Primary anemia. Anemia. Causes, types, symptoms and treatment. What it is

Those who are used to attributing the main symptoms of anemia to seasonality or busy work schedules put their health at great risk. Such an ailment is popularly called anemia. The definition of anemia can be represented as follows - pathogenic processes begin to occur in the body, as a result of which the level of hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells decrease. Today, such a disease is considered incredibly common and, according to unofficial data, about 30% of the total population suffers from it.

Human blood is made up of a group of three cells - the familiar red blood cells, platelets and leukocytes. Each individual cell is designed to perform its own separate function. Red blood cells are called red blood cells. They contain hemoglobin. Red blood cells not only color our blood, but also perform a more important function, namely, they transport oxygen throughout the body. When the number of red blood cells begins to decrease or the level of hemoglobin falls, this leads to the development of anemia.

Anemia is a very dangerous ailment and there are several well-founded facts for this:

1 Even when the body has a critically low number of red blood cells, the body continues to transport oxygen throughout the body. This happens until the anemic condition becomes critical. That is why a person may not suspect for a long time that such an ailment is progressing in him.

2 When the body does not receive enough oxygen, oxygen starvation begins to manifest. This is fraught with tissue dystrophy and impaired functionality of individual organs.

3 The danger of anemia lies in the fact that it is often the result of another ailment. In the aggregate, diseases have a very strong negative effect on the body, which can lead to serious consequences.

4 Serious forms of anemia can greatly harm the body, even without the presence of concomitant infectious or inflammatory processes. For example, B12-deficiency anemia very badly affects the body, which does not receive the vitamin necessary for its functioning.

5 Anemia is very dangerous for expectant mothers. For example, a pregnant woman is diagnosed with an ailment such as anemia - what does this mean? In this case, anemia, synonymous with anemia, harms both the woman and the unborn baby.

General characteristics of anemias

In short, anemia is a pathological condition of the blood. It can arise as a result of various circumstances. It is also worth noting that medicine distinguishes anemia of a separate type - pseudoanemia. The scientific name for this pathology is hydroanemia. In this case, a person's blood becomes incredibly liquid, while the number of red blood cells and the level of hemoglobin remain unchanged.

Depending on the concentration of hemoglobin, there are three stages of anemia. The lower this level, the more serious the disease of anemia:

Mild anemia. In this case, the hemoglobin level remains within 90 g / l.
Average anemia. The hemoglobin level varies between 70-90 g / l.
Severe anemia. The hemoglobin level drops below 70 g / l.

If a mild degree of anemia and, in some cases, an average degree of its manifestation require dynamic monitoring and, if necessary, the use of supportive drugs, then severe anemia requires surgical intervention, without which a person may simply not survive.

In addition to the severity, the doctor divides anemia into the following types:

Relative... It is most often diagnosed at the time of pregnancy or during a slight blood loss.
Absolute... The number of red blood cells is significantly reduced, and as a result, the level of hemoglobin, which is located in red blood cells, decreases.

Causes and problems of the patient with anemia

The definition of anemia is as follows - a state of the body in which the number of red blood cells decreases and, as a rule, the body does not receive enough oxygen for normal functioning. Most patients are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. It makes up about 90% of all other types of anemia. According to WHO statistics, blood disease anemia is diagnosed in every sixth man and every third woman.

Iron in the human body takes an active part in the metabolism, metabolism, as well as the gas exchange process. A healthy adult person uses about 25 mg of iron per day, and the total supply of this substance in the body is no more than 4 grams.

The concept of anemia of this type implies a deficiency of iron in the body, and as a result, the impossibility of its normal functioning. There are several main reasons that lead to the development of iron deficiency anemia:

Improper nutrition. Ardent vegetarians very often suffer from this form of anemia, because a person can take only 3% of iron from vegetables, and 25% from meat.
Digestive problems and, as a result, the inability to assimilate iron by the body.
Pregnancy period
Heavy or minor bleeding. It can be both external and internal.
Chronic diseases.

Of course, these are not all the criteria for anemia. The danger of this ailment is manifested in the fact that it can hide itself for a very long time, and the symptoms very much resemble simple fatigue from an intense work schedule and lack of sleep. The symptoms of anemia are as follows:

General weakness.
Increased sleepiness.
Irritability.
Headache.
Heart palpitations, even at rest.
Shortness of breath.
The manifestation of chronic diseases.
Digestive system disorders.
Disappearance of blush and bruises under the eyes.

What to do with anemia?

When did the first symptoms of an ailment such as anemia begin to appear, which doctor should I go to? Considering the fact that anemia is a blood disease, a hematologist should help in this case. It is this doctor who specializes in blood problems.

Initially, it is worth visiting a therapist who can prescribe a referral to a hematologist. Also, a referral can be issued to another specialist. It depends on the symptoms manifested. In addition, the patient will need to be tested. Basically, a general blood test is prescribed, which allows you to determine the amount of iron, the level of folic acid, as well as the content of vitamin B12. As soon as the test results are known, the specialist can draw up a course for further treatment of the disease.

But can there be no treatment for anemia? Quite. It depends on the severity of the anemia. If a mild degree of anemia is diagnosed, then the patient is simply assigned dynamic observation or the need to adjust his daily diet.

