The first signs of anemia. Severe anemia: causes. Causes of B12 deficiency anemia

How dangerous is anemia and what are its consequences? This is a question asked by many people who are faced with pale skin and weakness. is a common disease that, at first glance, does not pose any danger. In fact, with anemia, death is also possible. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly pay attention to the symptoms of the disease and identify the cause.

Why is anemia dangerous?

The blood fluid of the human body contains platelets, leukocytes and red blood cells that perform specific functions. Anemia is characterized by pathological disorders in blood cells (red blood cells), which in turn consist of an important substance - hemoglobin. It gives not only the red color, but is also responsible for gas exchange (saturates internal organs with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide). With a lack of hemoglobin, anemia develops. Hemoglobin contains iron and protein parts, and if they are deficient, the substance is not produced in sufficient quantities. Thus, the whole danger lies in a decrease in the level of red blood cells, which leads to the development of diseases of many body systems.

Anemia is more related to female disease, since in men it manifests itself only in 10 cases out of 100. Based on statistical data, every fourth inhabitant of the globe suffers from anemia. This is especially true for pregnant women.

The “Live Healthy” program examines in detail the reasons for low hemoglobin levels and offers 3 interesting tests. You can see this in the presented video.

If anemia is not detected and treated in a timely manner, irreversible processes occur that lead to serious pathological diseases. This is facilitated by a decrease in hemoglobin levels, which weakens the immune system, that is, the protective functions of the body are lost. And this leads to frequent infection with viruses, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.

At the same time, the body launches compensatory functions, which enhances the work of the heart and circulatory system. Frequent contractions of the heart muscle lead to tissue wear, which causes heart failure. Against the background of a weakened body, the patient becomes overly irritable, an imbalance in the psycho-emotional background is detected, and pathologies of a neurological nature develop. In addition, concentration and memory are impaired, the sense of smell and taste changes, the structure of the skin and all mucous membranes is deformed.

Possible complications:

decreased immunity and, as a result, frequent morbidity;
increased heart rate leads to heavy stress, resulting in the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system;
during pregnancy there is a risk of miscarriage, and the fetus stops developing;
in childhood, growth and mental development stops;
pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and visual apparatus develop, respiratory system;
hypoxic coma occurs, which can be fatal. More details about anemic coma - this is one of the types of hypoxic coma.

Consequences of grade 3 anemia

Anemia has three main degrees of severity. The 3rd is considered the heaviest. U healthy person the hemoglobin level should be 120-180 g/l, with grade 3 - only 70 g/l. And this condition is already life-threatening for the patient, since the functionality of almost all body systems is disrupted. The most severe consequences for grade 3 anemia:

cardiogenic shock;
acute renal failure;
blood loss;
heart failure and subsequent stroke, heart attack, etc.

With advanced stage 3 anemia, there is a high risk of death, so it is important to contact the clinic at the slightest suspicion of anemia for examination and identification of pathology.

Consequences of anemia for women

The consequences of anemia in women are associated with organs that are considered sensitive to oxygen deprivation. So, the following occurs:

Digestive disorders and damage to the mucous organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
Deterioration of the excretory and detoxifying properties of the renal system and liver.
Pathological changes in the central nervous system, heart, blood vessels.
Affected reproductive system women and genitourinary system against the background of frequent infection.
The condition of the hair follicles and nail plate worsens.
The structure of the mucous membranes and teeth changes.
Skin diseases appear.

Causes of anemia

In medicine, there are only 3 main reasons for the development of anemia - loss large quantities blood, rapid breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) and decreased production of blood cells. However, there are factors that influence the causes of occurrence:

1. Genetic abnormalities:

disturbances in the production of congenital red blood cells;
abnormal structure of cells (erythrocytes);
spherocytosis;
Bassen-Kronzweig syndrome;
enzymatic abnormalities.

2. Malnutrition:

frequent strict diets;
lack of a balanced diet, which leads to a deficiency of vitamin C, B, microelements (iron, folic acid, etc.).

3. Impact of chronic diseases:

pathologies of the renal and cardiovascular systems;
liver diseases;
disorders in the autoimmune apparatus;
neoplasms of benign and malignant nature.

4. Presence of infectious pathologies:

hepatitis virus;
malarial pathogenic microorganisms;
cytomegalovirus;
toxoplasmosis;
obstructive bronchitis;
tuberculosis bacillus.

One more an important factor leading to the development of anemia is intoxication of the body (through pesticides and medications) and injury (burn, frostbite, fractures).

General symptoms of anemia for any age and gender:

pallor of the skin and lips, further cyanosis;
weakness and fatigue;
shortness of breath with little physical activity;
cramps and numbness in the limbs;
brittleness and splitting of nails, hair loss;
plaque and cracks in the corners of the lips;
trembling of the limbs and changes in taste and smell;
pain in the gastrointestinal tract;
dryness and cracking of the skin (particularly on the legs and arms).

In adults and in old age:

dizziness, fainting, loss of consciousness;
sensations of tinnitus, headache and insomnia;
disruption or cessation of the menstrual cycle in women;
weakening of potency in men;
aversion to food, resulting in anorexia;
increased angina pectoris, dementia.

IN childhood the following is added:

loss of interest in studying, as concentration decreases and memory deteriorates;
lethargy in games;
increased bleeding in the gums;
retarded physical and mental development;
disproportionality of appearance.

Anemia in newborns and adolescents

Anemia is also observed in newborn children. This is due, first of all, to the presence of anemia in the mother. This often happens when you neglect your own health during pregnancy. The disease is usually diagnosed immediately after birth. At untimely treatment the disease progresses to severe childhood anemia. There are features of childhood anemia. The child begins to intensively chew paper (most often with a stamp), chalk, sand and even earth. In addition, children prefer specific smells. For example, paints, acetone, glue and the like.

Childhood and adolescence are characterized by depression of the heart and blood vessels, which is manifested by irregular breathing, rapid heartbeat, and changes in blood pressure. Metabolism in all tissues and cells is disrupted, the child suffers from jaundice and frequent colds.

Learn about the features of anemia in childhood from this video in Dr. Komarovsky’s program.

Anemia in pregnant women

During pregnancy, a woman’s body requires more vitamins and minerals, since beneficial substances are supplied not only to her internal systems, but also to the fruit. Therefore, almost all pregnant women suffer from. If this is the 1st degree (mild), then it will be enough to follow a certain diet, which includes a number of necessary substances. But with more severe forms drug therapy will be required, which may negatively affect the development of the unborn child. Read more about anemia during pregnancy -.

Feature – when mild form Anemia affects only the mother's body, since all the nutrients in the required quantity are supplied to the child.

During pregnancy, the following unpleasant consequences may occur:

varicose veins and thrombosis;
threat of miscarriage and bleeding;
harm to the unborn child: anemia, mental and physical underdevelopment, lack of immunity, frequent morbidity after birth.

A huge number of people suffer from anemia, but not every person knows about it, which leads to the development of many pathological abnormalities. Therefore, it is extremely important to periodically visit doctors and take appropriate blood tests to determine the level of red blood cells. On early stages disease, getting rid of anemia is much easier than with a severe course of the disease.

Blood is the most important biological fluid that performs the function of transporting nutrients and gases throughout the body.

If there is a lack of any necessary elements in the blood, then this has a very detrimental effect on human health. To prevent this from happening, you need to know how to properly organize your lifestyle and diet so that your blood is healthy.

Red blood cells play a major role in this process, and a lack of hemoglobin in their composition often provokes anemia, symptoms and treatment folk remedies which will be discussed in this article.

Statistics show that almost a fifth of all people suffer from this blood disease. The disease is popularly called anemia, which has good reason: the reduced content of red blood cells has a significant impact on the functionality of the entire body.

Note!

The normal level of hemoglobin in the blood of men is considered to be 130 g/l, and for women - 120 g/l. When its concentration decreases, doctors talk about the development of anemia.

