What causes low hemoglobin in the blood. Low hemoglobin

29.12.2021

- a complex chemical compound, which includes iron. It is involved in the transport of oxygen to all tissues and organs. Insufficient levels of hemoglobin in the blood can lead to the development of many diseases. That is why you should regularly donate blood for analysis.

A decrease in hemoglobin in the blood can occur for various reasons. Among them are:

Blood loss. They can be overt and covert. The first type includes various abdominal operations, injuries, wounds, hemorrhoids or heavy menstruation. Hidden blood loss includes internal bleeding in the event of the development of diseases.
Absence or insufficient content of amino acids and vitamins that are necessary for the production of hemoglobin. Often the cause of vitamin C deficiency is an unbalanced diet. With insufficient content of B vitamins, helminthic invasion is observed.
Intestinal dysfunction. It can be gastritis, ulcer, colitis. They interfere with the proper absorption of iron and thin the lining of the stomach.
Severe infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis or. At the same time, processes begin to occur in the body that provoke the death of red blood cells.
. This violation occurs due to a decrease in the level. The organ is responsible for the proper functioning of all systems and organs, as well as for regulating the process of iron absorption.
Autoimmune diseases. They cause damage and destruction of healthy cells and tissues of the body. In addition, there is a spread of the inflammatory process, which provokes the development of glomerulonephritis, arthritis or.
Blood pathologies that are malignant in nature.
Various neoplasms formed in the internal organs.
Stress. They negatively affect the psycho-emotional state of a person and become the cause of a depressed state. Over time, negative emotions disrupt metabolic processes, which negatively affects the level of hemoglobin.
Wrong nutrition. The diet must include fresh fruits, berries and vegetables in sufficient quantities. A decrease in hemoglobin in the blood can also provoke a large amount of coffee, chocolate and cereals. This is due to the fact that these products slow down the absorption of iron.

In addition, a sedentary lifestyle can cause a decrease in hemoglobin levels, which leads to a slowdown in the movement of blood flow in the body. Thus, information about a sufficient amount begins to enter the brain, which includes hemoglobin. The body stops synthesizing the chemical compound, and its level drops.

Main signs and complications

Fatigue, weakness, pale skin and headaches are signs of anemia!

It is impossible to identify anemia without tests, since the symptoms are in many ways similar to many different diseases.

The most pronounced signs of insufficient hemoglobin levels include:

General weakness, dizziness, apathy and tinnitus.
Constant thirst.
Paleness and dryness of the skin.
Drowsiness, in some cases fainting is possible.
Increased fatigue, shortness of breath.
Rapid heartbeat and feeling short of breath.
Fading and hair loss.
Insomnia.
Frequent migraines.
The surface of the lips cracks.
Poor appetite or taste disturbance.
Fragility of the nail plates and the appearance of white spots on their surface.
Increased sweating.

All symptoms do not indicate the development of anemia and may indicate the presence of other diseases. That is why a thorough examination is required to establish the causes.

A decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood leads to the development of anemia.

According to statistics, it is observed in 90% of patients with low iron content. The disease can occur in various forms:

Light.
Average.
Heavy.

In severe form, there is a risk of developing heart failure and respiratory depression as a result of increased acidity.

Prolonged anemia also leads to a violation of the body's defenses. Thus, the likelihood of infection with infectious diseases and the development of complications after suffering colds increases significantly. This poses a threat not only to health, but also to human life.

Diagnostics

It helps to establish the content of hemoglobin in the blood. When prescribing a study, the patient should prepare for blood donation correctly.

To do this, you must follow a number of rules:

Stop taking medicines one week before the procedure. If it is impossible to fulfill this item, you need to discuss this with your doctor.
Donate blood in the morning.
Do not eat or drink for at least eight hours prior to your procedure.
On the eve of delivery, exclude fried foods from the diet.
Limit nervous strain and eliminate stressful situations.

Biological material is taken from a finger using a special scarifier, with which a specialist makes a small puncture, up to 3 mm deep. The resulting drop of blood is transferred to a glass slide, treated with a solution and sent to the laboratory.

Medical treatment

In case of establishing anemia, taking drugs to increase hemoglobin is indicated. All of them must be prescribed by the attending physician and taken in accordance with the dosage.

This is due to the presence of a large number of side effects in the form of irritation of the gastric mucosa, nausea and vomiting.

The most effective drugs are:

"Ferretab".
"Ferro-foilgamma".
"Totem".
"Maltofer".
"Hemopher".

