Low hemoglobin disease. Low hemoglobin in women: causes, symptoms and consequences

Symptoms in women

Symptoms and signs of low hemoglobin in women are, in principle, similar to the general symptoms of this disease. This is general depression, weakness, frequent dizziness, shortness of breath and fainting. Skin problems begin, hair becomes brittle and falls out. Weakened immunity is the cause of frequent colds and other diseases.

But there are some nuances related to the characteristics of female physiology. Women are more vulnerable to anemia because the female body loses a large amount of blood every month, which places additional stress on the blood-forming organs and creates an additional need for iron.

Low hemoglobin in children

Low hemoglobin levels in the blood of children are a very common problem today. According to recent studies, every fifth child suffers from this disorder. At the same time, detecting symptoms of low hemoglobin in a child is not at all easy - they are often mistaken for other diseases. Most often, low hemoglobin is indicated by a routine medical examination.

Usually, with a lack of hemoglobin in the blood, the baby becomes less active, he may experience periodic headaches and sleep disturbances. Low hemoglobin in the blood can cause digestive problems in a child (frequent constipation) and cause urinary incontinence (bedwetting).

Another sign of a low hemoglobin content in the blood is a weakened child’s immunity, which results in frequent diseases of the respiratory system, colds and other diseases.

A lack of hemoglobin in the blood has the most detrimental effect on the development and growth of your baby; all body systems suffer, because they do not receive the required amount of oxygen, but the nervous system suffers the most.

If even changes in diet do not lead to positive results, go to the doctor. The doctor will be able to give a qualified answer to an important question: why the hemoglobin decreased in your case.

Low hemoglobin in the blood of women indicates unfavorable changes occurring in the body, the causes of which can be very different, and the consequences can be quite dangerous to health.

If blood tests indicate anemia, then it is necessary first of all to thoroughly understand the situation. Understand what factors led to this condition and eliminate them.

Blood is a liquid substance that is distributed throughout the body through blood vessels. It performs transport functions, carrying nutrients, carbon dioxide and oxygen to various organs. In composition, it is plasma, which is a liquid medium in which cells - red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets - are suspended.

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which contains iron. It gives the blood a scarlet color and can reversibly bind oxygen and carbon dioxide. Due to this, gases necessary for the functioning of the body are transported from the lungs to other organs through arteries and veins.

If there is not enough hemoglobin in the blood, then the process of exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen occurs. Organs and tissues suffer from oxygen deficiency, and waste carbon dioxide is poorly excreted into the lungs.

Normal hemoglobin levels in women

You can determine the level of hemoglobin in the blood using a general blood test. In women, the norm is numbers from 120 to 140 g/l.

Women who abuse smoking have different hemoglobin values ​​- up to 150 g/l. Among representatives of professional sports, one can also observe increased levels – up to 160 g/l. Doctors do not see this as a pathology and consider such variations to be normal.

Hemoglobin in pregnant women is determined on a different scale, depending on the trimester. In the first and third trimester of pregnancy, the norm is 110-120 g/l, in the second it will be 105-120 g/l. These numbers are associated with those special physiological processes that occur in the body of a woman preparing to become a mother. Since the amount of blood during this period increases by half.

Symptoms of low hemoglobin

Symptoms indicating low hemoglobin levels can be asthenic and dystrophic.

Asthenic symptoms:

• Weakness.
• Fatigue.
• Drowsiness.
• Dizziness.
• Decreased blood pressure.
• Headaches.
• Heartbeat.
• Fainting.

These symptoms can be identified by yourself, without resorting to a special medical examination, and without consulting a doctor.

Dystrophic symptoms:

• Dry skin.
• Brittle and dry nails.
• Slow hair growth, dryness, fragility, loss.
• Changes in taste and smell.

Low hemoglobin can be one of the symptoms of various diseases. For example, the gastrointestinal tract is chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis. Infectious lesions - hepatitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, kidney disease.

Among these diagnoses there may be diseases associated with impaired immunity - rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, various malignant tumors.

Causes of low hemoglobin

Low hemoglobin in women: causes and consequences are clearly interrelated. There are 3 main reasons for lack of hemoglobin. First of all, there is a deficiency of iron in the body. After all, it is this microelement that is actively consumed during the synthesis of hemoglobin.