Causes of anemia

Various functional failures, injuries and congenital pathologies create the preconditions for more serious disorders. Official medicine identifies several causes of anemia:

lack of iron in the body;
deficiency of vitamins B 12 and B 9 (folic acid);
blood loss due to surgical intervention or injury;
disruption of red blood cell synthesis, changes in their structure and composition;
pregnancy;
internal bleeding (eg, menstruation);
diseases digestive system;
suffered a severe infection;
bad heredity;
autoimmune reaction.

Symptoms of the disease

How often do you see people who constantly feel weak and irritable? Of course, there are many reasons for this condition (for example, stress or extreme fatigue), but prolonged depression can also indicate physiological disorders. It is anemia that manifests itself in a chronic lack of mood and vital energy.

Usually, a patient with anemia is not able to stand on his feet for a long time, not to mention short runs: the heart begins to beat vigorously and shortness of breath occurs. In addition, the disease is accompanied by dizziness and blurred vision up to loss of consciousness, and frequent migraines significantly worsen overall health.

Physical exercises with anemia sometimes cause “stars” to appear before the eyes, so you should refrain from additional loads. In especially severe cases, these symptoms occur in patients even at rest.

Classification of the disease

Laboratory tests of the blood of patients with anemia show significant disturbances in its composition. In this regard, doctors classify the disease into several types.
Due to the occurrence:

large blood loss;
failure of red blood cell synthesis;
their destruction is too rapid.

By severity:

light;
average;
heavy.

By blood color:

hypochromic;
normochromic;
hyperchromic.

Due to the occurrence

Large blood loss is fraught with serious consequences for the body, which in this case does not receive all the necessary substances - the cells begin to gradually die.

If a person is not provided with timely medical care, then death is quite possible. It does not matter where the bleeding occurs: an open wound or internal damage equally destructive.

Violation of red blood cell synthesis

The mechanism of red blood cell formation is quite complex, and its importance for the body cannot be overestimated. If the bone marrow is damaged by severe infection or radiation, a person develops aplastic anemia, which can only be cured with complete hospitalization.

The concentration of red blood cells also decreases due to poor absorption of iron in the intestines or lack of iron intake in the body. In this situation, the bone marrow does not stop its function, but the quality of red blood cells noticeably decreases: they become pale and small.

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common form of pathology, and pregnant women are most often susceptible to it.

Lack of vitamins B 12 and B 9 in the body provokes the development megaloblastic anemia. This type of disease occurs in people who do not have the enzymes responsible for the absorption of these substances, but doctors also associate the form of the disease with a failure of DNA and RNA synthesis.

Sideroblastic anemia is caused by impaired iron utilization, which leads to a high concentration of erythrocyte precursor cells. As a result, the level of red blood cells drops, and anemia increasingly affects the body.

There are known cases of the disease developing under the influence of long-term drug therapy acute infection. Microbes live throughout the human body, so their destruction requires the use of antibiotics and other serious medications. In turn, this move contributes to excessive intoxication of the patient, which interferes with the normal synthesis of red blood cells - progresses drug anemia.

Red blood cells have a biconcave shape, which provides them with the ability to transport oxygen molecules and carbon dioxide. Some people are diagnosed with a congenital pathology of the structure of red blood cells: the cells are synthesized in a sickle-shaped or spherical shape. As a result, the entire body becomes inferior and very vulnerable to various diseases, such as jaundice.

Premature death of red blood cells

One of the reasons for the development of anemia is the too rapid destruction of red blood cells. The natural lifespan of red blood cells is approximately 4 months.

However, failures of the defense system sometimes lead to an autoimmune reaction, due to which leukocytes and lymphocytes destroy the body's own cells. The bone marrow does not have time to synthesize a sufficient number of red blood cells, which causes anemia.

By severity

Many people have experienced a decrease in hemoglobin levels in their blood without even realizing it.

Mild form of anemia Causes a lack of iron-containing foods, vegetables and fruits in the diet, as well as an addiction to coffee or tea. The hemoglobin concentration is at the level of 90 g/l, but still less than normal.

Moderate severity anemia is characterized by a protein content of 70 to 90 g/l, and it develops over serious reasons(For example, infectious disease or gastrointestinal disorder).

The most dangerous looking The disease is its severe form, which usually occurs as a result of severe bleeding or an autoimmune reaction. Hemoglobin in this case will fall below the level of 70 g/l, and the patient requires urgent hospitalization.

By the color of blood

Some doctors classify anemia by the color of the blood, which gives general idea about the nature of the illness. For example, a pale color indicates an iron deficiency, while a normal red color indicates a deficiency of vitamin B 12 or folic acid.

Hyperchromic anemia indicates an increased level of unbound hemoglobin - an autoimmune reaction destroys red blood cells.

How is anemia diagnosed?

Anemia is quite difficult for an unprepared person to determine, but the symptoms of the disease may be a reason to contact a medical facility.

First of all, the patient’s condition is characterized by pallor and chronic fatigue, but for an accurate diagnosis it is necessary laboratory analysis blood for several indicators:

total hemoglobin level;
concentration of cells in plasma (erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes);
structure of red blood cells;
hemoglobin content in red blood cells;
vitamin B 12 and folic acid levels.

Data from the laboratory allows the doctor to draw a conclusion about both the presence of anemia and the nature of the disease. In some situations it may be necessary additional examination, because anemia occurs for various reasons.

General principles of disease treatment

Therapy for any disease requires eliminating the causes, not the symptoms. Official medicine provides comprehensive information about the types of anemia, and its treatment directly depends on the form and severity of the disease.

Iron-deficiency anemia

Usually the disease occurs due to poor absorption of iron and its lack in the body. Therefore, all measures will be aimed specifically at eliminating these factors:

Prescribe eating foods containing iron (apples, pomegranates, liver, buckwheat, etc.).
Exclude tea and coffee from the diet, because These drinks interfere with the normal absorption of iron.
It is possible to use medications (Ferrum Lek, Conferon, etc.).
The course of treatment lasts up to six months.
In severe cases, artificial red blood cell transfusion is prescribed.

At 12 - and folate deficiency anemia

The deficiency of these substances is easily eliminated with the help of special dietary supplements, which must be taken in accordance with the doctor’s prescription. In addition, the diet is enriched with veal liver, sardines, salmon and other products containing vitamin B 12.

Folic acid can be obtained from common plants such as green salad, parsley, spinach, beets and many others.

Of course, natural ingredients are much safer for the body, but the use of medications (for example, Cyanocobalamin and Prednisolone) is also allowed, but they are prescribed exclusively by the attending physician.

Hemolytic anemia

This type of disease is the most difficult to treat and almost always requires surgical intervention. The destruction of red blood cells occurs for various reasons, but the main factor is improper function of the spleen.

Treatment of this form of anemia is carried out in several stages:

Accept hormonal drugs(glucocorticosteroids) 2-3 weeks.
The spleen is removed.
Immunosuppressants are prescribed after surgery.
If treatment is unsuccessful, then antilymphocyte globulin is prescribed, which artificially suppresses the activity of lymphocytes.
Additionally, plasmapheresis can be performed - collecting and purifying blood and then returning it to the patient’s body.

Treatment with folk remedies

Although there are many medications available on the pharmaceutical market for this dangerous disease, but the treatment of anemia with folk remedies has been carried out for centuries.

Nature has provided people with miraculous plants that, when correct use will alleviate the patient’s suffering and relieve the disease forever.

Carrots, beets and black radish

Wash and peel the vegetables.
Finely grate and squeeze out the juice.
Mix liquids in equal quantities.
Pour the mixture into a saucepan and place in the oven.
Simmer for 3 hours on low heat.
Adults take 1 tbsp. three times a day, and for children - 1 tsp.

Wormwood

Wormwood has long been known for its effect in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system. An alcoholic tincture of the plant has proven itself to be effective against anemia, however, giving such a drink to children and pregnant women is strictly prohibited.

100 g of May wormwood herb pour 1 liter of vodka.
Leave for 3 weeks.
Take 5 drops on an empty stomach.

Cocktail for anemia

This recipe helps well with iron deficiency anemia, treatment with folk remedies sometimes takes several months.