The course of treatment depends on the severity of the course of the disease and ranges from 2 weeks to 3 months. In some cases, vitamin C is required. It is strictly forbidden to drink such drugs with milk, coffee or green tea.

Folk remedies

It is necessary to use traditional medicine recipes only after consulting with your doctor, as an allergic reaction and other undesirable effects may occur.

Among the recipes of traditional medicine are:

Decoction of wild rose with the addition of strawberry leaves. Rose hips and strawberries contain many vitamins, minerals and nutrients, including iron. The decoction is consumed throughout the day instead of tea or coffee.
Beet juice. It is consumed in a glass per day. But it has its own characteristics. First of all, you should know that freshly squeezed juice should not be drunk immediately after pressing. It must be put in the refrigerator for 4 hours. This is necessary in order to evaporate all the toxic compounds present in the root crop. The course of treatment depends on the severity of the pathology.
Infusion of currant berries. It is considered the most effective remedy not only for colds and flu, but also for. The composition of the currant includes a large amount of vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system.

All remedies are drunk for at least one month to achieve results. But it is worth remembering that when diagnosing anemia after undergoing a course of therapy, you should re-donate blood for analysis in order to establish the effectiveness of treatment.

Nutrition for iron deficiency anemia

In addition to the use of drugs and the use of traditional medicine recipes, patients are recommended to follow a specially designed diet. It includes foods containing a large amount of vitamins, minerals and iron.

Foods to eat for anemia include:

Liver beef, chicken, pork.
Red meat.
Blackcurrant, which contains vitamin C in sufficient quantities.
Buckwheat.
Peaches, apples of various varieties and plums.
Pomegranates and prunes. They contain a large amount of iron.
Rosehip and dried apricots.

The diet should also include seafood, nuts such as peanuts, cashews, wheat bran and potatoes. Patients suffering from anemia are recommended to consume brewer's yeast, cranberries and raspberries. From berries you can make decoctions, infusions, compotes.

Particularly effective is the juice of carrots and beets, which is consumed half a glass a day. But it should be remembered that freshly squeezed beetroot juice must first be defended in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

When compiling a menu, it is important for patients to consider that foods high in folic acid should be in the diet.

These include: d nyni, watermelons, peas and green onions, citrus fruits, turnips, grapes, pomegranate, cheese, cottage cheese. But you need to use them separately, as they contain more calcium. It slows down the absorption of iron.

You can learn more about how to raise the level of hemoglobin in the blood from the video:

In order to exclude the development of anemia, experts recommend following a number of simple rules:

Healthy food. You can not abuse fast food and fast food. It is also important to reduce the amount of fatty foods you eat. The diet should include meat, dairy products and fresh vegetables, fruits and berries.
Donate blood regularly for analysis. This will help control blood levels and other chemical compounds.
Eat eggs, dairy products, fish. They contain a vitamin that is involved in the process of formation in human blood.
Introduce vegetables, berries, fruits and herbs into the diet.
Keep the body in good shape. To do this, you need to exercise regularly. Doctors recommend swimming, skiing, aerobics and fitness. Physical exercise helps improve blood circulation and overall well-being.
If weakness, constant fatigue, apathy, headaches, dizziness, migraines and other symptoms appear, you should contact a specialist.
Walking in the fresh air will help to replenish the supply of oxygen. That is why you need to go out into the fresh air every day and take long leisurely walks.

diagnosed in most patients. This is due to improper diet or lifestyle, as well as lack of physical activity. If symptoms appear, you should contact a specialist to undergo an examination and identify the cause of a decrease in hemoglobin. Lack of therapy can lead to serious consequences.

Iron deficiency in the body leads to the development of iron deficiency anemia. The reasons for the low level of hemoglobin in the blood can be different, for normal life it is necessary to restore the norm and maintain it.

How to understand that low hemoglobin: symptoms

The circulatory system provides communication between organs and systems, is responsible for trophic function and oxygen delivery to tissues. Oxygen in the blood binds directly to hemoglobin, thus moving around the body.

A decrease in hemoglobin leads to malnutrition and energy supply to tissues, including the heart muscle and brain. The lowered level makes itself felt:

headache, dizziness;
weakness, rapid fatigue;
drowsiness;
lowering blood pressure, irregular heartbeat;
pallor of the skin.

Iron deficiency affects the appearance: the skin becomes dry, rough, flaky. "" appear in the corners of the mouth - cracks that do not heal for a long time, hurt, bleed. , hair, grows back for a very long time and poorly, the hairstyle is thinning. Among women .