The second serious reason is bleeding. They can be large, during operations, injuries, childbirth, etc. So insignificant, hidden. For example, small but constant blood loss due to a stomach ulcer.

The third reason is when the body is unable to absorb iron from food. This happens when there is a lack of hemoglobin catalyst substances in the diet, these are vitamins B, PP and C.

Iron deficiency

Iron deficiency in the body is fraught with a wide variety of diseases. After all, this is a metabolic and immune disorder. Unfavorable changes occur in the mucous membranes, their barrier function is disrupted. As a result, infection easily penetrates the body, causing all sorts of disorders.

Therefore, a person suffering from iron deficiency most often falls ill with the flu, acute respiratory infections, which lead to serious complications - sinusitis, rhinitis. Diseases of internal organs, for example, various types of gastritis, can also occur. There is also a disturbance in cardiovascular activity - shortness of breath and tachycardia occur. Blood pressure decreases.

Problems are also detected on the part of the liver; it cannot fully perform its functions. Therefore, there is a decrease in blood glucose, albumin and prothrombin.

Iron deficiency is especially dangerous for pregnant women, because this causes placental insufficiency. The production of necessary hormones decreases, which negatively affects the formation and gestation of the fetus.

Blood loss

The reasons for low hemoglobin levels in the blood of women may be blood loss as a consequence of surgery, chronic diseases, etc. There are both extensive and very small, but chronic blood losses.

Rapid blood loss in large quantities provokes the occurrence of posthemorrhagic anemia. This can be various injuries and internal bleeding, for example, kidney, uterine, pulmonary, etc.

In this case, after 2 days, the blood volume in the body is restored, however, the number of leukocytes and hemoglobin is significantly reduced. After 4 days, the number of leukocytes and hemoglobin begins to increase, but at a slow pace. Therefore, during this period it is very important to support the body, give it the necessary amount of nutrients, and above all, iron.

Chronic anemia

Erythropoiesis disorders

Erythropoiesis is the process of hematopoiesis. The consequence of impaired erythropoiesis is oxygen starvation of body tissues, since it is distributed throughout the body in insufficient quantities. This leads to various kinds of diseases. This situation can arise as a result of chronic infectious processes, poisoning and intoxication, and malignant tumors.

The main cause of erythropoiesis is a deficiency of proteins, vitamin B12, folic acid and iron.

Accordingly, one of the consequences of this disorder is a decrease in hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells in the blood of women.

Increased destruction of red blood cells

Rapid destruction of red blood cells can occur as a result of poisoning, sepsis, and various serious infectious diseases such as malaria. The cause may also be skin lesions, burns and blood transfusion if it was of the wrong type.

In this case, red blood cells are destroyed faster than new ones can mature. This disease is called hemolytic anemia. There are two main types - intravascular and when the breakdown of red blood cells occurs outside the vascular system, in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, liver or spleen.

With hemolytic anemia, the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin decreases, but iron increases. At the same time, active hematopoiesis continues in the bone marrow.

In some cases, in order to save a person from this problem, they even resort to surgery, removing the spleen.

Reduced hemoglobin in pregnant women

During pregnancy, many changes occur in a woman's body, for example, blood volume increases significantly. However, the number of red blood cells decreases, and accordingly, the level of hemoglobin decreases during a certain period of pregnancy; this is a natural process.

Usually a decrease in hemoglobin levels occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy, and before childbirth it is restored. Sometimes pathology can develop when hemoglobin begins to decrease too early and does not increase before childbirth.

The reasons for low hemoglobin in the blood of pregnant women can be many factors, and the consequences are always very unfavorable. In most cases, anemia is caused by an unbalanced diet that contains too little animal protein and iron.

At the same time, there is too much calcium, and it is this microelement that prevents the absorption of iron in the body. Among the unfavorable factors are hormonal imbalances, severe toxicosis, too short a period between pregnancies, when the woman’s body does not have time to fully recover.

Various types of chronic diseases and stress can also cause low hemoglobin in the blood of the expectant mother.

