Table of contents:
- 1. You are producing few red blood cells
- 2. Your erythrocytes are rapidly destroyed
- 3. You have lost blood
2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
The life hacker figured out why the blood test may worsen.
If the KLA showed low hemoglobin, you need to go to a therapist: anemia can cause fatigue, bouts of weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, palpitations and other troubles. The doctor will order tests for ferritin, serum iron, or vitamins C and B-12. Sometimes an ultrasound of the internal organs is required. What to do after the test will depend on the cause of the problem. They are conventionally divided into three groups Low hemoglobin count.
1. You are producing few red blood cells
Red blood cells carry hemoglobin. If they are formed less than the norm, then the amount of hemoglobin decreases. This is due to various pathologies.
Iron deficiency
Without iron ions, it is impossible to produce either high-quality erythrocytes or hemoglobin. This type of anemia Iron deficiency anemia can occur if the absorption process in the intestine is disturbed, little iron is supplied with food, or its concentration has decreased after blood loss.
What to do
Take Iron deficiency anemia iron tablets as directed by your doctor. In severe cases, the drug can be administered intravenously or even a blood transfusion.
Hypovitaminosis
When a person does not get enough Vitamin deficiency anemia C, B12, or folic acid, hemoglobin levels can also decrease. All due to the fact that these substances are involved in the division of red blood cells.
What to do
The doctor will prescribe vitamin complexes and a diet. The diet should include many foods rich in ascorbic and folic acid, as well as B12.
Kidney disease
In these organs, the hormone erythropoietin is synthesized, which normally stimulates the division of red blood cells. If chronic kidney disease develops, then their ability to produce hormones decreases, hemoglobin in the blood drops. Chronic kidney disease.
What to do
The artificial hormone erythropoietin helps Chronic kidney disease to restore the normal concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Sometimes iron tablets are additionally prescribed.
Cirrhosis
In cirrhosis of Cirrhosis, protein synthesis is impaired. Including those used to build hemoglobin. Also, due to liver disease, the absorption of nutrients in the intestines may deteriorate. All this gradually leads to the development of anemia.
What to do
Cirrhosis is incurable, so doctors usually prescribe Cirrhosis medications to support liver function. In severe cases, an organ transplant is needed.
Hypothyroidism
In this disease, Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), the thyroid gland produces less hormones. Therefore, the work of many internal organs is disrupted and anemia may develop.
What to do
You can normalize hemoglobin levels if you get rid of hypothyroidism. For this, endocrinologists prescribe thyroid hormone in tablets.
Chronic intestinal inflammation
Such pathologies include Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Because of them, the absorption of many nutrients, including vitamins and iron, necessary for the division of red blood cells and the synthesis of hemoglobin, deteriorates.
What to do
The therapist will prescribe Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and vitamins, and will adjust the diet. In severe cases, surgery will be required.
Blood cancer
Bone marrow cell division is impaired due to Leukemia leukemia, Multiple myeloma and other hematological cancers. Therefore, there are fewer red blood cells and hemoglobin.
What to do
To increase hemoglobin levels, it is necessary to achieve remission, in which the symptoms of blood cancer will partially or completely disappear. The hematologist will select an individualized treatment for Leukemia. This can be radiation or chemotherapy. Targeted and immunotherapy is suitable for some: the growth of cancer cells is stopped by exposure to certain molecules in the body. Sometimes a bone marrow transplant is done.
Other oncological diseases
Due to cancer of any organ, the metabolism in the body changes, and certain substances begin to be lacking. This means that the level of red blood cells decreases, they can no longer tolerate hemoglobin. Therefore, Cancer appears weakness, pallor and other symptoms of anemia.
What to do
Treatment will depend on the stage and severity of the disease. You may need surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
Rheumatoid arthritis
It is an autoimmune disease in which the body produces antibodies and begins to destroy its own tissues. In this case, the Rheumatoid arthritis of the kidney is often damaged. If this happens, they stop synthesizing the hormone erythropoietin, which is supposed to stimulate red blood cell division.
What to do
There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. But a doctor - a therapist or a rheumatologist - can prescribe drugs that will reduce the inflammatory process in the body, and therefore normalize the kidneys.
Lead poisoning
This metal Lead poisoning can be found in paint, old plumbing pipes, and sometimes in cans or cosmetics. If lead enters the body, it accumulates in the bones and internal organs, damaging the kidneys.
What to do
The doctor will prescribe a Lead poisoning drug that removes the metal from the body.