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Hemoglobin, the red pigment in the blood, carries oxygen to the tissues and takes in carbon dioxide. The main component...

Why can hemoglobin be lowered

There are a lot of reasons that provoke a long-term decrease in blood hemoglobin:

Iron deficiency anemia is a violation of the formation of red blood cells, resulting from a lack of iron or the inability to fully absorb it;
Significant blood loss - prolonged menstrual bleeding, trauma, surgery, hidden bleeding;
Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - atrophic gastritis, inflammatory processes in the intestines, dysbacteriosis, hemorrhoids;
Autoimmune disorders (lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis);
Blood cancer;
Diseases of the red bone marrow;
Infectious diseases - hepatitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia;
malignant formations.

Below normal levels are often observed during pregnancy, this is due to an increase in circulating blood volume and hormonal changes. In infants, indicators below the norm may be associated with artificial feeding with an insufficient amount of iron, or pathologies that prevent its full absorption.

A decrease in the level may indicate the presence of another disease, the symptom of which is anemia: pathology of the female reproductive system, gastrointestinal tract. Not the last role is played by heredity.

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For normal human life, a sufficient amount of iron is needed in the body, which enters ...

How to determine the level of hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells, erythrocytes. It consists of a protein part and iron atoms connected to it by a chemical bond. He also has the ability to attach oxygen, transfer it from the lungs to the tissues and give it to the "delivery point".

Iron enters the body with food and vitamin-mineral complexes. It is very important that the body has the opportunity to fully absorb the incoming iron. For this, it is necessary to maintain a sufficient level of B vitamins and, first of all, B 12, folic acid.

The blood rate varies and depends on several factors: gender, age, body weight.

In an adult male, a concentration of 130 to 170 g / l is considered normal. The greater the muscle mass, the higher the indicator will be, since hemoglobin is affected by steroid hormones.

In women, the rate is slightly lower, from 120 to 150 g / l of blood. During pregnancy, the lower threshold drops to 110 g / l.

In childhood, in boys and girls, the hemoglobin norm is the same:

from birth to 14 days - 135-195 g / l;
up to a year - 125 -165 g / l;
from a year - 110-130 g / l;
7 years - 115-135 g / l;
adolescence - 125-145 g / l.

How to take a blood test

To determine the level, a general blood test is taken, from a finger, on an empty stomach. On the eve it is not recommended to smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, eat fatty and fried foods, physically or mentally overwork.

The intake of certain medications distorts the picture, therefore, before taking the tests, it is necessary to warn the attending physician about drug therapy.

The consequences of a chronic decrease in hemoglobin

A decrease in the indicator adversely affects the state of the body as a whole. The lack of hemoglobin is manifested by weakness, fatigue and apathy.

There are dizziness, fainting, drowsiness.
Decreased performance.
The skin is dry, pale, peeling, cracking.
The heart rhythm is disturbed, the pressure drops, headaches haunt. Hair falls out, nails exfoliate, grow poorly.
The tone of smooth muscles decreases, involuntary urination, convulsions may occur.

The immune system reacts to a decrease in hemoglobin: the most insignificant infection threatens with serious complications.

Insufficient hemoglobin in a pregnant woman adversely affects the health of the fetus and the course of pregnancy:

low attachment or placenta previa;
decreased muscle tone of the uterus;
hypoxia - insufficient blood supply to the fetus;
delay / stop intrauterine development;
fetal hypotrophy;
violations in the child from the respiratory and nervous system;
amyotrophy;
retardation in mental and physical development.

How to increase hemoglobin levels

Medically

Iron supplements are not the same. In some, iron is in an accessible divalent form, in others it is indigestible trivalent. Absorption is promoted by ascorbic and succinic acid.

Among the popular medicines are maltofer, ferrum lek, hemofer prolongatum, tardiferon, aktiferrin, venofer, ferkoven and others.

Some of them are intended for oral administration, some are administered intravenously or intramuscularly.

Courses of taking iron preparations are long, from several months to a year. The drug must be prescribed by a doctor.

Eating Right

With the help of food, it is not easy to cure serious anemia, but it is necessary to change the diet, to focus on healthy foods.

The menu must include:

beef, chicken meat;
offal;
buckwheat, beans;
onions, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkin;
greenery;
fruits - green apples, bananas, pomegranates, peaches, apricots, plums, quinces, persimmons;
dried fruits;
nuts;
fruit and vegetable juices.

What to do if anemia is not treatable? In severe cases of chronic anemia, doctors perform a blood transfusion.