The medicine based on apple and pomegranate has a very pleasant taste and is suitable for both adults and children:

Squeeze juice from pomegranate, lemon, carrot and apple in a ratio of 2:1:1:1.
Stir and add 70 honey.
Pour everything into a jar, cover with a lid and leave for 2 days in the refrigerator.
Take 2 tbsp. three times a day.

meadow clover

Pour 10 g of plant roots with 1 glass of boiling water.
Leave for 45 minutes and strain.
Drink 2 tbsp. three times a day.

Lard based recipe

Melt 400 g of lard in a water bath.
Add 1 finely grated apple to it and put everything in the oven for 1 hour.
Crush 12 fresh egg yolks and mix them with 1 cup sugar.
Add 400 g of grated chocolate.
Pour melted lard and apples into the mixture and stir.
After cooling, you will get butter, which should be stored in the refrigerator.
Spread the product on bread 3 times a day and consume with milk.

Rose hip

Take 1 tbsp. fruits and pour 1 tbsp. boiling water
Leave in a thermos for 8 hours.
Drink three times a day instead of tea.

Berry therapy

Mix equal amounts of juice from strawberries, black currants and red rowan.
Drink the drink twice a day, half a glass.
Children should be given the medicine in 2 times less volume.

Garlic

Peel and finely chop 300 g of garlic.
Pour 1 liter of alcohol and leave for 3 weeks.
Use 1 tsp. three times a day.

Disease prevention

It is quite easy to cure anemia using modern and traditional methods, but it is still much easier to prevent the disease, for which it is enough to follow the recommendations of doctors. This primarily concerns pregnant women, because it is they who most often experience this disease.

Doctors advise expectant mothers to take special supplements with iron and folic acid, but it is not at all necessary to take synthetic drugs.

In most cases, the lack of necessary substances will be compensated for by ordinary food products, which are not difficult to purchase:

beef liver;
all kinds of greens;
apples and pomegranates;
beets, carrots and legumes.

The therapeutic diet for anemia and the prevention of the disease requires the exclusion of caffeine-containing drinks from the diet: this component complicates the absorption of iron in the intestines.

In addition, it is necessary to periodically undergo tests for the presence of worms, which, through their vital activity, often disrupt normal metabolism in the human body.

Conclusion

Long-term deficiency important elements and congenital blood pathologies contribute to anemia. In childhood, the disease leads to a slowdown in the child’s development, and sometimes even provokes mental retardation.

Anemia creates the preconditions for malfunctions of all body systems due to their poor supply of nutrients and oxygen. As a result, a person often gets sick, his overall vitality decreases and his mood worsens.

Therefore, it is very important to carry out timely prevention of the disease by eating foods containing vitamins and iron.

Education: Donetsk National University, Faculty of Biology, Biophysics.

Petrozavodsk State University Faculty of Medicine

Specialty: general practitioner

Many people face various diseases of the blood system. Among them, the most common diagnosis is anemia. Every person should know what types of this insidious disease there are, for what reasons it occurs and how it manifests itself, so as not to trigger the disease, and at the first symptom, contact a qualified specialist for help.

Anemia- this is a violation in human body, in which the number of red blood cells and the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases. People are used to this disease call it “anemia”, but this name does not quite coincide with reality. If there is not enough iron in the blood, then the body lacks the substrate that is necessary to create red blood cells.

Iron is one of the components of hemoglobin. Heme is a substrate required by red blood cells to bind and transport oxygen throughout the body. Anemia provokes the formation of hypoxia in peripheral cells and the brain.

Causes

There are a fairly large number of reasons why anemia can develop. This disease occurs on its own very rarely. It mainly occurs due to dysfunction of internal organs, which negatively affects the composition of the blood.

The main causes of the disease include:

Wrong diet. If a person’s diet includes a small amount or no products such as meat, liver, eggs, sea or river fish, spinach, beans, prunes, beets. Thus, the body does not receive important nutrients and, as a rule, the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases;
Pregnancy and lactation. This is due to the fact that the child takes all microelements from the mother’s body. Therefore, it is very important to replenish losses by consuming iron-containing foods and special vitamins;
Loss of blood in large quantities. This happens with various bleedings (hemorrhoids, nasal, uterine, kidney, stomach);
Chronic diseases. Pyelonephritis, cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia and other diseases that lead to severe depletion of the body, as a result of which the hemoglobin level decreases and anemia forms;
Poisoning. Anemia can occur if red blood cells are destroyed excessively. Basically, this phenomenon is caused by a hereditary factor, but its appearance can also provoke toxic poisoning. The cause of poisoning may be copper compounds, snake or bee venom, arsenic and lead;
Gastritis. This disease contributes to a decrease in acidity. Digestion of foods becomes worse, which leads to insufficient supply of microelements to the human body;
Various diets. In an effort to lose extra pounds, people limit their intake to 1000 calories per day. The body receives a small amount of iron, about 6 mg, and daily norm not less than 15 mg;
Failure to absorb vitamin B12 and iron by the body. This happens due to Crohn's disease, HIV infection, surgical removal stomach, intestinal infection.

The body absorbs iron differently. If you consume animal products, the absorption of iron will be approximately 10-15%, and when eating plant origin– only 1%.

Types of anemia

Anemia can appear completely various reasons Therefore, in medicine, this disease is divided according to concomitant symptoms, severity and pathogenesis. Let's take a closer look at each type.

The human body contains approximately 4–5 g of iron, more than half of which is contained in the hemoglobin component. The body is designed in such a way that it can store iron in organs such as the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Physiological losses of iron occur daily; it is excreted naturally through urine, feces, sweat, and menstruation. Therefore, a person’s menu must include foods that contain large amounts of iron.

Iron deficiency anemia occurs due to the fact that there is a small amount of iron in the body. Premature babies, infants in the first months after birth and pregnant women are most susceptible to this phenomenon. In addition, the disease can develop due to chronic blood loss and intestinal absorption disorders.

In these circumstances, a person experiences shortness of breath, headaches, tinnitus, constant fatigue, tachycardia, and drowsiness. The skin becomes dry and pale, hair and nails become brittle, and the need arises to consume chalk or inhale the smell of wet concrete.

When taking the test, as a result, you can see a reduced number of hemoglobin and red cells, a decrease in volume or an absolute absence of reticulocytes. In addition, the accumulation serum iron becomes smaller, and the red cells - red blood cells - begin to deform.

Aplastic anemia is a blood pathology transmitted to a child from parents, or acquired by a person for one reason or another. It affects bone marrow stem cells, which greatly inhibits hematopoiesis (the process of formation, development and maturation of blood cells). This type of disease is the most severe form of hematopoietic disorder, which requires long-term and serious therapy. Mortality is recorded in 80% of cases.

Comparison of normal bone marrow and changes in it in aplastic anemia under a microscope.

Fortunately, this form of the disease occurs in only 5 people out of 1,000,000 people, but its insidiousness lies in the fact that, as a rule, children and young people are exposed to it.

Often, this disease is associated with side effect from treatment with some medicines. Its appearance is not related to either the dosage or the duration of treatment. Such drugs that can disrupt the hematopoiesis of the bone marrow include: antihistamines, sulfonamides, tetracycline antibiotics and gold preparations.

This pathology can be provoked ionizing radiation, which is used in x-ray examinations. Those most at risk are clinic workers who perform X-rays on patients and people treated with radio wave therapy.

In addition, the disease can arise due to toxic substances found in drugs used to treat oncological pathologies. Autoimmune diseases can also be the culprits, because the immune system directs efforts to eliminate both pathogenic agents and its own bone marrow cells.

People experiencing aplastic anemia feel general weakness, causeless fatigue, bleeding gums, intense and long periods. It may also be observed nose bleed, increased temperature, pale skin, decreased blood pressure.

Folate deficiency anemia

Folic acid is a vital substance that the body needs for normal functioning. It penetrates into it through the consumption of certain products of plant and animal origin. This acid accumulates in the human body, and if it is less than the required norm, folate deficiency anemia occurs.

Basically, this type of anemia occurs due to various diseases gastrointestinal tract, since at the time of their exacerbation, beneficial substances are less absorbed by the small intestine. This phenomenon damages the shell small intestine and as a result, the absorption of important substances may completely stop.