What does therapy for anemia include?

So how do you deal with anemia? The treatment of such an ailment depends directly on the root cause of the development of anemia. For example, if anemia has arisen as a result of severe blood loss, then the bleeding initially stops, then a blood transfusion is performed, and finally, various medications can be used to restore the level of a substance in the blood.

If iron deficiency anemia is diagnosed, then the patient is prescribed drugs that contain iron and folic acid. In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, it is supported by the correct diet. If anemia is observed in pregnant women, then their diet includes foods that are high in iron and can increase the level of hemoglobin. Self-medication is not recommended. There are certain contraindications for anemia, which can only be established by the attending physician, depending on the results of a blood test.

International statistics of anemia

Finally, some interesting facts can be cited regarding such an ailment as anemia. According to official statistics, more than one and a half billion people worldwide suffer from anemia. If we present this indicator in percentage terms, then it will be approximately 25% of the total population. Both elderly citizens and newborn children are at risk. It is noteworthy that women are diagnosed with anemia much more often than men. Anemia is especially often diagnosed during pregnancy.

A condition characterized by a decrease in the hemoglobin content per unit of blood volume, more often - with a simultaneous decrease in the number of red blood cells. The diagnostic criteria for anemia is a decrease in hemoglobin levels below 130 g / l in men, below 120 g / l in non-pregnant women and below 110 g / l in pregnant women. In this case, the lower limit of the normal number of erythrocytes in men is 4.0 x 10 12 / l of blood, and in women - 3.5 x 10 12 / l of blood. The main reasons for the development of anemia are chronic blood loss, inadequate intake of iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 with food, increased breakdown of red blood cells, and others.

Anemia in adults

Anemia is one of the most common diseases on the planet. There are several types of anemia:

Iron deficiency
Hemolytic
Aplastic
Sideroblastic
Sickle cell
B12 deficiency, etc.

In most cases, adults are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, according to rough estimates of experts, about 25% of people experience a lack of iron in one way or another. The danger of anemia for humans lies in the gradual development of the disease. Symptoms of anemia associated with a drop in the level of hemoglobin in the blood often become noticeable only when the iron content drops to a critical level. The following categories of people are at risk of developing anemia in adults:

Vegetarians
Women suffering from severe bleeding during menstruation
Pregnant
Lactating women
Aged people
Athletes
Blood donors
Patients suffering from certain chronic diseases.

Anemia in adults usually occurs in one of three cases:

Insufficient intake of iron in the body
Increased need for iron
Increased iron loss.

Mild anemia in adults can be corrected through diet. In more severe cases, it is unlikely that it will be possible to do without seeking the advice of a doctor and taking appropriate medications.

Anemia in men

Men are less prone to anemia than women. In particular, they do not have to deal with monthly blood loss associated with the menstrual cycle. However, men can also be at risk of developing this disease.

The body of an adult man, weighing about 80 kg, must contain at least 4 g of iron, and the level of hemoglobin in the blood must reach values of 130-160 grams per 1 liter.

Women are much more likely than men to be prone to manifestations of anemia. This is due primarily to monthly bleeding, which contributes to the loss of a large number of red blood cells. Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding of children also contribute to the onset of anemia in women. At the same time, the smaller the interval between two, and sometimes even a large number of pregnancies, the less opportunities are given to the body for recovery. That is why anemia is observed in almost all mothers with many children, especially if the children are of the same age.

Heavy menstrual bleeding can also provoke anemia in women. Usually, during menstruation, 40 to 50 ml of blood is lost, which corresponds to about 8-10 teaspoons. Severe bleeding is when more than 5 pads or tampons of normal size are used per day, or even the largest pads do not last longer than 2 hours. In this case, a woman in 5-7 days can lose up to 100 ml of blood and even more. In this case, anemia can occur within a few months. And even if outwardly anemia does not manifest itself in any way, about 20% of women experience a significant decrease in ferritin in the blood - a protein that performs the function of a kind of iron depot used to restore hemoglobin levels in the blood when necessary.

Anemia in pregnant women

Anemia during pregnancy can occur for a variety of reasons. As a rule, there can be several of them at once. The body of a pregnant woman tries to provide the growing fetus with all the substances it needs, including iron, vitamin B12, folic acid. The child takes from the mother's bloodstream everything it needs, in the required amount. If a pregnant woman cannot provide herself and her unborn child with all the necessary substances, then she may develop signs of anemia. Also, some physiological factors contribute to anemia during pregnancy. The volume of the liquid part of the blood circulating in a woman's body increases significantly by the end of pregnancy, as a result of which the concentration of erythrocytes, and therefore the iron they carry, decreases.

Women who carry 2 or more pregnancies in a short period of time are at risk. Their body, not having time to fully recover, again faces an increased load, the existing slight anemia increases, the woman's condition worsens. That is why doctors recommend planning a second pregnancy no earlier than 3 years after the birth of the previous child.