Hemoglobin levels need to be monitored. Feeling the symptoms of anemia, take a blood test to start treatment of the disease in a timely manner.

Hemoglobin is a complex iron-containing protein in the blood that is able to form reversible chemical bonds with oxygen and transport it to the cells of the body (and also remove carbon dioxide). Accordingly, all dangerous consequences are associated with the possibility of oxygen deficiency.

Normally, its indicators should correspond to:

in childhood - around 110;
for adult women - 120 - 140, and during pregnancy - 110 - 130;
for adult men - 130 - 160.

A sustained drop in hemoglobin levels is called anemia and has many forms, depending on the cause.

Causes of a decrease in hemoglobin levels

The level of hemoglobin can decrease for various reasons: there are common for all people, typically female, male and children. Let's consider them in more detail.

General

Typical for all groups include:

Large blood loss in injuries - hemoglobin decreases along with the amount of blood lost.
Small but regular blood loss - with hemorrhoids, ulcers, diseased gums.
Poor nutrition - unbalanced food does not give the body vitamins and iron in the right quantities.
Atrophy of the glands of the gastrointestinal tract - chronic gastritis often leads to thinning of the walls of the stomach and intestines and atrophy of the glands that produce enzymes that can absorb iron, micro and macro elements.
Pathologies of the bone marrow - in this case, the process of hematopoiesis itself is disrupted, even with a sufficient amount of the substances necessary for this.
Worms - have time to consume all the nutrients before they enter the bloodstream.
Tuberculosis, hepatitis and other serious diseases that require long-term use of potent drugs.
Incorrectly calculated weight loss diets.
Diseases of the endocrine system.
Malarial fever.

Women's

Low may be due to:

heavy menstruation and uterine bleeding - also the amount of hemoglobin decreases due to blood loss;
pregnancy with a sharply increasing need for iron and vitamins.
age-related restructuring of the endocrine and reproductive systems - usually occurs in the period of 40 - 50 years, sometimes earlier or later, at this time hemoglobin may decrease due to the redistribution of substances.

Men's

Causes of low hemoglobin in men:

improperly organized workouts with excessive load;
tumor diseases of the prostate;
hemophilia, in which a trifling wound can provoke acute blood loss (women do not suffer from this disease).

Baby

Low hemoglobin in a child may be due to:

birth trauma;
non-nutritious mother's milk in infancy, when complementary foods have not yet been introduced;
infection of the mother during pregnancy with dangerous rash infections - measles, scarlet fever, chickenpox, rubella, etc .;
adolescence - in children at the age of 10 - 12 there is a slight failure in hormones, and hemoglobin may also fall;
hypoxia or asphyxia during childbirth (oxygen starvation).

Symptoms

With anemia, the supply of oxygen to the cells of the body is disrupted, and, of course, this affects the appearance of a person and his condition. In the initial stages, low hemoglobin does not reveal itself with any visible symptoms, except for mild weakness and occasional dizziness. With anemia of moderate severity, signs such as:

chronic fatigue - even if you did not overwork;
deterioration of the condition of the hair - they become dull, brittle, fall out strongly;
fragility of nails - they exfoliate, change pink color to blue-black or yellowish;
the need to eat foods that are strange at first glance - you want raw minced meat, eggs or chalk;
distortion of olfactory sensations - they begin to like sharp chemical smells: paint, exhaust gas from cars, varnish, solvents;
headaches with photophobia.

If you do not take any measures, the above symptoms are also added:

noise in ears;
shortness of breath, which occurs not only when walking, but also at rest, in order to compensate for the lack of oxygen due to deeper and more frequent breaths.

In women, they may not appear, even with a significant shortage of it - up to 90 g / l. blood. This leads to various complications in treatment. The fastest and surest way to check if you have anemia is to donate blood for a general analysis. In addition, if you have gone on a diet, decided to follow a vegetarian lifestyle, or are losing a lot of blood every month, pay attention to your condition and do not let anemia progress.

Whatever the causes of low hemoglobin in men, its symptoms are more pronounced due to gender and physiological sensitivity - this allows you to start therapy at an early stage.

In a child, especially a very small one, it is difficult to detect anemia in time due to the fact that he will not be able to explain what is bothering him. Pay attention to the following signs:

unhealthy pallor - it is hemoglobin that gives the blood a red color, and it should be noticeable under the skin, where it is thin and dotted with many small vessels - on the cheeks and the tip of the nose (this is the blush);
permanent lack of appetite;
drowsiness and lethargy;
red tongue without plaque (with some types of anemia with deficiency of B12 and folic acid);
the desire to eat something inedible - a lump of earth, a piece of clay, etc.