The action of drugs
Some drugs for HIV and cancer can lower hemoglobin.
What to do
Usually, in cancer or HIV therapy, the blood test is repeatedly taken to monitor the person's condition. If the doctor notices anemia, he may change the drug or prescribe additional drugs to increase hemoglobin.
2. Your erythrocytes are rapidly destroyed
In some pathological conditions, blood cells die faster than new ones appear.
Enlarged spleen
Normally, this organ must destroy old and damaged cells. But if the spleen is enlarged, it can destroy good red blood cells as well. This condition is called splenomegaly Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly). Symptoms are anemia, fatigue and frequent bleeding.
What to do
After the examination, the doctor may recommend removing the spleen.
Porphyria
It is a hereditary disease of Porphyria. In humans, the synthesis of hemoglobin is disrupted due to a lack of special enzymes. The toxic substance porphyrin accumulates in the blood, which can destroy red blood cells. Anemia occurs and the following symptoms appear:
- pain in the abdomen, chest, legs;
- red or brown urine;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- convulsions;
- violation of urination;
- increased blood pressure;
- mental disorders, hallucinations;
- blisters, redness and itching of the skin;
- burning pain when exposed to sunlight.
What to do
Porphyria treatment depends on the symptoms. Most likely, you will have to follow a diet all your life, do not smoke, give up alcohol, and protect your skin from the sun. Also, the doctor may prescribe hormones and drugs that will help reduce the synthesis of dangerous porphyrin in the body.
Hemolysis
In this condition, Hemolysis erythrocytes are intensively destroyed. Hemolysis develops due to infections, autoimmune diseases, or toxins. A person suddenly or gradually develops Hemolytic Anemia anemia. In some cases, it is so severe that it can lead to death.
What to do
It all depends on the condition of the person and the cause of hemolysis. Sometimes iron or folic acid supplements are sufficient for treatment. Some patients need drugs to suppress the immune system, while others need a blood transfusion.
Thalassemia
It is a rare hereditary blood thalassemia disorder in which a DNA mutation develops. It leads to the appearance of hemoglobin abnormal in structure, due to which the erythrocytes are destroyed. With this disease, the spleen enlarges, iron accumulates in the body, heart problems and bone deformities arise.
What to do
Usually the disease is diagnosed as Thalassemia in childhood, so the hematologist prescribes treatment early. This can be a blood transfusion, taking special medications to remove excess iron, or even a bone marrow transplant.
Sickle cell anemia
This is the name of the hereditary disease Sickle cell anemia, in which red blood cells are shaped like a sickle or crescent. Therefore, they get stuck in the vessels, quickly collapse, and a person develops anemia. This disease is associated with severe muscle pain, swelling, frequent infections, and an increased risk of stroke.
What to do
Treatment is usually started during childhood, as symptoms of the disease appear early. The hematologist prescribes Sickle cell anemia drugs that help slow the breakdown of red blood cells and reduce the symptoms of anemia. Sometimes a blood transfusion or stem cell transplant is required.
3. You have lost blood
If a person loses a lot of blood due to various injuries, operations, then hemoglobin does not always have time to recover. Therefore, anemia occurs. But most often three reasons lead to it Low hemoglobin count.
Bleeding in the digestive tract
With an ulcer or stomach cancer, intestinal polyps, the body loses a little blood. It cannot be seen in the feces, but anemia develops at the same time. With hemorrhoids, bleeding can also occur, which leads to a decrease in hemoglobin.
What to do
Medicines may be prescribed to treat the ulcer. If they do not help, you will have to undergo surgery. Intestinal polyps are removed surgically, and there are non-surgical methods to fight hemorrhoids.
Heavy menstruation
Due to the intense blood loss Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding), hemoglobin levels can also decrease. This is usually to blame:
- hormonal imbalance;
- dysfunction of the ovaries;
- uterine fibroids;
- endometrial polyps;
- endometriosis;
- cancer of the uterus or cervix;
- intrauterine device.
What to do
Perhaps the doctor will prescribe drugs to improve blood clotting, hormones. In some cases, you will have to do an operation.
Frequent donation of blood
Donating Blood Have questions about donating blood?, then tests within 2 weeks after the procedure may indicate anemia. Then the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells will recover. You can donate blood again no earlier than after 56 days. But in some people, the body does not have time to recover during this time. For example, due to improper diet or heavy periods.
What to do
If the anemia persists, the therapist will prescribe iron supplements to improve the composition of the blood.
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