The symptoms of the disease are very general, which makes it very difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis, especially if this type of anemia is mild. Patients often experience general weakness, unreasonable fatigue, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness and tinnitus.

If such a disease is detected in a patient, the attending doctor, before starting drug therapy, will necessarily recommend reviewing his menu and making adjustments to it. In particular, add food containing folic acid to it. These include greens, carrots, bran bread, grapefruits, eggs, honey, liver. Very often, after adjusting the diet, it is possible to overcome the disease without taking various medications.

Sickle cell anemia

This pathology occurs when the structure of the hemoglobin protein is disrupted. It is characterized by the acquisition of an unusual crystalline structure - hemoglobin S. Red blood cells that have such a changed substance have a sickle shape, as a result of which this pathology is called sickle cell anemia.

Red blood cells with hemoglobin S are less stable and perform their transport function much more slowly. This stimulates increased damage to red blood cells, which significantly shortens them life cycle. Hemolysis also increases, and symptoms of chronic hypoxia appear.

This disease is inherited. Patients with heterozygous genetics, in addition to sickle-shaped bodies carrying hemoglobin S, have in the blood system and normal red blood cells, with hemoglobin A. Under such circumstances, the disease is little expressed, passes in a mild form, and often has no symptoms at all. But people with homozygous genetics have exclusively sickle-shaped bodies with hemoglobin S, then the disease is much more severe.

Such anemia is accompanied by jaundice, hemolytic crises due to oxygen deficiency, swelling of the extremities, purulent wounds on the legs, blurred vision, enlarged spleen.

Posthemorrhagic anemia

In medicine, this disease is distinguished into two types - acute and chronic. Acute form is formed as a result of intense and massive blood loss, when chronic is characterized by blood loss over a long period in small quantities.

Posthemorrhagic anemia is caused by excessive blood loss due to various injuries, surgical procedures, internal bleeding. In patients experiencing posthemorrhagic anemia, the pulse quickens, body temperature decreases, cold sweat appears, regular dizziness with loss of consciousness occurs, and blood pressure drops.

The severity of the symptoms of the disease is not always related to the amount of blood lost. In some cases, arterial pressure may decrease due to a response to pain from the injury that caused the bleeding. And general state The patient's condition directly depends not only on the amount of blood lost, but also on the rate of bleeding.

When a person loses more than 500 ml of blood, his condition is considered serious and dangerous to health. Against the background of large blood loss occurs vascular insufficiency And oxygen starvation, since the body loses a significant number of red blood cells. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, the disease can be fatal.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia

In Diamond-Blackfan anemia, the functioning of the bone marrow is impaired. Its main purpose is to produce new blood cells. This type of disease prevents the brain from producing the required volume of blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. As a result, a deficiency of red cells is formed, which manifests itself in babies during the first months of life.

About 50% of patients with this disease experience physical abnormalities:

eyes set wide apart;
drooping eyelids;
wide, flat bridge of the nose;
small, low-set ears;
small lower jaw;
hole in the sky.

In addition to these abnormalities, they experience visual impairment, abnormal functioning of the kidneys and heart, and dilatation of the urethra in men.

A child born with Diamond-Blackfan anemia.

This syndrome is mainly treated with blood transfusions and corticosteroids. In this case, courses of treatment should be short with systematic breaks, in order to avoid the child becoming accustomed to hormones. Once adolescence ends, the need for corticosteroids disappears and hemoglobin levels return to normal.

In medicine, anemia is distinguished into three stages of severity. To establish it, the patient needs to take a blood test.

Why is anemia dangerous?

If anemia is not identified in a timely manner and measures to eliminate it are not taken, then it can greatly harm a person’s health. Any type of anemia increases the risk of oxygen starvation of internal organs, since they are deprived of a sufficient amount of not only oxygen, but also nutrients.

The most serious complication that anemia can lead to is hypoxic coma; in more than half of cases it leads to fatal outcome. In addition, a person with anemia is at risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies and respiratory failure. Women experience disturbances in their menstrual cycle, and children develop inattention, irritability and frequent illness.

Symptoms of anemia

The symptoms of anemia directly depend on the type of disease, stage and causes of the disease. But still there are general symptoms, are characteristic of all types of anemia. You should carefully monitor your condition and immediately make an appointment with a doctor if the following signs are noticed:

The blush disappeared from the face or became less noticeable. This can occur at the very beginning of the development of the disease;
Paleness of the skin and mucous membranes;
The skin became too dry, flabby and peeling appeared. This applies not only to the skin of the hands, which is often attributed to the influence of external factors;
Cracks began to appear in the corners of the mouth, which did not heal for more than 7 days;
Towards evening, the legs and face swell after habitual exercise;
The structure of the nail plate changed, the nails began to break, peel and grooves appeared;
The hair became dry, began to break and fall out (about the fact that anemia is one of the reasons severe loss hair, we discussed in this article);
Regular attacks of causeless headaches appeared;
Feeling constant fatigue, general malaise, loss of strength;
I began to feel dizzy even at rest.

Anemia during pregnancy

A growing child in the mother’s belly is not able to breathe and feed on its own; therefore, it takes all the useful elements required for its development from the female body.

Under normal circumstances, the female body produces a large number of red blood cells. In order for oxygen to bind, it needs an additional supply of iron, which makes up hemoglobin. If a small amount of iron is ingested through the foods consumed, the production of red blood cells slows down significantly, which cannot affect the health of both mother and baby.

The disease often makes itself felt in the second trimester of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that it is during this period that the need for iron increases significantly for the normal development of the fetus. If a woman does not take measures to eliminate anemia, she runs the risk of giving birth ahead of schedule, and during delivery there may be heavy bleeding, since this disease leads to impaired blood clotting.

For a child, this condition is dangerous due to delay intrauterine development, because it will not have enough oxygen and useful elements. In addition to all this, this disease greatly affects the well-being of a pregnant woman. Problems may also arise with lactation, since anemia significantly reduces the production of breast milk.

Scientists have found that during pregnancy and lactation, a woman’s body loses about 900 mg of iron. It takes a long time for its reserves to be restored.

Diagnostics

When a patient comes to see a doctor, he first finds out what is bothering the person, how long the symptoms have been manifesting, and what measures have been taken to alleviate the condition. Then, when the anamnesis is completely collected, the patient is sent for a number of additional procedures:

General blood analysis. This mandatory analysis, which is carried out at every visit to the doctor. Under such circumstances, it is needed to determine the volume of hemoglobin in the blood system;
Complete blood test. It is carried out to determine the color indicator, which indicates how much hemoglobin is present in the red blood cell. This study provides insight into how bone marrow functions;
Blood chemistry. The amount of iron and various fractions of bilirubin is determined from the blood that is donated from a vein.

When a specialist receives the results of all studies, he refutes or confirms the diagnosis, determines its type, degree, cause, and prescribes the necessary treatment.

In the video you can see in more detail how the above studies are carried out.

Treatment of anemia

To achieve the desired effect, treatment must include complex therapy. If the disease is in initial degree, then taking medications is not necessary. It is enough to add foods high in iron, proteins and other foods to your menu. useful substances.

The doctor prescribes medications after determining the type of anemia, the stage of its progression and the reasons that led to this disease. First of all, you need to direct all efforts to eliminate the cause, very often after it disappears, the hemoglobin level returns to normal without additional medications.

If the doctor decides that medications are necessary, then drugs that stimulate the bone marrow are prescribed. short time restore the amount of hemoglobin and the volume of red blood cells in the blood system. These are medications with a high iron content (Fenuls, Totetema, Sorbifer, Actiferrin) and vitamin preparations (vitamin B12, folic acid, B vitamin complexes).

Folk remedies in the fight against anemia

Pharmacies provide a huge variety medications to combat anemia. But some people prefer traditional medicine. The main rule of such treatment is strict adherence to the recipe and dosage. After 30 days, it is recommended to take a blood test, and if hemoglobin has not yet fully recovered, then continue treatment.