Consequences

As mentioned above, the main thing that low hemoglobin is dangerous for is oxygen starvation for the whole organism. However, this does not mean that you will immediately feel some serious consequences - a person adapts to the condition, and the respiratory system can for some time compensate for the lack of hemoglobin with the frequency and depth of breaths. This is the insidiousness of anemia - due to tolerable and mild symptoms, you can miss the chance to cure it in time.

Reduced hemoglobin can lead to dermatological infections and inflammation of the mucous membranes. These diseases take a chronic form and cannot be treated until their root cause is eliminated.

If anemia is allowed to go into severe stages, the work of the cardiovascular system is disrupted. With irregular breathing, the heart is working for wear and tear, you can imagine what this means for a weakened body.

The nervous system suffers first when hemoglobin is low. This is fraught with serious disorders, pain, tics, hand tremors, and nervous breakdowns. Such disorders are experienced much harder than any other consequences of anemia, and are treated much longer.

What threatens low hemoglobin, in addition to the above? Often it is a harbinger of serious diseases that have not yet manifested themselves symptomatically. The sooner pathology is detected, the better. Sometimes life depends on the speed of their detection.

Low hemoglobin has various causes and consequences, therefore, for effective therapy, you need to consult a doctor and determine exactly why it arose. Do not try to cope with the problem on your own: buy iron supplements or change your diet. If you have atrophy of the walls of the stomach, then diet number 11 will not lead to anything. With all potions enriched with iron, they will be useless.

Hemoglobin (HB, HGB) is often talked about without even knowing, but only suspecting its importance in the human body. , popularly called anemia, or, as a rule, are 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 the level of hemoglobin is associated with the development of iron deficiency anemia, it often occurs in adolescents, young girls, during pregnancy, so the main focus in this article will be on what is most interesting and understandable to the patient, because the patient will not independently engage in any any severe form of hemolytic anemia.

Four hemes + globin

The hemoglobin molecule is a complex protein (chromoprotein) consisting of four hemes and a globin protein. Heme, in the center of which is divalent (Fe 2+), is responsible for the binding of oxygen in the lungs. By combining 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 include participation in the regulation of acid-base balance, because it is one of the four buffer systems that maintain a constant pH of the internal environment at a level of 7.36 - 7.4.

In addition, being localized inside red blood cells, hemoglobin regulates blood viscosity, prevents water from escaping 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 to carbon monoxide (CO), transforming into carboxyhemoglobin(HHbCO), which is a very strong compound that significantly reduces the physiological ability of the 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% CO2 with air for 80% Hb to combine with it and create a strong bond, leading to the death of the organism. It should be noted that smokers in this regard are constantly at risk, in their blood the content of carboxyhemoglobin is 3 times higher than the norm (N - up to 1%), and after a deep puff it is 10 times higher.

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

A very dangerous state for the hemoglobin molecule is the replacement of ferrous iron in heme (Fe 2+) with trivalent (Fe 3+) with the formation of a form hazardous to health - methemoglobin. Methemoglobin sharply inhibits the transfer of oxygen to the organs, creating unacceptable conditions 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 recessive inheritance of a special form of enzymopathy (low activity of an enzyme capable of restoring metHb to normal hemoglobin).

Such a necessary and remarkable complex protein in all respects, as hemoglobin, localized in erythrocytes, can become a very dangerous substance if, for any reason, it enters the plasma. Then it becomes very toxic, causing oxygen starvation of tissues (hypoxia) and poisoning the body with its decay products (iron). In addition, large Hb molecules that have not been destroyed and continue to circulate in the blood enter the renal tubules, close them and thereby contribute to the development of acute renal failure (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's disease, etc.);
Transfusion of blood incompatible for group erythrocyte antigens (,).

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

Limits of normal values

Something, but the norm of hemoglobin, perhaps, can not be painted. This is one of the indicators, the normal values \u200b\u200bof which, without hesitation, most people will name. However, we allow ourselves to recall that the norm for women is slightly different from that for men, which is understandable from the point of view of physiology, because the female sex loses some 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 fetal (HbF) hemoglobin provides oxygen to the fetal tissues, its level also decreases slightly (!) in the mother. This is because the volume of plasma during pregnancy increases, the blood thins (in proportion to the decrease in red blood cells). Meanwhile, such a phenomenon is considered a physiological state, so there can be no talk of any significant drop in the level of Hb, as a norm. In this way, for normal hemoglobin, depending on gender and age, the following values \u200b\u200bare taken:

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

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

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

0.8 - 1.0 (erythrocytes are normochromic - no problem);
Less than 0.8 (hypochromic - anemia);
Greater than 1.0 (Er hyperchromic, cause?).