Drug-induced increase in hemoglobin

Treatment of iron deficiency anemia with medications is prescribed exclusively by a doctor. Because it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the problem, which may be impossible to determine on your own. Typically pharmaceuticals are used in the following cases:

• When, according to test results, a serious deviation of hemoglobin levels from the norm is noticed;
• When a special diet does not help and test results are still not satisfactory;
• When it is not possible to organize special medical nutrition;
• When a course of treatment with drugs that can affect the body’s metabolism is prescribed;
• When a major operation with possibly large blood loss is scheduled;

All medications have their own contraindications. In particular, these are certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, hypersensitivity to components, impaired removal of excess iron from the body, hemochromatosis.

Medications to increase hemoglobin levels are usually a complex of ferrous sulfate and vitamins. First of all, ascorbic acid, which improves the absorption of iron.

Medicines are available in a variety of forms - tablets, chewable tablets, syrups and solutions for intramuscular use. The most commonly prescribed by doctors are sorbifer-durules, felyuls, ferrum lek and ferro-foil.

Increasing hemoglobin with folk remedies

Traditional recipes do not contain harmful substances in their composition and have virtually no contraindications. Natural plant components are easily absorbed by the body, so the increase in hemoglobin levels occurs quite quickly.

Traditional recipes have already been tested by thousands of people, their composition was determined experimentally, and their effectiveness was confirmed by medical workers. Often it is doctors who advise adding some folk remedies in addition to drug treatment to enhance the effect.

Natural traditional medicine is especially good for pregnant women. Since some pharmaceutical drugs have corresponding contraindications, and therefore are not recommended for expectant mothers.

Recipe with honey, dried fruits and lemon

Dried fruits - prunes, apricots, raisins - contain a large amount of useful substances that can prevent iron deficiency anemia. This is a wonderful source of vitamins, beneficial acids and microelements.

Lemon is very rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that can help with anemia to quickly absorb essential microelements.

Honey is an additional source of nutrients necessary to support a woman’s body. Eliminate unpleasant symptoms of anemia, such as low blood pressure.

The mixture of these three ingredients tastes very pleasant and gives a positive mood, which is important for a quick recovery. And the composition of this wonderful folk remedy is significantly superior to any pharmaceutical medicine.

It is easy to prepare: a well-washed lemon along with the peel is crushed in a meat grinder. Then add a glass of raisins, dried apricots and prunes to the lemon. Next, this mixture is poured with honey. You can store it in the refrigerator in a glass container and use it every day instead of sweets with tea. You can add it to various dishes - porridge, muesli, cottage cheese.

Rosehip infusion

Rosehip contains many substances that stimulate hematopoiesis and increase the iron content in the body. Red fruits are especially known for their high levels of vitamins B and C - ascorbic acid, which enhances the absorption of beneficial microelements, in particular iron.

Other organic acids that are part of rose hips also have a beneficial effect on the absorption process.

There are two ways to brew dried berries.

• First way. You will need a thermos or enamel container with a lid. Pour a tablespoon of dry berries with a glass of boiling water and leave for 4 hours. Then a glass of infusion is filtered and taken before meals. You should triple the dose so that the infusion is enough for one day, and you can steam it overnight.
• Second way. Mash fresh rose hips and pour a glass of boiling water over a tablespoon of the prepared gruel. The infusion is kept for half an hour, then filtered. It should be consumed with honey.

Composition of cranberries, honey and nuts

Cranberries are a very healthy berry, as they contain not only a large amount of iron, but also vitamin C, which promotes better absorption of this microelement.

Honey will add additional vitamins to this wonderful, tasty and healthy folk remedy, helping to increase not only hemoglobin, but also the body’s resistance to various diseases. Thus, it will enhance the effect of cranberries.

Walnuts are a storehouse of microelements; they also contain a fairly large amount of natural iron, which will be quickly absorbed by the body. Therefore, a mixture of cranberries, honey and nuts will be no less effective than any medication, but at the same time absolutely safe, especially for expectant mothers.

All three ingredients must be taken in equal quantities. Pre-grind the nuts in a coffee grinder, meat grinder or blender. Add cranberries and honey, mix thoroughly. You can store the mixture in the refrigerator.

It should be consumed several times a day, one or two teaspoons. Add to morning porridge and eat instead of sweets, washed down with tea or herbal infusion.

Kefir and buckwheat

Buckwheat helps to quickly increase hemoglobin and forget about anemia. This is an extremely simple, but at the same time very tasty remedy.