Anemia in nursing

Anemia in nursing is not uncommon, the cause of this phenomenon is most often blood loss during childbirth, as well as forced adherence to a diet, for example, if the child has allergic reactions. In addition, women in the postpartum period often fall out of the field of vision of doctors. While during pregnancy they are under close medical supervision, after childbirth, all attention is directed to the child, and the mother's health becomes a matter of secondary importance, primarily for herself. And even such obvious symptoms of anemia as pallor, decreased concentration, fatigue, dizziness, are attributed to the banal overwork associated with caring for an infant.

Breastfeeding in itself does not contribute to the development of anemia, but the lifestyle and nutrition of a nursing mother often become an obstacle to the restoration of normal hemoglobin levels. In particular, such excellent sources of iron as legumes are excluded from the diet due to the danger of increased gas production in an infant, and if a woman is forced to give up meat at the same time, then she is most likely guaranteed anemia.

That is why every woman, when breastfeeding her baby, should not forget about herself and her own health. Iron supplements prescribed by a doctor based on the results of a blood test will help to cope with anemia at this stage of her life. Contrary to popular belief, these drugs do not in any way affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of a child receiving breast milk. The first improvements from taking them can be observed as early as 2-3 weeks after the start of admission, while the full course of treatment should last at least 5-8 weeks.

Anemia with menopause

Anemia is so common that older women often do not pay attention to its symptoms, mistaking them for the usual fatigue associated with anything other than a lack of iron in the body.

Hormonal changes in the body before menopause often cause severe bleeding. In addition, for most women, the body has not been able to really recover from pregnancies, childbirth, menstruation, surgical interventions that have happened over the past 20-30 years. Also, during menopause and postmenopause, weight gain is often caused by hormonal changes. In an effort to lose weight, women begin to adhere to a different diet plan, nutrition ceases to be complete, and the risk of developing anemia increases.

The reserves of ferritin, a protein complex that serves as a kind of depot for iron compounds designed to restore normal hemoglobin levels, also deplete over the years. As a result, even after the cessation of menstruation, the woman's body is not able to make up for the lack of hemoglobin that has arisen, which leads to symptoms of anemia during menopause.

Therefore, it is not necessary to attribute increased fatigue, increased need for sleep or excessive pallor to the manifestations of age. It is better to seek the advice of a doctor about identifying possible anemia, so that he performs the appropriate tests and, if necessary, prescribes the drugs she needs to the patient.

A growing body needs a regular intake of all important vitamins and minerals, one of which is iron. The child's daily need for iron, in accordance with age, is:

Babies under the age of six months - 4 mg
Children from 6 months to 10 years old - 6-8 mg
Adolescents aged 10 to 18 years - 6 mg (boys) and 12 mg (girls)

According to data obtained by the World Health Organization, the incidence of anemia in children on the planet has reached an alarming 82%. Iron deficiency can interfere with the normal physical and mental development of children.

It is quite difficult and not always possible to make up for the iron deficiency in a child's body only by following a diet. Modern drugs for the treatment of anemia in children are available in various forms for children, such as drops, syrup and even chewable tablets, which greatly simplifies their use and makes it possible not only for older children, but also for babies.

Anemia in children under one year old

Children are born with a certain amount of iron they received from their mother during the prenatal period. The newborn's own hematopoietic system is not yet working to the extent that it can meet the needs of a rapidly growing organism. That is why in all full-term babies, a drop in the level of hemoglobin in the blood is observed already by 4-5 months of age, and in premature babies even earlier - upon reaching 3 months. Artificial and mixed feeding is becoming a risk factor and increases the likelihood of anemia in infants. If, for various reasons, the mother is unable to establish sufficient breastfeeding, the baby should be supplemented with specially formulated formulas, and not goat or cow's milk.

Symptoms of anemia in infants may include:

Pallor of the skin
Bad dream
Unexplained anxiety
Hair loss
Poor appetite
Frequent regurgitation
Small weight gain
Developmental delays.

Since children under the age of one year are able to assimilate up to 70% of iron supplied with food, treatment of anemia with drugs is not always required. However, if the values of the test results are of concern to the pediatrician, the child may be prescribed iron supplements in the form of syrup or drops, for example, Maltofer or Ferrum Lek.

Anemia in preschoolers

According to a study published in 2010, about 50% of preschool children have iron deficiency, obvious or latent, due to a variety of reasons, and most often anemia in preschoolers is a consequence of anemia that appears in the first year of life. The lack of proper nutrition also plays a significant role in this, small children quite often refuse to eat meat and vegetables - the main suppliers of iron, preferring sweets and other unhealthy foods. If, despite a balanced, iron-rich diet, the child shows symptoms of anemia (pallor, fatigue, lack of appetite, dry lips, brittle nails, etc.), you should immediately seek the advice of a pediatrician for all the necessary research. In 90% of cases, anemia in preschoolers is caused by iron deficiency, but it can also indicate the development of rather serious diseases, for example, celiac disease (gluten intolerance) or leukemia.

Anemia in schoolchildren

Anemia in primary school children develops gradually, and it is common for parents to sound the alarm when iron deficiency becomes severe. Very often, schoolchildren neglect breakfast, refuse to eat in the canteen, satisfying their hunger with sweets at hand. Improper nutrition, lack of sports, insufficient stay in the fresh air, passion for computers and smartphones - any of these factors individually does not cause anemia, but in combination, they all negatively affect hematopoiesis, as a result of which anemia can be found in almost everyone the second student.