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

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

Why does hemoglobin level change?

The level of hemoglobin to some extent depends on:

The seasons (decreases in autumn, probably because people harvest and prefer plant foods),
The nature of nutrition: vegetarians have lower Hb;
Climate and terrain (where there is little sun, anemia is more common, and in high mountainous areas, hemoglobin rises);
Lifestyle (active sports and intense physical work for a long time increase hemoglobin);
Oddly enough, both clean fresh air and smoking have almost the same effect on Hb levels (they increase it). Most likely, in smokers, this indicator includes hemoglobin altered 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 smoker's erythrocytes?

Hemoglobin is low

“I have low globin,” said a woman who stayed too long in the maternity hospital and explained the essence of the problem to curious neighbors. Low hemoglobin, unlike high, is quite common, 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.

Decreased or low hemoglobin along with a decrease in the number of red blood cells is called anemia(anemia), for men, anemia is considered to be a drop in the level of Hb below 130 g / l, women are afraid of anemia if the hemoglobin content in erythrocytes 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). In this way, 6 main groups are most often considered:

Acute post-hemorrhagic anemia, that occurs after massive blood loss. It is clear that the causes of low hemoglobin here will be injuries, wounds, 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 products rich in this element. You can not know about IDA for a long time if you do not take a blood test for Hb, Er, CPU, etc.
sideroahrestic anemia, associated with a violation of the 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 result of treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs (tubazid).
Megaloblastic, B12 and/or folic acid deficiency(Addison-Birmer disease). This form was once called malignant anemia.
hemolytic anemia, united by a common feature - the accelerated decay 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 a symptom of low hemoglobin, each of them has its own development mechanism and prerequisites for occurrence, but we will consider the most common causes and symptoms of this pathology.

Why does the color of blood turn pale?

The causes of low hemoglobin, in addition to the climate or the state of pregnancy, can stem from many circumstances:

Obviously, if you list the causes of low hemoglobin in each form of anemia, and then summarize, then there will be much more of them.

How does anemia manifest itself?

Symptoms indicating low hemoglobin, as well as causes: there are general ones, but there are purely specific ones. For example, the deposition of iron in places unusual for it 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 sex glands), but this does not mean that the same troubles will come out with other forms.

Meanwhile, low hemoglobin can be assumed by some signs:

Pale (sometimes with a yellowish tinge) dry skin, scratches that do not heal well.
Seizures in the corners of the mouth, cracks in the lips, sore tongue.
Brittle nails, split ends dull hair.
Muscle weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, lethargy, depression.
Decreased concentration, flashing "flies" before the eyes, intolerance to stuffy rooms.
Salivation at night, frequent urge to urinate.
Reduced immunity, poor resistance to seasonal infections.
Headaches, dizziness, possible fainting.
Shortness of breath, heart palpitations.
Enlargement of the 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 clotting and risk, a symptom of hematological diseases (polycythemia) and other pathologies:

Malignant neoplasms, the cells of which are in great need of oxygen;
Bronchial asthma and cardiopulmonary insufficiency;
A consequence of a burn disease (poisoning with toxins released from dead cells);
Violations of the synthesis of proteins in the liver, which could prevent the release of water from the plasma (liver disease);
Fluid loss in diseases of the intestinal tract (obstruction, poisoning, infection).

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

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 be evidence of an increase in blood sugar for a long time (approximately 3 months - this is the lifetime of red blood cells). The rate of glycated hemoglobin is in the range of 4 - 5.9%. Elevated hemoglobin containing glucose indicates the development of complications of diabetes (retinopathy, nephropathy).

With an increased level of hemoglobin (even with sugar, even without it), it is not recommended to fight on your own. In the first case, it is necessary to treat diabetes mellitus, and in the second, one should look for the cause and try to eliminate it with the help of adequate therapeutic measures, otherwise the situation can only aggravate.

little secrets

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. Most likely, to begin with, you will have to undergo a set of examinations, including a very terrible and unloved FGDS (fibrogastroduodenoscopy) to exclude the pathology of the stomach and duodenum 12.