You need raw buckwheat, which should be ground into flour in a meat grinder or using a coffee grinder. You need to consume the resulting buckwheat flour 2 tablespoons in the morning and evening with a full glass of apple juice, preferably natural, freshly squeezed. Buckwheat flour can be stirred in a glass of juice.

Instead of apple juice, you can use kefir or fermented milk. This will help the gastrointestinal tract quickly digest buckwheat flour and fully absorb the microelements it contains, and above all iron.

Infusion of buckwheat flowers

Buckwheat flowers are extremely effective for iron deficiency, because this folk remedy even helps with leukemia and radiation sickness.

To prepare the infusion, you need a tablespoon of buckwheat flowers, pour 2 cups of boiling water. Next, prepare the infusion in a water bath for 20 minutes, then remove the container from the steam and leave for 40 minutes to saturate. Then you need to strain the liquid through cotton cloth or gauze, folded several times.

You need to drink the resulting infusion before meals 3 times a day, 150 ml. During preparation, along with buckwheat flowers, you can add other beneficial herbs to the infusion - blackberry leaves, nettle leaves, dandelion root. This will greatly enhance the effect.

There is another, simple way to prepare a healthy infusion. Together with other herbs, buckwheat flowers are poured into a thermos and filled with a glass of boiling water, and the cap is tightly closed. After 2 hours, the infusion is ready, it can be consumed half a glass 2 times a day.

Acorns

Preparing a folk remedy to increase hemoglobin levels from acorns will require some effort and time. First, the acorns should be broken and thoroughly peeled from the hard skin. The cores must be ground in a meat grinder.

Next, a glass of the resulting powder should be filled with 2 glasses of water. It is necessary to cook over low heat, stirring, until the consistency of a slurry is obtained. After cooling, the product should be placed on a cotton cloth, leveled and left to dry. Next, the dry mass needs to be fried in a well-heated frying pan and then, after cooling, grind again to a fine powder.

A special drink should be prepared from the resulting powder. Pour a tablespoon of acorn powder into a glass of milk and boil for several minutes. This mixture should be taken 3 times a day before meals, 2 tablespoons.

Beet and carrot juice

Carrots and beets are very useful for iron deficiency anemia. These vegetables should be eaten both raw, in salads, and boiled. However, their freshly squeezed juice is especially good for a quick effect.

This juice cannot be stored for a long time, even in the refrigerator. Therefore, it is preferable to consume it immediately after preparation or within 5 hours. Freshly squeezed carrot and beet juice are mixed together in a 1:1 ratio. It is better to take it slightly diluted with water, since the juice turns out to be too concentrated and tart in taste.

It is better to drink it 20 minutes before meals or 60 minutes after meals. You should drink at least 2 glasses of juice per day, dividing the intake into 2-3 times.

Pomegranate juice

Pomegranate is extremely effective for iron deficiency anemia; it is especially good to use after blood loss. It quickly restores not only hemoglobin, but also promotes hematopoiesis. Pomegranate berries can be consumed at any time of the day, every day.

However, the most suitable way is freshly squeezed pomegranate juice. In this case, it is best to use the whole fruit, including the peel, by first chopping it in a meat grinder. Then squeeze out the juice, since the skin and pulp of the pomegranate contain a large amount of useful substances that promote the rapid absorption of iron in the body.

The resulting juice will be concentrated, so it is better to dilute it with water by 50%. You can use carrot and beet juice instead of water to enhance the effect. You should drink pomegranate juice a little before meals, 10 minutes per tablespoon.

You can also prepare a healthy mixture by mixing a tablespoon of pomegranate and lemon juice, and then adding 2 tablespoons of honey. This mixture should be consumed 2 times a day, 2 tablespoons, washed down with soda or diluted in a small amount.

How to increase hemoglobin with diet?

You can quickly increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood with the help of a special diet. Moreover, it is important not just to consume as many foods as possible that contain large amounts of iron. The main thing is to choose the right food ingredients in the optimal combination that will help the body most fully and easily absorb this essential microelement.

A large amount of iron is included in meat, especially liver and veal - up to 22%.

Approximately 11% of iron can be obtained from seafood. Plant foods contain only 5% of the essential microelement.