In a school-age child, the lower limit of the permissible value of the hemoglobin level in the blood should not fall below 130 g / l. Anemia in schoolchildren contributes to decreased concentration, which can lead to academic failure. Moreover, the child's immunity decreases, which in turn leads to an increase in the number of acute respiratory diseases. Therefore, if a child "catches a cold" too often during the year, parents should think about the advisability of a blood test. Iron deficiency is usually easily corrected by taking appropriate medications. However, you should not forget about proper nutrition. Children assimilate up to 10% of the iron that enters the body with food, while adults are able to assimilate no more than 3%.

Anemia in adolescents

During adolescence, anemia most often develops in girls. The rapid growth of the body and heavy menstruation lead to the fact that iron deficiency develops quite rapidly. In addition, girls are often fond of various kinds of diets, refuse to eat meat, and promote vegetarianism. All this only exacerbates the difference between the intake and consumption of iron in the body.

However, young men may be at risk of acquiring anemia. In particular, factors such as:

Growing too fast
Intense sports
Improper nutrition
Initial low blood iron levels.

The symptoms of anemia in adolescents are somewhat different from those of iron deficiency in young children. In adolescence, iron deficiency can manifest itself primarily in the blue sclera of the eyes, changes in the shape of the nail plates (cup-shaped nails), disturbances in taste and smell, and digestive problems.

Severe anemia in adolescents is difficult to cope with without the help of iron supplements. At the same time, you should not hope for a quick healing either. The first changes in blood counts will appear only 10-12 days after the start of taking drugs for anemia, and a noticeable improvement in the condition can be noted no earlier than 5-6 weeks after the start of therapy.

There are several types of anemia. The most common is iron deficiency anemia, it is diagnosed in 90% of all cases of the disease. At the same time, a decrease in the number of erythrocytes necessary for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body is observed in the patient's blood.

However, iron deficiency is not the only cause of anemia. The so-called pernicious anemia indicates a lack of vitamin B12, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. Most often, a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body becomes a consequence of a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and may indicate the possible presence of a focus of inflammation in the intestine.

In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow is unable to produce sufficient red blood cells. The causes of this condition can be, for example, radiation exposure or prolonged use of cytostatic drugs.

With hemolytic anemia, the patient has a decrease in the life span of erythrocytes. At the same time, the body usually tries to compensate for the resulting losses by producing an increased number of red blood cells, but an increase in the number leads to a decrease in quality. Immature erythrocytes are not able to adequately perform the function assigned to them, and anemia progresses.

Sickle cell anemia is a type of hemolytic anemia. This disease has a genetic nature of origin, most often people from the African continent are affected by it. In sickle cell anemia, some of the erythrocytes circulating in the blood take an atypical shape, resembling a crescent moon. Such blood bodies are not only unable to perform the function assigned to them, but can also clog small blood vessels, which in the worst case can lead to damage to internal organs.

Iron-deficiency anemia

According to the WHO, every 6th man and every 3rd woman in the world suffer from manifestations of iron deficiency anemia.

Hemoglobin is a complex protein compound that contains iron, which has the ability to reversibly bind to oxygen molecules. This is how oxygen is delivered from the lungs to the tissues of the human body through the blood stream. Without iron, this process would not have been possible.

A lack of iron leads to a deterioration in the supply of oxygen to the cells of the body, as a result of which a person's muscle performance is significantly reduced, dry skin appears, hair and nails become brittle. The late stage of iron deficiency anemia is characterized by the appearance of neurological disorders, such as discomfort in the limbs (chills, numbness), headaches, difficulty swallowing, loss of bladder control.

Iron deficiency anemia responds well to therapy with iron preparations, but treatment will make little sense if the cause of the anemia is not identified and eliminated. Also, we must not forget that replenishing iron stores usually takes a long time, an increase in hemoglobin levels, as a rule, is noted only in the third week of regular intake of drugs. That is why it is impossible to judge the ineffectiveness of drugs after short-term use. Treatment of iron deficiency anemia is a long-term process that requires a lot of patience and discipline from the patient.

Hemolytic anemia is characterized by a reduction in the life span of erythrocytes, while the level of hemoglobin in a person may be within the normal range. However, defects found on red blood cells prevent them from fully performing their function.

Hemolytic anemia can be congenital, but more often it is still acquired and occurs in connection with the following reasons:

Incompatibility of the blood of the mother and the newborn baby for the Rh factor or blood group
Exposure to the body of certain poisons or toxins (poisoning with lead, snake or bee venom, etc.)
Transfusion of incompatible donor blood
The presence of malignant neoplasms in the body.

But sometimes the cause of hemolytic anemia remains undetected, in this case, doctors talk about the development of idiopathic hemolytic anemia.

Treatment of hemolytic anemia is selected based on the reasons that caused the appearance of the disease. In mild cases, only the supervision of the attending physician is usually sufficient, in more severe cases, the use of glucocorticosteroid drugs, plasmapheresis, and removal of the spleen may be required.

