are talking about the fact that formed healthy erythrocytes, once in the blood, for some reason begin to actively break down. This condition is called hemolytic anemia.
The destruction of red blood cells can be caused by hereditary genetic factors, autoimmune diseases (the same lupus) that enter the body serpentine or spider venom, certain drugs, and so on.
Why is anemia dangerous?
ExistsAnemia - Symptoms and causes several reasons why anemia should not be ignored.
Growing weakness
Due to "laziness", a constant feeling of fatigue, you can stop coping with your usual activities - work duties, everyday life, caring for children. There will be no strength left for walks or sports, and this can further worsen your health.
Complications of pregnancy
In pregnant women, anemia can become one of the factors that provoke premature birth.
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Heart problems
When the body lacks oxygen, the heart starts pumping more blood so that organs and tissues still receive enough O2 for normal metabolism. Increased stress can cause cardiac hypertrophy or heart failure.
Various complications up to death
Anemia can have a dozen causes, including serious chronic diseases. If you do not pay attention to anemia, then you run the risk of missing the disease that caused this condition - sometimes deadly.
How to treat anemia
It depends on its reasons. Only a qualified doctor will help you understand them, so start by visiting a therapist.
Remember, not all types of anemia can be cured. In some cases, protracted and expensive treatment will be required, associated with chemotherapy, blood transfusion, bone marrow transplantation, immune system medicines.
But the most common options for anemia - iron deficiency or vitamin deficiency - are easy to deal with. It is enough to make small changes to the diet.
The therapist will evaluate your condition and, possibly, prescribe the necessary vitamins and supplements in the form of tablets. Or simply recommend eating a healthy, varied diet, including:
- Foods high in iron. These are beef, beans, lentils, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits.
- Lots of folic acid. Vitamin B9 is found in abundance in fruits and fruit juices, dark green leafy vegetables, green peas, beans, and peanuts.
- Dishes rich in vitamin B12. For example, meat and dairy products.
- High content foods vitamin C. This vitamin improves the absorption of iron and is present, for example, in citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, melon.
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