Let's look at the basic recipes of traditional medicine:

Vegetable cocktail. Carrots, black radishes and beets are washed, peeled, grated on a fine grater and squeezed to extract juice. The resulting liquid is mixed in equal doses, poured into a saucepan and placed in the oven for 3 hours. Take a tablespoon daily for adults and a teaspoon for children.
Wormwood. An effective remedy in the fight against anemia, but its disadvantage is that it is prohibited for children and pregnant women. To prepare it, take 100 g of wormwood and mix it with 1 liter of vodka. Leave for 3 weeks to infuse, take 5 drops on an empty stomach.
Medicinal cocktail. To get rid of iron deficiency anemia, take a pomegranate, apple, carrot and lemon, squeeze the juice out of them and mix in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. 70 g of honey is added to the resulting liquid and placed in the refrigerator for 48 hours. Drink 2 spoons three times a day.
Rose hip. 1 spoon of berries is poured into 250 ml of boiling water and infused for 8 hours. Drink three times a day as tea.
Berry therapy. Blackcurrant, strawberry and rowan juice are mixed in equal doses. Take 125 ml twice a day.

Before starting such therapy, you should definitely consult with your doctor in order to avoid unpredictable consequences.

Prevention of anemia

Anemia, like any other disease, is easier to prevent than to treat; for this you need:

eat a healthy and balanced diet, eat foods rich in iron and other beneficial substances;
promptly treat acute and chronic diseases gastrointestinal tract;
systematically visit medical sanatoriums;
stop smoking and drinking alcohol;
get rid of extra pounds;
avoid harmful working conditions.

By following these simple rules, you can avoid not only anemia, but also many other diseases.

The first thing you need to do if you notice at least one of the above symptoms is to visit a doctor and get the necessary tests. It should be remembered that anemia, like any disease, is much easier and faster to cure with initial stage development. Take care of your health.

If you ask any person what blood disease he knows, you can almost always hear the answer - anemia. And this is not without reason. According to the World Health Organization, 24.8% of the world's population suffers from anemia, which is 1.62 billion people.

And most often this problem is faced by children of preschool and school age– 47.4% and 25.4%, respectively, 41.8% of pregnant women and 23.9% of elderly people. A smaller percentage is made up of representatives of the stronger sex - only 12.7%. It should be borne in mind that this is only officially confirmed data, that is, the tip of the iceberg, and what the actual prevalence of anemia is, one can only guess.

Therefore, it is extremely important for those who are attentive to their health to “know the enemy by sight.” In this article we will tell you what anemia is, its symptoms and treatment, as well as what needs to be done to prevent anemia.

What it is

Anemia or anemia is a complex of symptoms found as a result of clinical symptoms and laboratory blood tests. The disease is characterized by a decrease in the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin per unit volume of blood. Anemic syndrome may manifest itself separate disease or accompany certain illnesses.

ICD 10 code D50-D89: diseases of the blood, hematopoietic organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism.

According to generally accepted criteria, anemia in men is indicated by:

decrease in hemoglobin from 130 g/l;
red blood cell level is less than 4*1012/l;
hematocrit below 39%.

For women, these indicators are as follows:

hemoglobin below 120 g/l;
red blood cells less than 3.8*1012 g/l;
hematocrit – 36% and below.

A separate group includes pregnant women who do not normal indicators a decrease in hemoglobin below 110 g/l and hematocrit less than 33% is considered.

Classifications of anemia

Wide range indicated in International classification diseases, indicates a wide variety of types of disease, which are systematized as follows:

according to severity. There are mild (hemoglobin is slightly below normal, but exceeds 90 g/l), moderate (hemoglobin in the range of 90-70 g/l) and severe (hemoglobin level below 70 g/l) forms of anemia;
according to the mechanism of occurrence. There are deficiency anemias (iron and folate and protein deficiency), posthemorrhagic (as a result of bleeding), hemolytic (when red blood cells are destroyed), as well as anemia arising from problems with hematopoiesis (dyshematopoietic);
by the nature of the severity of the process: acute and chronic;
according to the regenerative abilities of the red bone marrow, which are determined by the number of reticulocytes in a blood test: aregenerative, hyper-, normo- and hyporegenerative;
according to the level of hemoglobin saturation of the red blood cell: hypo, normo- and hyperchromic anemia;
according to the size of red blood cells: micro-, macro- and normocytic.

What happens during Anemia

A decrease in the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin leads to a reduced transport function of the blood, and as a result, human tissues experience a lack of oxygen (hypoxia). To compensate for hypoxic processes, the heart begins to work harder, increasing the number of contractions and minute blood volume, which in initial stages illness compensates for the lack of oxygen. But in the future this turns out to be not enough, and manifestations of tissue hypoxia lead to metabolic disorders and acidosis. Cellular enzymes taking part in the main types of metabolism are depleted, and nutritional disorders of tissues and organs develop, which are manifested by their degenerative processes.

In anemia caused by blood loss, a decrease in the number of red blood cells also occurs due to the body's production of plasma in large volume. As a result, it turns out that the blood is “diluted” and the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin decreases. If the body has a sufficient amount of iron in reserve, and the bone marrow copes with its hematopoietic function without problems, then normal composition blood is restored by the second or third week.

Low hemoglobin - School of Dr. Komarovsky

Anemia in infants: symptoms, causes and treatment

Low hemoglobin in an infant

Causes of anemia - Dr. Komarovsky

Anemia in children. Advice for parents - Union of Pediatricians of Russia

Iron plays one of the most important roles in transporting oxygen to tissues. This is done with the help of a protein - heme, which is a component of hemoglobin. In addition, the non-heme form of iron takes part in a number of redox processes that provide normal work respiratory chain, ATP and DNA synthesis, deactivation of toxic compounds of internal and external origin.

Iron is also used for blood formation processes in the bone marrow. Iron deficiency conditions can be triggered by chronic blood loss, poor absorption of the element in the digestive tract, chlorosis in adolescents, pregnancy and other reasons.

With folic acid deficiency, excessive formation of megaloblasts occurs, which is caused by a violation of RNA synthesis in the nuclei of erythroblasts. There is a decrease in the ability of cells to grow, reproduce and saturate with hemoglobin. Similar processes are inherent in B12 deficiency anemia.

The phenomena of hemolysis are accompanied by the destruction of red blood cells, which is characterized by an increase in the level of bilirubin, which negatively affects the body. Under the influence of a damaging factor (toxins, antigens, hereditary defects), an increase in the permeability of the membranes of erythroid cells develops, into which ions of osmotically active substances penetrate. As a result, swelling of erythroid cells (spherocytosis) and their destruction, that is, hemolysis, occurs.

Iron deficiency anemia and its etiology

Iron deficiency anemia is one of the forms of anemia in which there is a decrease in hemoglobin synthesis as a result of a lack of iron in the body. About a third of people around the world have encountered this problem. The causes of deficiency anemia are as follows:

unbalanced diet. There are two forms of iron that come from food: heme and non-heme. Heme iron is characterized by a high degree of absorption - up to 20-30%, and is found mainly in meat. The non-heme form of iron is ferric iron, which is found in vegetables, milk and eggs. Balanced diet contains up to 10-20 mg of iron, but normally only 1-2 mg will be absorbed. Thus, the absence or insufficient quantity of these foods in the diet can cause anemia caused by the development of iron deficiency;
chronic blood loss. Constant low-intensity bleeding from the nose, uterus, and intestines leads to increased loss element by organism;
donation;
increased need for iron at different periods of life. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, adolescence and periods of intensive growth in children are characterized by increased iron consumption;
violation of element absorption. Iron absorption occurs in duodenum and upper ileum. Proteins that bind iron are produced by intestinal cells (enterocytes) in proportion to the body's needs for this element. As a result, chronic inflammation of the intestine, removal of its parts, as well as helminthic infestations, can lead to problems with iron absorption, even with sufficient supply from the outside;
malignant processes of the body, monocytic leukemia. The development of tumors is accompanied by anemic and deficiency syndrome.

Clinical symptoms of anemia caused by iron deficiency

There are two stages in the development of iron deficiency anemia: latent - when there are no obvious signs of the disease, and the problem can only be identified by a timely analysis of ferritin levels, and the period clinical manifestations, which is characterized by deficiency symptoms.