Aplastic anemia

Aplastic anemia is a rather rare disease characterized by a decrease in the number of all blood cells: erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets. Most often, this disease becomes acquired, but in some cases it may also be congenital.

The causes of aplastic anemia can be:

Taking some strong medications
Effects of toxins on the body
Viruses.

If the cause of the disease could not be identified, doctors talk about the occurrence of idiopathic aplastic anemia, but there is an assumption that in this case an unknown virus becomes the culprit, the effect of which on the body, due to the weak severity of symptoms, was unnoticed.

Hypochromic anemia

The concept of "hypochromic anemia" combines several types of anemia at once, the common symptom of which is a decrease in the color index of blood to a value of 0.8 or less, when normally it should be within the range of 0.85 - 1.05. Most often, this phenomenon is associated with a lack of hemoglobin in the blood. Laboratory observations can reveal changes in the shape and size of red blood cells. Red blood cells take the form of a dark ring with a light spot in the middle.

The most common variant of hypochromic anemia is iron deficiency anemia, but the patient may also develop iron-saturated or iron-redistributive anemia.

Symptoms in all types of hypochromic anemia are quite similar. These include:

Weakness
Pallor of the skin
Irritability
Dizziness
Dyspnea
Cardiopalmus
Etc.

However, a simple prescription of drugs for anemia can be dispensed with if the patient has a pronounced iron deficiency. But in the case of iron-saturated anemia, taking this kind of medication can lead to an unwanted accumulation of excess iron in the tissues of the body, which can seriously affect the health of the internal organs.

B12 deficiency anemia

Anemia is not always caused by iron deficiency in the body. The so-called pernicious anemia becomes a consequence of a violation of the absorption of vitamin B12, in this case, they speak of the development of B12-deficiency anemia in the patient.

Cobalamin or B12 vitamin is present in many food products, therefore, it is possible to talk about insufficient intake of it in the body only in conditions of severe hunger or long-term adherence to a monotonous diet. The problem of a patient suffering from B12-deficiency anemia is that, for various reasons, the vitamin is not absorbed by the body. It should not be forgotten that the human liver usually contains a fairly large supply of this vitamin, which, if necessary, can be enough for 2 or even 4 years. That is, if a person is diagnosed with B12-deficiency anemia, this means that the problems that caused this deficiency have arisen for a long time.

Lack of vitamin B12 contributes to a delay in the maturation of red blood cells, as a result of which the patient shows signs similar to iron deficiency anemia:

Pallor of the skin
Weakness
Tingling in the extremities
Muscle spasms, etc.

Disease anemia

The disease anemia is colloquially referred to as "anemia", but this concept does not correlate in any way with the amount of blood in the body, but rather with its quality. Erythrocytes give the blood a red color and their function in the body is to transfer oxygen molecules from the lungs to the tissues with the help of hemoglobin and transport carbon dioxide molecules on the way back.

Depending on how hemoglobin-laden red blood cells look under a microscope, anemia is classified as follows:

Microcytic hypochromic anemia

At the same time, erythrocytes are too small in size, as a result of which they are able to transport a smaller amount of hemoglobin put. This phenomenon is commonly seen in iron deficiency anemia.

Macrocytic hyperchromic anemia

Red blood cells are larger than they should be and contain a sufficient amount of hemoglobin. Due to this, their ability to transport oxygen is sufficiently preserved, however, the life cycle of erythrocytes is significantly reduced. This form of the disease can be observed, for example, with hemolytic anemia.

Normocytic normochromic anemia

It is characterized by the normal size and shape of red blood cells. However, as a result of severe blood loss, a drop in the number of red blood cells is observed, which leads to a deterioration in the supply of oxygen to the tissues of the body.

There are three degrees of severity of anemia, each requiring a blood test.

The first, mild degree of anemia is characterized by a slight decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood and only slightly affects the well-being of a person. The patient may complain of recurrent weakness, increased fatigue, decreased concentration. In this case, symptoms are usually attributed to workload, lack of sleep, and other obvious factors. Mild anemia is usually detected by chance in the course of laboratory tests. The values of the hemoglobin index in this case are in the range of 90-110 g / l in women and 100-120 g / l in men.
The second, average degree of anemia is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin indices to 70-90 g / l in representatives of the female half of the population, and in men it reaches values of 80-100 g / l. The average degree of anemia is accompanied by symptoms that are almost impossible to miss. The patient shows signs of oxygen starvation of brain tissues and other organs. The consequence of this is headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, tachycardia may occur.
With the third, severe degree of anemia, hemoglobin values fall below 70 g / l. At the same time, the patient has a change in the structure of nails and hair, numbness of the limbs occurs, taste and smell may be perverted.

Acute anemia

Acute anemia usually develops after significant blood loss, such as from trauma and bleeding for medical reasons. The first symptoms of acute anemia may appear after the loss of 1/8 of the total blood volume, that is, about 500 ml. It should be borne in mind that it is far from always possible to assess the full scale of blood loss. So, for example, with nosebleeds, especially if it occurs during sleep, some of the blood may be swallowed unnoticed.

A sharp decrease in the number of red blood cells leads to the development of hypoxia, the patient develops dizziness, flickering before the eyes, tinnitus, pallor of the skin and mucous membranes.