However, it has a very important quality - vitamins that will help absorb it.

Therefore, you must include cabbage, strawberries, citrus fruits, pomegranates, watermelons and peaches, apples and pumpkin in your diet. It’s good to add legumes, which not only have a fairly high iron content, but also accompanying substances, valuable proteins and vitamins.

Iron-rich foods

There are two groups of iron that are well absorbed in the body - heme and non-heme forms. Heme iron is better absorbed; it is the source for the formation of hemoglobin in the blood. It is found in products of animal origin, which has a high protein content, and not heme - in plant products.

Animal foods that contain the highest amounts of iron:

• liver;
• beef and veal;
• pork;
• turkey;
• egg yolk;
• fish – pink salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies;
• seafood - oysters, mussels, clams;

Plant foods with the highest iron content:

• nuts;
• pumpkin seeds;
• sesame;
• buckwheat;
• lentils;
• beans;
• fruits: apricots, pomegranates, plums, apples, sea buckthorn, rose hips.

Foods rich in folic acid

Folic acid is important for hematopoiesis and the formation of leukocytes in the bone marrow. Therefore, its deficiency is one of the indirect causes of iron deficiency anemia and a decrease in hemoglobin.

The daily intake of folic acid for pregnant women is 600 mcg/day.

Vegetables, fruits, eggs, liver, cereals and whole grain bread are rich in folic acid.

You can replenish the supply of this very important substance in the body by eating the following foods:

• fresh herbs;
• legumes;
• cabbage, especially broccoli and cauliflower;
• carrot;
• pumpkin;
• beets and turnips;
• asparagus;
• citrus fruits - especially oranges and lemons;
• pears and apples;
• apricots;
• berries - strawberries and currants;
• buckwheat;
• rye – whole grain rye bread;
• nuts of all kinds;
• seeds – sesame, pumpkin, sunflower;
• watermelons;
• tomatoes;
• corn;
• avocado;
• liver, including cod liver;
• eggs – chicken, quail, goose, duck;
• cereals – buckwheat, oatmeal, barley, pearl barley;

Dangerous consequences of decreased hemoglobin

The consequences of a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood of women can be dangerous and lead to death, even though the cause at first seems insignificant. First of all, the immune system is impaired, the body becomes vulnerable to all kinds of infections and complications.

Internal organs - the liver, spleen - cease to perform their functions effectively, wear out quickly, and increase in size. The heart is under significant strain due to lack of oxygen. It begins to work hard, moving blood faster to saturate the tissues with oxygen. The result is heart failure.

The greatest danger of decreased hemoglobin is for pregnant women. Because fetal development may be impaired as a result.

Video about treating low hemoglobin in women

How to treat anemia:

5 ways to increase hemoglobin:

Hemoglobin (HB) is often talked about without even knowing, but only suspecting its importance in the human body. , popularly called anemia, or, as a rule, is associated with variations in the values ​​of the red blood pigment. Meanwhile, the range of tasks of hemoglobin is very wide and its fluctuations in one direction or another can cause serious health problems.

Most often, a drop in hemoglobin levels is associated with the development of iron deficiency anemia; it often occurs in adolescents, young girls, and during pregnancy, so the main emphasis in this article will be on what is most interesting and understandable to the patient, because the patient will not independently engage in any activities. any severe form of hemolytic anemia.

Four hemes + globin

The hemoglobin molecule is a complex protein (chromoprotein) consisting of four hemes and the globin protein. Heme, which has a divalent (Fe 2+) at its center, is responsible for binding oxygen in the lungs. Connecting with oxygen and turning into oxyhemoglobin(HHbO 2), it immediately delivers the component necessary for respiration to the tissues, and from there it takes carbon dioxide, forming carbohemoglobin(HHbCO 2) to transport it to the lungs. Oxyhemoglobin and carbohemoglobin are physiological compounds of hemoglobin.

The functional responsibilities of the red blood pigment in the human body also include participation in the regulation of acid-base balance, because it is one of four buffer systems that maintain a constant pH of the internal environment at the level of 7.36 - 7.4.

In addition, being localized inside red blood cells, hemoglobin regulates blood viscosity, prevents the release of water from tissues and, thereby, reduces oncotic pressure, and also prevents unauthorized consumption of hemoglobin when blood passes through the kidneys.