Signs of anemic syndrome caused by iron deficiency: feeling of weakness, decreased performance, palpitations, dizziness, weakening of memory and attention develops. You will also be concerned about headaches, irritability, increased nervous excitability, decreased appetite, nausea, impaired taste and olfactory sensations, geophagia (the desire to eat chalk or earth), difficulty swallowing and burning of the tongue.

With sideropenia or a decrease in iron in the body, there will be dry skin, hair loses its shine and falls out, nails split and become deformed, jams appear in the corners of the lips (angular stomatitis), urinary incontinence is possible when coughing, sneezing or laughing.

Objective symptoms of anemia: pale skin and mucous membranes, tachycardia, low-grade fever without apparent reason, systolic murmur at the apex of the heart, gray-bluish color of the sclera.

It should be noted that the volume and manifestation of symptoms directly depend on the body’s adaptation to the disease. Therefore, the slow progression of iron deficiency processes contributes to better adaptation.

What is observed with anemia can be seen in the photo.

Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia

To establish a diagnosis, in addition to objective examination data and anamnesis, it will be necessary to conduct clinical analysis blood, which will show a decrease in color index (hypochromia), a decrease in hemoglobin, the presence of anisocytosis (changes in cell shape), and a normal or decreased number of reticulocytes.

An equally important link in diagnosis is the determination of the iron deficiency nature of anemia. For this purpose they carry out biochemical analysis blood, which indicates low iron content (in men less than 13-30 mmol/l, and in women - 12-25 mmol/l), increased level iron-binding capacity of serum, and a decrease in ferritin, which is an indicator of the amount of iron reserves in the body.

How is iron deficiency treated?

The fight against iron deficiency anemia is carried out in several directions, which include: eliminating the cause of the deficiency state, establishing proper nutrition, and drug treatment with iron preparations. Do not forget that treatment, as well as diagnosis, of all types of anemia should be carried out by a doctor. Self-administration of medications can be dangerous to your health!

The nutritional cause of anemia requires dietary correction, which should include meat products, black beans, beets, cranberries and their juice, fresh fruit, horseradish, eggs, and chocolate. Recommended to eat oatmeal and buckwheat, drink pomegranate juice. Ascorbic acid, which is found in many of these products, has a beneficial effect on iron absorption. Even with a properly selected menu, iron can be poorly absorbed, which is caused by the consumption of alcohol and dairy products.

A sufficient supply of oxygen to tissues is also important when therapeutic measures, so lead an active lifestyle and visit more often fresh air.

Iron supplements for anemia

Taking iron-containing medications requires a serious approach, since if the dose is incorrectly selected, poisoning develops, which can result in death. Therefore, you should obtain information about the amount of the drug you will be treated with and how long to take it from your therapist or pediatrician.

Good healing effect give ferric iron preparations for oral use. This way they are better absorbed in the intestines and therefore have almost no side effects.

Comparative characteristics of modern iron-containing preparations are presented in the table.

Name	compound	release form
Maltofer	Fe 3 hydroxide polymaltose complex	100 mg in tablet form, syrup, drops, chewable tablets, oral solution
Ferlatum	Fe 3 protein succinylate	40 mg solution for internal use
Fenyuls	Ferrous iron in combination with ascorbic acid and B vitamins	45 mg capsules
Aktiferrin	Ferrous iron 34.5 mg/ml and amino acids	capsules, syrup, drops
Sorbifer	Ferrous iron	100 mg and ascorbic acid pills
Totema	Fe 2, manganese	copper solution for internal use
Ferrum - lek	Fe 3 polymaltose complex	100 mg chewable tablets, syrup, solution for injection

B12 deficiency anemia (Addison-Biermer disease) and why it occurs

The causes of anemia are insufficient amounts of cyanocobalamin entering the body, which is needed for DNA synthesis in the process of hematopoiesis, and is also involved in the synthesis and breakdown fatty acids, the violation of which has negative consequences for the functions of the nervous system.

Deficiency states arise under the influence of the following factors:

lack of vitamin B12 in food, which is often facilitated by a vegetarian lifestyle;
violation of vitamin absorption. Absorption processes are affected by stomach disease (atrophic form of gastritis, removal of the stomach, toxic damage to the mucous membrane), enteritis, colitis, pancreatitis;
stomach and intestinal cancer;
competitive absorption of vitamin B12. It occurs with helminthic infestation by the broad tapeworm and with diverticulosis, when the vitamin is absorbed by bacteria.

Signs of B12 deficiency anemia

Anemia with cyanocobalamin deficiency will have signs of anemia syndrome, as well as a feeling of numbness and freezing of the legs, a feeling of “crawling” and tingling, which is characteristic of damage to the nervous system.

When examining such patients, attention is drawn to the pallor of the skin with an icteric tint, the smoothness of the lingual papillae, which gives the picture of a “polished” tongue. Characterized by an increase in the size of the liver and sometimes the spleen.

Diagnosis of B12 deficiency anemia

With a reduced number of red blood cells, reticulocytes and hemoglobin, an increase in the color index from 1.05 will be noted. The laboratory will show an increase in the size of red blood cells, as well as the presence of specific structures - Cabot rings and Jolly bodies against the background of a decrease in the number of leukocytes and platelets; a biochemical blood test will indicate a decrease in the level of vitamin B12. If it is not possible to determine the amount of cyanocobalamin or after a week from the start of treatment there is no positive dynamics, carry out aspiration biopsy bone marrow.

Treatment of B12 deficiency anemia

Therapeutic measures for this form of anemia are carried out comprehensively, which is facilitated by identifying and eliminating the cause of anemia, restoring the intestinal flora with enzyme preparations and a balanced diet, as well as the administration of cyanocobalamin by injection.

Blood transfusions are used in cases of severe anemia, in which the disease may threaten the patient's life.

Hormonal drugs are prescribed for autoimmune pathology.

Folate deficiency anemia

From the history of folate deficiency anemia it is known that this form of the disease was considered malignant until the middle of the 19th century and many patients died from it. Folic acid, together with vitamin B12, is necessary for the normal maturation of red blood cells. It enters the body with food and is partially synthesized in the intestines. The daily requirement for this vitamin is 100-200 mcg. The reasons why deficiency anemia occurs are as follows:

lack of natural sources of folic acid in the diet: raw vegetables, legumes, bread, eggs, honey and some types of cheeses;
inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract;
alcohol abuse;
disruption of normal intestinal microflora;
pregnancy and postpartum period;
some medications.

The symptoms of the disease correspond to the anemic syndrome in other deficient types of anemia. In addition, there may be inflammation of the tongue, abnormal stool, heaviness and pain in the abdominal cavity.

Most often, this condition does not require hospital treatment, but indications for hospitalization may be a severe form of the disease, old age, complex concomitant pathologies, difficulties in diagnosis and the presence of complications. Therapy for folic acid deficiency requires treatment of diseases of the digestive tract, anthelmintic measures, the fight against dysbiosis, and, if appropriate, treatment of alcoholism.

Elimination of vitamin deficiency is carried out by using folic acid preparations in daily dose from 1 to 5 mg. The main route of administration is oral, however, it is possible to use drugs in injection form. Treatment often takes four to six weeks.

What is posthemorrhagic anemia and why does it occur?

Acute anemia is a consequence of the loss of a large amount of blood in a short period of time. It is dangerous in cases where the amount of blood loss exceeds the norm, which corresponds to a volume of over 500 ml for an adult. Similar problems occur with extensive bleeding, which is accompanied by damage to large vessels, for example, during injuries, operations, ectopic pregnancy and diseases of internal organs, as well as massive pulmonary hemorrhage.

The severity of the patient's condition and the symptoms of anemia depend on the volume of blood lost, the speed of its flow, and the source of bleeding.

Chronic posthemorrhagic anemia occurs with regular small bleeding that may accompany peptic ulcer stomach, hemorrhoids, uterine diseases, intestinal cancer processes, gingivitis. This leads not only to general exhaustion of the body, but also reduces iron reserves. Therefore, this type of anemia is classified as iron deficiency.