Acute anemia requires urgent medical attention. It is necessary to eliminate the cause of its appearance as early as possible, that is, to stop the bleeding. Severe acute anemia may require donor blood transfusion.

Chronic anemia

A feature of chronic anemia is the gradual development of the disease and is characterized by a drop in hemoglobin levels below normal, which is observed for a long time.

Chronic post-hemorrhagic anemia develops as a result of repeated minor blood loss, arising, for example, due to:

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
The presence of malignant neoplasms
Kidney disease
Lung disease
Uterine bleeding
Liver disease

The clinical manifestations of chronic post-hemorrhagic anemia are similar to those of iron deficiency anemia. The skin and mucous membranes are characterized by significant pallor, moderate tachycardia, slight swelling of the legs and face can be observed. The patient complains of weakness, increased fatigue, decreased performance, etc.

Treatment for chronic anemia begins with identifying the cause. After the source of bleeding is found and eliminated, the doctor proceeds to restore the balance of iron in the body.

Causes of anemia

A decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood can occur for three main reasons.

The body loses blood and is unable to replenish the loss in sufficient volume, for example, during severe bleeding after an injury. In women, the cause of anemia can be profuse blood loss during menstruation. If bleeding occurs, for example, in the gastrointestinal tract, it can go unnoticed for a long time. So, preventive studies aimed at detecting bowel cancer include an analysis of detecting blood in the patient's feces.
The shortening of the life cycle of erythrocytes does not lead to an automatic accelerated production of red blood cells by the bone marrow, as a result of which their number decreases over time. Most often this becomes a consequence of an attack by the body's immune system. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a rather rare phenomenon and usually occurs against the background of such serious diseases as systemic lupus erythematosus, lymphogranulomatosis, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, etc.
The production of an insufficient number of red blood cells over time can also lead to anemia. This can happen if an insufficient amount of iron and vitamin B12 is supplied to the body with food. It is also possible that these 2 elements, due to some diseases, cease to be absorbed, which can also lead to the development of anemia.

Despite the variety of forms of anemia, its symptoms in most cases are quite similar. This is due to oxygen starvation of tissues, which makes itself felt in a certain way, regardless of the reason that caused it. Typical symptoms of anemia include the following:

Pallor
Dizziness
Dyspnea
Tachycardia
Brittle nails
Hair loss
Dry skin
Painful sores in the mouth
Burning sensation on the tongue
Difficulty swallowing
Cracked mouth
Loss of appetite
Perversion of taste (desire to eat earth, chalk, ice)
Perverted sense of smell (desire to inhale acetone vapors, etc.).

Despite the abundance of symptoms, anemia often remains unrecognized for a long time. This is due to the fact that the disease develops gradually, at first its symptoms are attributed to quite obvious circumstances (stress, lack of sleep, busy work schedule). That is why anemia is detected either by accident as a result of a blood test taken for some third-party reasons, or already at a late stage, when the disease goes too far.

Signs of anemia

What are the signs that you can suspect you have anemia? For example, pallor is a rather subjective concept, and the darker a person's skin, the harder it is to notice. However, the signs of anemia include pallor not only of the skin, but also of the mucous membranes, for example, on the inner side of the lower eyelid. In a healthy person, if you slightly pull the eyelid, you can notice on its inner side a pronounced red mesh of capillaries, with anemia, the vessels will be only slightly noticeable or not at all visible.

Shortness of breath, which appears even after mild exertion, can be another sign of anemia. Anyone who previously easily climbed to the fifth floor, and now begins to get out of rhythmic breathing on the second, should donate blood to determine the level of hemoglobin in it.

A too fast heartbeat for a long time, recorded even at rest, can also become a sign of anemia. This is due to the fact that the body, trying to establish a sufficient supply of oxygen to tissues, makes the heart beat faster in order to increase the blood flow rate.

Lack of energy can also become an indirect sign of anemia. At the same time, a person cannot cheer up, for example, with the help of coffee. And if someone, even after a long sleep, always wakes up tired, he must necessarily seek the advice of a doctor. A routine blood test will help clarify the situation.

The consequences of anemia

As medical practice shows, many people are too light on the diagnosis of anemia. On the one hand, they fail to fully assess the severity of the disease, on the other hand, many are frightened by the prospect of taking iron supplements and the associated side effects (changes in stool, etc.). Nevertheless, one cannot underestimate the insidiousness of anemia. The disease not only worsens the quality of life, as it develops, it can lead to serious complications. Here are just a few of them:

Decreased immunity, an increase in the number of infectious diseases
Changes in the organs and tissues of the body, at a later stage they can become irreversible
Changes in the skin. The skin and mucous membranes become unnecessarily vulnerable, a person has a tendency to dermatitis and eczema.
Nervous system disorders. A person has not only irritability and increased tearfulness, the level of his intelligence can also begin to decline. Memory problems are one of the consequences of anemia.
An increase in the load on the heart, which in turn can lead to the development of cardiomyopathy. The heart muscle hypertrophies, in the end it can even cause death of a person.