As for products that increase hemoglobin, there are also some nuances here. Many plant sources are rich in iron (pomegranate, apples, mushrooms, sea kale, nuts, legumes, gourds), but a person is a natural predator and Fe is well absorbed with proteins, such as:

Veal;
Beef;
Hot lamb;
Low-fat pork (by the way, lard, don’t season it with iron, it won’t add it);
Chicken doesn't work very well, but goose and turkey can pass for hemoglobin-boosting foods;
There is not enough iron in chicken eggs, but there is 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 (!), besides, one should not forget that the liver is a detoxification organ, so, probably, you should not get too carried away.

What can help the absorption of the necessary substances? This is where you need to look carefully. So that the efforts and money spent on the diet are not in vain, and home treatment is good, It is necessary to remember some features of dietary nutrition for anemia:

Ascorbic acid greatly contributes to the absorption of iron from other products, so citrus fruits (oranges, lemons) will complement the diet well and help raise hemoglobin at home.
Of the side dishes, buckwheat is best able to increase Hb, millet porridge and oatmeal are good, but you can not add butter and margarine, they still contain almost no iron.
It is not very useful to wash down lunch with strong tea, it inhibits the absorption of iron, but rose hips, cocoa (without milk) or dark chocolate will complement an iron-fortified meal well.
You can not use simultaneously with products that increase hemoglobin, cheeses, cottage cheese, milk, they contain calcium, which prevents the absorption of Fe.
Small (!) doses of dry red wine help to raise hemoglobin at home (in hospitals this is prohibited), but the main thing here is not to overdo it, because there will be the opposite effect, or even better - go to the pharmacy and buy hematogen, which is sold there in in the form of toffees: both tasty and healthy.

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

With regard to other forms of anemia, it should be noted that it is probably impossible to increase hemoglobin at home with the help of products and folk remedies, you need to treat the underlying disease, and in this case it is better to trust the doctor.

Video: low hemoglobin - Dr. Komarovsky

Each of us during our lives many times takes a blood test from a finger. Coming to the doctor for the result of the analysis, we hear from him certain numbers about the amount of hemoglobin, which are always in a high place in terms of the significance of indicators, and, accordingly, indicate the state of the body.

Let's try to figure out what this sonorous word means - hemoglobin, and in what cases its deficiency occurs, called anemia. Hemoglobin is a two-component element of red blood cells and consists of a protein (globin) and an iron-containing (heme) part. Blood hemoglobin is present in our body in several forms:

Oxyhemoglobin is hemoglobin + oxygen. It is contained in arterial blood and causes its scarlet color;
Restored hemoglobin - the one that gave oxygen to the tissues;
Carboxyhemoglobin is hemoglobin + carbon dioxide. It is found in venous blood and forms its dark cherry color.

Functions of hemoglobin in the body

Transfer of oxygen from lungs to tissues
Transport of protons and carbon dioxide from tissues back to the lungs
Maintaining blood pH

Hemoglobin norm

A normal level of hemoglobin indicates the normal physiological functions for which it is responsible. With indicators below the indicated ranges, we are talking about anemia - a condition dangerous for the body.

The main causes of low hemoglobin

with oncological diseases, kidney diseases, endocrine insufficiency, chronic infections - when there is a violation of erythropoiesis or the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow
starvation - often women who follow a diet for weight loss develop anemia
destruction of red blood cells or shortening of their lifespan in the blood (less than 4 months)
acute or chronic bleeding
deficiency of iron, vitamins B 12, C, folic acid and pyridoxine
treatment with aspirin or (see).

It should be noted that anemia often accompanies heart failure and is diagnosed in 5-55% of cases. A study of a selective group of patients in the amount of about a thousand with chronic heart failure led to the following results:

low hemoglobin is associated with increased urea and creatinine and worsening hemodynamics
hemoglobin level less than 136 g/l increased the risk of progression of heart failure to the terminal stages
hemoglobin level acted as an independent risk factor for death in this pathology - each drop in hemoglobin level by 10 g/l increased the relative risk of death by 13%

Diagnosis of anemia

All anemias are secondary conditions and in the bulk act as a symptom of the underlying disease. Differential diagnosis of anemia is conditionally divided into 2 stages. In practice, two stages of diagnostics are carried out simultaneously.