In newborns, anemia can be caused by trauma during childbirth or frequent blood sampling for research. In older children, chronic anemia occurs due to helminthiasis, when worms attach to the intestinal walls and cause minor bleeding.

Signs of anemia caused by bleeding

Due to blood loss, symptoms of anemia appear, which are determined on the basis of shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, sharp decline arterial and venous pressure, pallor of the skin and mucous membranes. These signs may initially be mistaken for a reaction to the cause of the bleeding - pain or injury.

Then a symptom appears that is significant for differential diagnosis– dry mouth, which increases over time.

The internal nature of the bleeding is accompanied by a feeling of compression of organs, and gastrointestinal damage leads to stool staining dark color and bloody vomiting.

Diagnosis of posthemorrhagic anemia

In the first hours of blood loss, there is a uniform decrease in the amount of formed elements and blood plasma, but the level of hemoglobin does not change. On days 2-3, all blood parameters, except color, decrease. On days 4-5 after bleeding, young cells - reticulocytes - appear in the analysis, which is caused by intensive restorative work of the bone marrow.

How is anemia treated after blood loss?

The main goal in treating anemia caused by bleeding is to identify and eliminate the source of blood loss. The next step is to restore the volume of circulating blood by introducing plasma-substituting solutions and red blood cells.

To compensate for iron deficiency, ferrum-containing medications are used in combination with vitamin C, cobalt and zinc.

It is very important to establish balanced diet, which should contain proteins, iron and vitamins.

Hypoplastic and aplastic types of anemia

This group of diseases is classified as an atypical form of anemia. The disease develops as a result of dysfunction of the bone marrow, which causes inhibition of the formation of red blood cells, platelets and granulocytes. This form of anemia is life-threatening due to a sharp impairment of blood function.

According to its origin, anemia is divided into two groups: the first is caused hereditary factors(Fanconi, Diamond-Blackfan anemia), the second - acquired, can be due to a number of factors, including ionizing radiation, chemical and physical agents, some medications and viral infections. However, its reasons remain unclear.

Patients experience severe weakness, increased body temperature, bruises, hemorrhages at injection sites, and bleeding gums. There is also a tendency to frequent diseases of the respiratory system - bronchitis and pneumonia.

With a genetically determined form of anemia, newborns are diagnosed with reduced birth weight, birth defects skull (microcephaly, abnormal palate, microophthalmia), pathology in the development of internal organs.

In the diagnosis of anemia, anamnesis data are used, the results of a peripheral blood test, which corresponds to a decrease in the number of all types of blood cells (pancytopenia), normal color index data and an increased ESR, an increase in blood clotting time. A trepanation biopsy of the bone marrow will be required, in which a complete absence of its elements can be detected, replaced by adipose tissue. As an additional diagnostic method, radiation monitoring and examination for poisoning by toxic substances can be used.

Treatment of anemia of aplastic and hypoplastic forms

The fight against aplastic anemia is, first of all, a complex and lengthy process, the main objectives of which are to prolong the patient’s life and achieve stable remission of the disease.

The only way to cure the disease is a bone marrow transplant. If transplantation is not yet available, treatment is carried out with immunosuppressants (Cyclosporin A) and corticosteroid hormones (Prednisolone).

Transfusions of red blood cells and platelets are used, as well as treatment of concomitant infectious complications antibiotics and antifungal agents.

What is hemolytic anemia and why does it occur?

This group of diseases includes conditions in which the death of red blood cells occurs on the tenth day, and their destruction is also characteristic, carried out intracellularly or inside the vessels. As a result of pathological processes, bilirubin is formed, which poisons the body.

The origin of hemolytic anemia includes congenital factors and acquired immune processes. Congenital anemia can occur with group or Rh conflict of the blood of the mother and fetus, with hereditary enzyme deficiency, ovalocytosis and spherocytosis. In adults, the cause of severe anemia caused by hemolysis is poisoning with poisons, toxins, hypovitaminosis, transfusion incompatible blood, as well as postoperative and post-infectious complications.

For patients with hemolytic anemia characteristic specific lemon-yellow skin color, dark urine, enlarged liver and spleen, as well as the presence of anemic syndrome. Chronic anemia hemolytic in nature is accompanied by mild symptoms, which are characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission.

The hematological picture during diagnosis is represented by determining free and bound bilirubin in serum and urine analysis, determining the osmotic stability of erythrocytes and performing a direct Coombs test.

Treatment of hemolytic anemia

Basic therapeutic measures for the treatment of anemia depend on the factors that caused the disease. Initially, drugs are used that reduce the production of antibodies and the autoimmune reaction - glucocorticosteroids (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone). If these drugs do not show effectiveness, and the frequency of hemolytic crises increases, then surgical treatment is performed - splenectomy.

Traditional medicine in the treatment of anemia

On the Internet you can find various unconventional methods anemia treatments that promise to defeat the disease - from conspiracies to herbal treatments. However, it should be understood that rational decision will still seek the help of a doctor, or complex treatment use herbal medicine with medicinal herbs.

At home, you can independently prepare infusions and decoctions of herbs that are rich in vitamins, folic acid and iron.

Recipe for preparing rosehip decoction: pour a liter of water into an enamel bowl and put on fire. As soon as it boils, add 100 g of chopped rose hips to the container and hold for another five minutes. Then leave for 2.5 hours and strain the broth. Adults take a glass per day, and children under seven years old need 100 ml.

How to prepare nettle infusion. In 750 ml of boiling water you need to add 25 g of dry leaves of stinging nettle, then infuse for 10 minutes using a water bath. After filtering and cooling to room temperature, drink the prepared infusion within 24 hours.

How to prevent anemia

To prevent anemia, you need to lead an active lifestyle, play sports, and walk more in the fresh air. Try to make your diet varied, and be sure to consume foods that are sources of substances necessary for hematopoiesis.

Treat gastrointestinal diseases in a timely manner and prevent helminthic infestations. Limit contact with toxic substances or use products personal protection when working with them.

Contact your doctor at the first sign of anemia for timely diagnosis and proper treatment.

Psychosomatics of diseases states that anemia is a lack of positive emotions and fear of life. Therefore, do not forget to smile more often and enjoy every new day!

Kinds

The development of the disease is determined in the blood.

– a red protein found in red blood cells. He perform the most important function- delivers oxygen to internal organs, ensuring their work.

Anemia occurs when blood loss or failures in the formation of red blood cells. Most often, anemia occurs in children and adult women. reproductive age.

In medicine, there are 6 types of anemia:

deficient (most often lack of iron or B12);
posthemorrhagic;
hypoplastic;
hemolytic;
folate deficiency;
B12 deficiency.

All types have common symptoms:

dyspnea;
pallor;
weakness;
menstrual irregularities;
decreased performance;
cardiopalmus.

Hemoglobin in the blood decreases in all manifestations of anemia, but a decrease in the number of red blood cells does not always occur.

Anemia is not an independent disease. This is the result of pathology of the processes of the circulatory system. It is necessary to undergo tests so that the doctor determines its type and prescribes treatment.

Severity, blood counts

Causes

Causes of the development of the disease in women of reproductive age and menopause:

You need to know how anemia manifests itself in women, because the symptoms differ depending on the type of pathology. Their diversity is reflected in the table:

Types of anemia	Symptoms and signs	Peculiarities
Posthemorrhagic	Pallor skin, cold sweat, low temperature body, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, distortion of taste, craving for any odors or, conversely, their aversion, brittle hair and nails, dry skin, digestive disorders	It can be acute when there is a large loss of blood and chronic when the body systematically loses a small amount of it.
Iron deficiency	There is difficulty breathing, migraines, tinnitus, drowsiness, loss of appetite, bleeding gums, muscle weakness; external manifestations– peeling of the skin, separation and deformation of the nail plates, pale face, bruises under the eyes. In rare cases, it can lead to fainting	Pathology occurs when there is iron deficiency in the body. This is the most common type of anemia. Most often it occurs during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Hypoplastic	Ulcers appear in the nose, mouth, on the skin, fainting, the skin is easily injured	Characterized by cell death in the bone marrow
Hemolytic	Jaundice, enlarged liver, spleen, dark urine and feces, chills	Occurs due to the release of a large amount into the blood. May be hereditary or acquired. Appears due to a violation of the synthesis of red blood cells - their destruction occurs faster than new ones are formed
B12 deficiency	Poor memory, impaired coordination of movements, numbness of the limbs, increased acidity in the stomach, difficulty swallowing, yellowish skin tone	Associated with a lack of vitamin B12 in the body
Folate deficiency	The functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is impaired	Occurs when there is a lack of folic acid in a woman’s diet or poor absorption of this vitamin

Diagnostic methods, tests

If you feel unwell, you should consult a therapist. It will help to identify pathology and general tests blood.