Suspicion of anemia may appear as a result of a routine medical examination, based on the patient's appearance, taking into account the complaints that arise. An important role in the diagnosis of anemia is played by a complete blood count, which determines the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Sometimes, to clarify the diagnosis, it may be necessary to conduct a complete blood test to determine the color index, the average amount of hemoglobin in the erythrocyte, as well as the number of reticulocytes - precursor cells of erythrocytes, which makes it possible to judge the work of the bone marrow.

But it is not enough to determine the very fact of the presence of anemia. Successful treatment without identifying the causes that caused the anemia is impossible. That is why every woman, when diagnosing anemia, receives a referral to a gynecologist, who will conduct a study of the pelvic organs to exclude ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids, and will also try to identify the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding.

Since most occult bleeding is found inside the gastrointestinal tract, patients of both sexes may need examination methods such as:

Fibrogastroscopy (examination of the condition of the walls of the stomach and duodenum)
Sigmoidoscopy (rectal examination)
Fibrocolonoscopy (examination of the large intestine)
Irrigoscopy (examination of the intestine using a contrast agent).

In especially severe cases, it may be required to identify possible pathologies of the circulatory system.

Treating anemia

Treatment of anemia is determined based on the severity of the patient's condition, and also depends on the reasons for the development of the disease.

Mild anemia, with hemoglobin levels only slightly below normal, can usually be treated with an iron-rich diet. When choosing products, one should focus not so much on the iron content as on its form, because the body absorbs the so-called heme iron, which is contained, for example, in meat products, best of all. But the liver or fish, although they are famous for their high iron content, is in them in the form of hemosiderin and ferritin, the digestibility of which is very, very low.

The diet for anemia includes the use of the following recommended foods:

Beef (beef tongue is especially valuable in this regard)
Rabbit meat
Chicken and turkey meat
Mushrooms (especially porcini)
Whole grain cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal)
Apricots, peaches, apples
Cocoa
Natural hematogen.

Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C may themselves contain only small amounts of iron, but their use promotes the absorption of iron from other foods, so, for example, boiled beef with a cold sauce based on lemon juice may be an ideal dish for an anemic patient.

It should be remembered that, for example, dairy products interfere with the absorption of iron, therefore, during the diet, their amount in the diet should be significantly reduced.

Moderate anemia is almost always treated with iron supplements, which many people view with great prejudice. First, they are afraid of possible side effects, such as darkening of the teeth, changes in the consistency and color of the stool; secondly, the effect of taking this kind of drugs does not appear immediately and can become noticeable only after 1-3 months. Treating anemia requires a lot of patience, and this fact should be accepted by anyone who wants to get rid of the manifestations of this disease.

When choosing drugs for the treatment of anemia, preference should be given to those that contain iron in the so-called bivalent form. At the moment, they are considered more effective than ferric iron preparations, and in addition have a more gentle effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

Preparations for anemia containing ferrous iron:

Aktiferrin
Sorbifer
Tardiferron
Fenotek
Ferroplex
Totem.

Preparations for anemia containing ferric iron:

Maltofer
Ferrostat
Ferrum lek.

For children, iron supplements for anemia can be given in the form of syrup or drops, while for adults it is better to give preference to tablets or capsules. This is due to the fact that long-term intake of fluids containing a large amount of iron can actually lead to darkening of the tooth enamel.

Only a doctor should prescribe iron supplements; their unauthorized prescription in an arbitrary dosage may even turn out to be harmful and lead to poisoning with excess iron.

For better absorption, tablets or capsules are best taken 30-40 minutes before meals, and the interval between two doses should not be shorter than 4 hours.

In especially severe cases, iron preparations can be administered to the patient intravenously or intramuscularly, however, this method of treatment may be fraught with the occurrence of drug intolerance by the patient and requires the patient to stay under the supervision of a physician. In addition, intramuscular iron administration can lead to the deposition of hemosiderin under the skin, as a result of which dark spots appear on the skin at the injection site, which may take from one and a half to 5-10 years to get rid of.

Surgical treatment of anemia

By itself, anemia is treated exclusively conservatively, but the reasons that caused its appearance may require surgical intervention by a specialist. Often, anemia in women is the result of heavy menstrual bleeding. Normally, the female body is programmed to replenish the erythrocytes lost during monthly blood loss. However, when losses become very large, anemia can develop within 6-12 months. Fibroids in the uterus are very common causes of severe bleeding. Removing them can help solve the problem, and the scope of the intervention is determined based on the patient's age and her views on childbirth. If a woman is absolutely sure that having children is no longer part of her plans, removing the uterus can be exactly the step that will help her get rid of anemia, which is progressing month after month.

Hemolytic anemia may also require surgery. The so-called splenectomy, that is, the removal of the spleen, sometimes becomes the only way out of this situation. It is in the spleen that the breakdown of red blood cells occurs. Removal of this organ in hemolytic anemia slows down this process.

Prevention of anemia begins with proper nutrition, rich in not only iron, but also vitamins C, B12, folic acid. Vegetable products are significantly inferior to meat derivatives in terms of iron absorption. And if up to 11-12% of this microelement is absorbed from veal, then from fruits the body manages to assimilate only 3% of iron, and from spinach, legumes or corn, even 1%. Therefore, vegetarians are at risk of developing anemia, they need to regularly monitor the level of hemoglobin in the blood and, in case of a strong decrease, start taking medications prescribed by a doctor aimed at treating anemia.