Hemoglobin is synthesized in, or rather, in the bone marrow, when they are still in the nuclear stage (erythroblasts and).

“Harmful” abilities of hemoglobin

Even better than with oxygen, hemoglobin binds with carbon monoxide (CO), transforming into carboxyhemoglobin(HHbCO), which is a very strong compound that significantly reduces the physiological abilities of red blood pigment. Everyone knows how dangerous it is for a person to stay in a room filled with carbon monoxide. It is enough to inhale only 0.1% CO with the air so that 80% of Hb combines with it and creates a strong bond, leading to the death of the body. It should be noted that smokers are constantly at risk in this regard; in their blood, the content of carboxyhemoglobin is 3 times higher than normal (N - up to 1%), and after a deep puff it is 10 times higher.

formation of oxygenated oxyhemoglobin and “harmful” carboxyhemoglobin that carries carbon monoxide

A very dangerous condition for the hemoglobin molecule is the replacement of divalent iron in heme (Fe 2+) with trivalent iron (Fe 3+) with the formation of a form hazardous to health – methemoglobin. Methemoglobin sharply inhibits the transfer of oxygen to organs, creating conditions that are unacceptable for normal life. Methemoglobinemia occurs as a result of poisoning with certain chemicals or is present as a hereditary pathology. It may be associated with the transmission of a defective dominant gene or due to the recessive inheritance of a special form of enzymopathy (low activity of the enzyme capable of restoring metHb to normal hemoglobin).

Such a necessary and wonderful in all respects complex protein as hemoglobin, localized in red blood cells, can become a very dangerous substance if for some reason it is released into the plasma. Then it becomes very toxic, causing oxygen starvation of tissues (hypoxia) and poisoning the body with the products of its breakdown (iron). In addition, large Hb molecules, which are not destroyed and continue to circulate in the blood, enter the renal tubules, close them and thereby contribute to the development of acute kidney injury (acute renal failure).

Such phenomena, as a rule, accompany severe pathological conditions associated with disorders in the blood system:

• Congenital and acquired; (sickle cell, thalassemia, autoimmune, toxic, Moshkovich disease, etc.);
• Transfusion of blood incompatible with group erythrocyte antigens (,).

Disturbances in the structural structure of hemoglobin are called hemoglobinopathies in medicine. This is a range of hereditary blood diseases that includes such well-known pathological conditions as, for example, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.

Limits of normal values

Well, perhaps you don’t need to describe the hemoglobin norm. This is one of the indicators, the normal values ​​of which most people will name without hesitation. However, we would like to remind you that the norm in women is slightly different from that in men, which is understandable from a physiological point of view, because the female sex loses a certain amount of blood every month, and at the same time iron and protein.

In addition, the level of hemoglobin cannot remain unchanged during pregnancy, and although the fetal tissue is mainly supplied with oxygen by fetal (HbF) hemoglobin, its level in the mother also decreases slightly (!). This happens because plasma volume increases during pregnancy, and the blood thins (in proportion to the decrease in red blood cells). Meanwhile, such a phenomenon is considered a physiological condition, so there can be no talk of any significant drop in Hb levels as normal. Thus, The following values ​​are taken for normal hemoglobin depending on gender and age:

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

When considering hemoglobin, one cannot ignore other indicators that indicate whether hemoglobin sufficiently fills red blood cells, or whether they circulate lightly, without Hb.

Indicating the degree of saturation, it can have the following meanings:

• 0.8 – 1.0 (red blood cells are normochromic – no problem);
• Less than 0.8 (hypochromic - anemia);
• More than 1.0 (Er hyperchromic, reason?).

In addition, the saturation of red blood cells with pigment can be indicated by a criterion such as SGE ( average contentHbin 1 red blood cell, which when examined in an automatic analyzer is designated MSN), its norm is from 27 to 31 pg.

However, the hematological analyzer also calculates other parameters that reflect the state of red blood (, average hemoglobin content in erythrocytes, average volume of erythrocytes, indicator of their heterogeneity, etc.).

Why does the hemoglobin level change?