The most common anemia associated with. If there is a suspicion of another type, an examination of the gastrointestinal tract may be required, to which your attending physician will refer you.

A blood test will show any deviations from the norm. In the presence of anemia, red blood cells in the blood will be smaller in size and less colored than in a healthy person.

The doctor will check your pulse and measure your blood pressure, will assess the condition of the skin. After examination and evaluation of tests, treatment is prescribed.

The “Live Healthy!” program will tell you what anemia is and how to treat it:

Why it is dangerous: consequences and complications

What does anemia lead to and what is dangerous for a woman? Possible consequences and complications caused by anemia:

Decreased immunity. It is more difficult for the body to fight viruses. As a result, the woman often gets sick.
Sleep disorders. Sleepless nights have a bad effect on well-being and performance.
Mucous membranes become susceptible and vulnerable, which leads to inflammation and infections.
Women are more susceptible to stress, become distracted and vulnerable.
Leads to disruption of the cardiovascular system.
Prolonged anemia leads to edema and liver disease.
The process of absorption of nutrients is disrupted, which leads to gastrointestinal diseases.
Anemia occurs oxygen starvation. This is harmful to the brain.
Takes away beauty– the skin becomes sluggish, dry, hair becomes brittle, dull, nails peel.
In severe cases, anemia leads to fainting, fever,...

How and what to treat: iron supplements, vitamins

For mild forms of anemia, it is enough to review the diet: include foods rich in iron and B vitamins.

If diet is not enough, a specialist will prescribe medications to replenish the deficiency of necessary substances.

There is no need to self-medicate - this can make you feel worse. In cases where therapy does not produce results, the doctor prescribes medications containing hormones.

The age of the woman suffering from anemia is taken into account. If the disease is associated with menopause, when consultation with a therapist, gynecologist, or endocrinologist is necessary.

Rules for taking iron supplements for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in women:

taking pills is more effective intramuscular injections, because iron is better absorbed if it passes through the intestinal tract;
the optimal dose of pure iron is 80-160 mg - exceeding the dose is unacceptable;
taking it in tablet form is more effective than taking it in liquid form;
preparations contain divalent or trivalent iron: in the first case, vitamin C promotes good absorption, in the second - amino acids;
use drugs coated with a protective coating that will protect the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach from irritation.

The drugs Sorbifer Durules and Tardiferon are prescribed for ferrous iron. They are consumed twice a day, 30 minutes before meals, with a glass of water.

Ferric iron preparations– Ferrum Lek, Biofer – used during or after meals.

Injections are prescribed to patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with large blood losses.

For complex forms of anemia- posthemorrhagic, hemolytic, hypoplastic - are prescribed:

glucocorticosteroids;
anabolic steroid;
androgens;
cytostatics;
erythropoietin preparations.

Uncontrolled treatment is unacceptable. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor based on the results of a blood test and diagnostics by specialists.

To ensure that iron supplements are absorbed faster, vitamins are prescribed:

ascorbic acid;
vitamin B6;
folic acid.

In rare cases, the cause of anemia is lack of copper or zinc.

Taken together with vitamins mineral complexes(your doctor will tell you their names) helps relieve the symptoms of anemia in women, helps to quickly cope with oxygen starvation.

At posthemorrhagic anemia transfusion of blood or blood substitutes. Prescribe iron and vitamins until full recovery hemoglobin.

Folk remedies

At alarming symptoms You cannot self-medicate, because... anemia may be a sign serious illnesses , including malignant tumors.

Folk remedies relieve symptoms, increase hemoglobin levels in the blood, but with some forms of anemia home treatment will not give results.

If anemia is associated with a lack of iron, natural formulations will provide a positive effect without side effects for the body.

Traditional methods of treatment:

strawberry infusion. A handful of dry berries should be filled with 200 ml of boiled water, covered with a lid, and left for 3-4 hours. Use the infusion once a day;
garlic will help overcome weakness due to anemia. A tincture is made from it. To prepare, pour 300 g of peeled garlic with a 96% alcohol solution and place the mixture in a bottle. Leave the resulting mixture for 3 weeks. Take 3 times a day, 20 drops dissolved in 100 ml of milk;
Rose hips are rich in vitamin C, therefore, for anemia it is useful to drink a decoction of its fruits. This will help the iron deficiency medications be absorbed. 2 tsp. The fruits should be brewed with a glass of boiling water and the decoction should be drunk after meals 3 times a day;
oat groats. A decoction is prepared from it. To do this, take 1 liter of water and a glass of cereal. Boil the mixture until the consistency of liquid jelly. The resulting broth is filtered through cheesecloth, 2 cups of milk, 4 tsp. honey, boil. The decoction should be consumed during the day in 2-3 doses.

What to eat: nutrition and diet

The right diet makes a difference important role in the treatment of pathology. Beef will help restore strength: This meat is a record holder for the content of nutrients during oxygen starvation.

It is necessary to introduce protein-rich foods into your diet:

veal;
liver;
dairy products;
fish;
eggs;
butter and vegetable oils.

The porridges included in the menu for iron deficiency anemia in women, especially buckwheat, apples, honey, and dried fruits, will help raise hemoglobin levels.

But from fatty foods, it is better to avoid semi-finished products. They will only bring harm.

Coffee lovers need to limit the number of cups they drink per day, because it flushes vitamins and minerals from the body.

If a woman has problems with gastrointestinal tract, your doctor may prescribe a diet that excludes certain foods.

Course duration

The treatment regimen depends on age. Women of reproductive age most often develop anemia during pregnancy and lactation.

During the period, in old age, the doctor studies the manifestations of anemia in detail, since it is often associated with specific diseases.

The duration of treatment depends on the form and severity of anemia and age. Older women require more time for treatment.

Age-related changes slow down metabolic processes in the body, making the disease difficult to cope with.

After 60 years, most have a whole bunch of concomitant diseases , which complicates the positive dynamics of therapy.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

When a pregnant woman registers at the clinic, she is prescribed a series of tests. If detected reduced level hemoglobin, to the expectant mother Prescribe iron supplements and diet.

Timely correction and therapy helps to avoid complications in the second half of pregnancy.

Oxygen starvation affects not only the woman’s condition, but also the development of the fetus and placenta. It is important to follow your doctor's recommendations.

Even mild anemia in women increases the risk of fetal hypoxia leading to disturbances in the development of the baby’s nervous system. Pathology can cause weak labor.

If a woman loses a lot of blood during childbirth, she is given a transfusion. Then hemoglobin can be raised quickly. Iron injections are less effective.

To avoid anemia while breastfeeding, a woman should eat regularly and properly. Upon discharge from the maternity hospital, they give you a list of products necessary for consumption during lactation.

In situations where it is necessary to increase hemoglobin, iron-containing drugs are prescribed. Do not exceed the dosage installed by a specialist, in order to avoid irreversible consequences in infants.

Prevention measures

The main factors reducing risk of anemia, – proper nutrition, regular walks in the fresh air. Compliance with preventive measures is especially important for women with heavy, prolonged menstruation.

Taking vitamins from food plays an important role. Doctors recommend eating 500 g of vegetables and fruits daily. This reduces the risk of anemia and other diseases.

At risk are pregnant women and donors. For prevention, they are often prescribed iron supplements and vitamin complexes.

Timely diagnosis and treatment of anemia will relieve unpleasant symptoms. The main thing is to follow the doctor’s recommendations, reconsider your diet.

Then you can defeat anemia and continue to enjoy life.