At the first stage, the pathogenetic variant of anemia is determined., namely the main mechanism that causes a decrease in hemoglobin. In fact, this is a syndromic diagnosis, since all pathogenetic variants of hemoglobin deficiency are only a separate syndrome. This step is carried out in the laboratory. At this stage, the following studies are carried out:

Determination of a hemogram using a hematological analyzer
Examination of a blood smear with counting the number of reticulocytes and drawing up a leukocyte formula
Biochemical analysis of blood serum with the determination of iron content, and the total ability of serum to bind iron
Microscopic analysis of bone marrow punctate

The second stage of the diagnostic search- This is entirely the prerogative of the attending physician. The doctor's task is to diagnose the pathological process, which is the basis of the anemic syndrome in each individual. Simply put, the attending physician identifies the causes of anemia in the patient. As a rule, the doctor acts by the method of exclusion. The most dangerous conditions are initially excluded:

hidden bleeding (gastrointestinal tract, outflow of blood into the chest cavity, into the abdominal cavity, into the joint cavity, into the pericardial cavity)
oncological pathology, for which the patient is assigned additional studies (for example, MRI of the whole body to exclude oncology, fecal occult blood analysis to exclude bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, etc.)
a thorough questioning of the patient is carried out with the clarification of all the symptoms that alarm the person or have never been shown before
the nature of nutrition is necessarily specified, whether drug therapy was carried out, and with what drugs

Symptoms of low hemoglobin in children

If low hemoglobin is determined in a child, symptoms can be from different systems and organs. But their combination makes it possible to suspect this condition.

Symptoms of low hemoglobin in women and men

The most typical symptoms of low hemoglobin in women and men are similar to those in children. However, adults do not always pay attention to disturbing manifestations in time, thereby aggravating their condition.

What are the common symptoms of low hemoglobin?

it's a constant weakness
drowsiness, fatigue
headaches, dizziness
tachycardia, low blood pressure, and even fainting

A decrease in hemoglobin in the prevailing majority of cases is an indirect sign of iron deficiency in body tissues. Accordingly, the following symptoms are noted:

changes in nails in the form of brittleness, thinning, delamination
dry skin and painful itchiness
hair loss or slow growth
violations of taste and smell (eating chalk, earth, clay, raw minced meat, dough; taking smells of acetone, paints, exhaust gases)
causeless subfebrile condition up to 37.5 C

The appearance of such people also has characteristic features. In general, the person looks haggard and sickly, there is pallor of the skin, sometimes even yellowness (see), cyanosis of the lips, a bright red color of the surface of the tongue.

However, the clinical picture does not always allow one to suspect low hemoglobin. Pathology can be asymptomatic, so it is necessary to regularly undergo a preventive examination.

If low hemoglobin is detected during pregnancy, the symptoms are as described above. The only thing is that pregnant women are characterized by low body temperature, and not subfebrile condition. Any of these symptoms in pregnant women is a signal for immediate medical attention (see).

Treatment of various types of anemia

There is no universal drug for anemia yet. Treatment for low hemoglobin depends on the causes of this condition and is always long-term.

Be sure to adjust the diet with the inclusion of berries, fruits and vegetables that improve the renewal of red blood cells and hematopoiesis in general: onions, garlic, strawberries, lettuce, buckwheat. Be sure to eat red meat - the human body most absorbs iron from meat.

With massive blood loss, a blood transfusion is mandatory, restoring the volume of free blood. This is an extreme measure, however, the most effective, and sometimes the only possible, to save a life.
With a lack of iron, advising iron-containing drugs are prescribed: Tardiferon, Ferlatum, Ferumlek, Maltofer, Sorbifer, etc. (see full). In parallel with this group of drugs, vitamin C is prescribed, which contributes to better absorption of iron.
With a deficiency of folic acid, its artificial substitutes are prescribed in the form of medicines (vitohepat, folic acid).
With hypochromic anemia, hematopoietic drugs (hemostimulin, erythropoietin) are indicated.
With a deficiency of vitamin B-12, subcutaneous injections of the vitamin are carried out in a course of up to 6 weeks.

Folk remedies in the fight against low hemoglobin

If low hemoglobin is found, treatment with folk remedies is an effective practice in dealing with this dangerous condition.

and strawberry leaves strengthens the body as a whole and enriches it with vitamins. You can drink it instead of the usual tea during the day.
Fresh red beet juice, which is drunk one glass a day, has a good effect. A feature of beetroot juice is that it should not be drunk immediately after squeezing, as soon as juice is squeezed from fresh beets, it should be put in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours so that toxic compounds disappear, only after that the juice can be drunk.
An infusion of currant berries is rich in vitamin C and is good for anemia.

All the described medicinal formulations must be drunk for at least a month - only in this case they are effective. In general, all red fruits and berries are shown, as well as green vegetables. After the course of treatment, clinical tests are repeated for the effectiveness of therapy.