Hemoglobin levels depend to some extent on:

1. Season (it decreases in the fall, probably because people harvest and prefer plant foods),
2. Diet: vegetarians have lower Hb;
3. Climate and terrain (where there is little sun, anemia is more common, and in high mountain areas hemoglobin increases);
4. Lifestyle (active sports and intense physical work for a long time increase hemoglobin);
5. Oddly enough, both clean fresh air and smoking almost equally affect Hb levels (they increase it). Most likely, for smokers this indicator includes hemoglobin modified by tobacco smoke, so those who like to relax with a cigarette seem to have no reason to be satisfied with the tests, but there is an opportunity to think: what does hemoglobin carry in the red blood cells of a smoker?

There is little hemoglobin

“I have low globin,” this is how a woman put it, having stayed too long in the maternity hospital and explaining the essence of the problem to curious neighbors. Low hemoglobin, unlike high hemoglobin, occurs quite often, everyone is actively fighting it, using not only medications containing iron and B vitamins, but also a wide range of folk remedies and products that increase hemoglobin.

Reduced or low hemoglobin along with a decrease in the number of red blood cells is called anemia(anaemia), for men anemia is considered to be a drop in Hb level below 130 g/l, women are considered anemia if the hemoglobin content in red blood cells becomes less than 120 g/l.

In the diagnosis of anemia, hemoglobin plays a decisive role, since red blood cells do not always have time to decrease (in mild forms). It is appropriate to name the main forms of anemia, because this concept is not limited to iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Thus, 6 main groups are most often considered:

• Acute posthemorrhagic anemia, which occurs after massive blood loss. It is clear that the causes of low hemoglobin here will be injuries, wounds, and internal bleeding.
• Iron deficiency anemia- the most common, since a person does not know how to synthesize iron, but takes it from the outside with foods rich in this element. You may not know or know about IDA for a long time if you do not take a blood test for Hb, Er, CP, etc.
• Sideroachrestic anemia, associated with impaired utilization and synthesis of porphyrin and the accumulation of excess iron as a result. The cause of low hemoglobin in this case may be a hereditary factor (lack of an enzyme that includes iron in heme) or an acquired pathology resulting from lead intoxication, alcoholism, cutaneous porphyria, or as a consequence of treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs (tubazid).
• Megaloblastic, B 12 and/or folate deficiency(Addison-Birmer disease). This form was once called malignant anemia.
• Hemolytic anemia, united by a common feature - the accelerated breakdown of red blood cells, which instead of 3 months live only a month and a half.
• Anemia associated with inhibition of erythroid proliferation, for example, its displacement in tumors, aplastic anemia during treatment with cytostatics or exposure to high doses of radiation.

There are quite a few conditions that have the symptom of low hemoglobin, each of them has its own mechanism of development and prerequisites for its occurrence, but we will consider the most common causes and symptoms of this pathology.

Why does the color of blood fade?

The reasons for low hemoglobin, in addition to climate or pregnancy status, can arise from many circumstances:

Obviously, if you list the reasons for low hemoglobin for each form of anemia, and then add them up, there will be much more of them.

How does anemia manifest?

Symptoms indicating low hemoglobin, as well as the reasons: there are general ones, and there are purely specific ones. For example, the deposition of iron in unusual places with sideroachrestic anemia leads to the appearance of various pathologies: (Fe accumulates in the pancreas), cirrhosis of the liver (in the heart), eunuchoidism (in the gonads), but this does not mean that the same troubles will come out with other forms.

Meanwhile, Reduced hemoglobin can be assumed by some signs:

• Pale (sometimes with a yellowish tint), dry skin, scratches that heal poorly.
• Seizures in the corners of the mouth, cracks on the lips, painful tongue.
• Brittle nails, split ends, dull hair.
• Muscle weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, lethargy, depression.
• Decreased concentration, flashing “flies” before the eyes, intolerance to stuffy rooms.
• Drooling at night, frequent urge to urinate.
• Decreased immunity, poor resistance to seasonal infections.
• Headaches, dizziness, possible fainting.
• Shortness of breath, attacks of rapid heartbeat.
• Enlarged liver and/or spleen (a sign that is not characteristic of all forms).

Clinical manifestations of anemia increase as the process develops and progresses.

Above normal

A high level of hemoglobin can be a sign of blood thickening and risk, a symptom of hematological diseases (polycythemia) and other pathologies:

1. Malignant neoplasms, the cells of which are in great need of oxygen;
2. Bronchial asthma and cardiopulmonary failure;
3. A consequence of burn disease (poisoning by toxins released from dead cells);
4. Impaired protein synthesis in the liver, which could interfere with the release of water from the plasma (liver disease);
5. Fluid loss due to diseases of the intestinal tract (obstruction, poisoning, infections).

In addition to determining hemoglobin, which is an important indicator, in cases of diabetes mellitus, glycated hemoglobin is determined, which is a biochemical test.

It is considered a very important diagnostic criterion based on the property of Hb to create a strong bond with glucose, so its increase may indicate an increase in blood sugar over a long period of time (approximately 3 months - this is the lifespan of red blood cells). The norm of glycated hemoglobin is in the range of 4 – 5.9%. Increased hemoglobin containing glucose indicates the development of complications of diabetes (retinopathy, nephropathy).

It is not recommended to deal with elevated hemoglobin levels (either with or without sugar) on your own. In the first case, you need to treat diabetes mellitus, and in the second you should look for the cause and try to eliminate it with the help of adequate therapeutic measures, because otherwise you can only worsen the situation.

Little secrets

In order to increase hemoglobin in the blood, you need to know the reason for its drop, just in case. You can consume foods that increase hemoglobin (iron, B vitamins) as much as you like, but if they are not properly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, then you may not see success. Most likely, first you will have to undergo a set of examinations, including the very scary and unloved FGDS (fibrogastroduodenoscopy) in order to exclude pathology of the stomach and duodenum.

As for products that increase hemoglobin, this also has its own nuances. Many plant sources are rich in iron (pomegranate, apples, mushrooms, seaweed, nuts, legumes, melons), but humans are naturally a carnivore and absorb Fe well with proteins, such as:

• Veal;
• Beef;
• Hot lamb;
• Lean pork (by the way, lard, whatever you season it with, will not add iron);
• Chicken is not very suitable, but goose and turkey can easily pass for foods that increase hemoglobin;
• Chicken eggs are low in iron, but contain a lot of vitamin B 12 and folic acid;
• There is a lot of iron in the liver, but it is there in the form of hemosiderin, which is practically not absorbed (!), and we should not forget that the liver is a detoxification organ, so you probably shouldn’t get too carried away.

What can help the absorption of necessary substances? Here you really need to look carefully. So that the efforts and money spent on the diet are not in vain, and so that home treatment brings good results, You need to remember some dietary features for anemia:

1. Ascorbic acid greatly promotes the absorption of iron from other foods, so citrus fruits (oranges, lemons) will complement the diet well and help raise hemoglobin at home.
2. Of the side dishes, buckwheat is the best way to increase Hb, millet porridge and oatmeal are good, but you don’t need to add butter and margarine, they still contain almost no iron.
3. It is not very useful to wash down lunch with strong tea, it inhibits the absorption of iron, but a rosehip drink, cocoa (without milk) or dark chocolate will complement an iron-enriched meal well.
4. Cheeses, cottage cheese, and milk should not be consumed simultaneously with foods that increase hemoglobin; they contain calcium, which interferes with the absorption of Fe.
5. Small (!) doses of dry red wine help to raise hemoglobin at home (this is prohibited in hospitals), but the main thing here is not to overdo it, because it will have the opposite effect, and even better, go to the pharmacy and buy hematogen, which is sold there in the form of toffee: both tasty and healthy.

Meat, buckwheat and rosehip decoction are, of course, wonderful, but only in cases of mild anemia (up to 90 g/l) and as an adjuvant for moderate anemia (up to 70 g/l), but if there is a pronounced form, then you definitely can’t do without the help of iron-containing drugs. Patients do not prescribe them to themselves, because, due to the development of complications and undesirable side effects (iron deposition in organs and tissues - secondary hemachromatosis), treatment requires constant laboratory monitoring and medical supervision.

Regarding other forms of anemia, it should be noted that it probably won’t be possible to increase hemoglobin at home with the help of foods and folk remedies; the underlying disease must be treated, and in this case it is better to trust a doctor.

Video: low hemoglobin - Dr. Komarovsky