Some life circumstances lead to an increase in the need for iron, this can happen:

In women with heavy menstrual bleeding
In women during pregnancy and lactation
In newborns born prematurely
In newborns whose weight does not reach 2500 grams.

In each of these cases, your doctor may prescribe iron supplements to prevent anemia.

Anemia is not a separate disease, but a whole group of clinical and hematological syndromes, which are united by one common point - a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood serum. In this case, a simultaneous decrease in the number of red blood cells (or their total volume) is most often observed. Anemia is considered as one of the symptoms of various pathological conditions. In this article we will talk about the symptoms of this condition, the reasons for its development, as well as methods of correction and prevention.

Symptoms

All types of anemia have several characteristic manifestations, including dizziness, severe weakness, impaired vision and coordination, "ringing" in the ears, the occurrence of bouts of nausea, sticky sweat, fainting, in addition, there is a decrease in blood pressure, increased respiration and pulse rate and other symptoms.

Causes

Anemia is a consequence of a lack of vitamins or iron, it develops as a result of bleeding, as well as destruction (hemolysis) or shortening the life span of red blood cells in the blood serum (they usually live for about four months). In addition, this pathological condition can occur due to hereditary or acquired diseases and defects.

In order to correctly determine the cause of the development of anemia, you need to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. For example, jaundice, which occurs with a sharp increase in the breakdown of hemoglobin, indicates a hemolytic process. Black-colored feces indicate bleeding in the intestines. There are several types of anemia, and each of them needs an individual approach to correction.

Varieties of anemia

The most common type of this pathological condition is considered to be iron-deficiency anemia. Lack of iron leads to the fact that the human bone marrow begins to produce small and pale red blood cells, which contain little hemoglobin. This disease is especially common among women of childbearing age, due to menstrual blood loss, as well as as a result of the body's increasing need for iron while waiting for the baby.

Pernicious anemia is a classic manifestation of a deficiency in the body of a vitamin such as B12. The tissues of the nervous system and the bone marrow are especially sensitive to the lack of this substance. If a person does not receive adequate treatment, they develop nerve degeneration and anemia. This type of this pathological condition is especially characteristic of adults and is associated with gastric atrophy.

Anemia with blood loss. A significant number of red blood cells can be lost along with blood during unnoticed or prolonged bleeding. It can occur with lesions of the gastrointestinal system, for example, with gastritis, hemorrhoids, ulcers and cancer.

Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells. This type of disease is the result of the destruction of red blood cells. It includes such subtypes as autoimmune, hemolytic, and thalassemia.

Hemolytic anemia. In some cases, the bone marrow simply cannot fully perform its functions and does not produce a sufficient number of cells, especially if early destruction of red blood cells occurs. Hemolytic anemia can be triggered by a variety of reasons, for example, infections or taking certain medications. The impetus for its development can be stress factors, for example, the bite of a poisonous insect or snake.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is manifested by an attack by the immune system of its own red blood cells, which are mistaken for foreign organisms. The destruction of these blood cells can also be triggered by clotting disorders, vascular grafts, tumors, severe burns, the action of chemicals, etc.

Sickle cell anemia is caused by destruction of red blood cells as a result of genetic defects or hereditary diseases.

Thalassemia is a particularly severe form of anemia, in which the destruction of red blood cells is observed, as well as the deposition of iron in the skin and various vital organs.

Treatment

Therapeutic measures directly depend on the nature of the disease. An excellent effect is provided by the management of certain deficient substances, for example, vitamin B12 (with pernicious anemia) or iron (with an iron deficiency form of the disease). If anemia is caused by a slight decrease in the production of red blood cells due to some kind of chronic disease, then it is usually not very pronounced and does not need special correction. In this case, the therapy of the underlying disease has a beneficial effect on the restoration of the quantity and quality of red blood cells.

Prevention

In order to prevent anemia, you should have a varied and healthy diet, walk for an hour a day, and carefully monitor all changes in your health and, if necessary, seek medical help. In order to know the level of your hemoglobin, it is recommended to take a general blood test at least once a year. Those who are at risk (pregnant women and women who have just given birth, as well as those with long periods) should do this more often - twice a year.

It is important to regularly treat diseases that may cause bleeding from the nose, intestines or stomach.

Anemia is a condition that is rarely diagnosed as a separate disease. More often it is a symptom of a disease. People of different ages and gender face this condition. According to scientific data, it follows that more than 30% of people suffer from anemia. But the figure may change, since anemia does not manifest itself for some time.

What is anemia and what is its danger?

There are three groups of cells in the human blood - erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets. Each of them is responsible for a specific function. In particular, erythrocytes Are red bodies containing hemoglobin. They not only affect the color of blood, but also carry out an important mission - they deliver oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body. When there are not enough red blood cells or the hemoglobin content is very low, anemia develops.

It is a pathological condition of the blood that occurs for various reasons. Otherwise called anemia anemia. In addition, a separate option is highlighted. pseudoanemia, called hydro-anemia. Within the framework of anemia, the blood becomes completely liquid, while the number and composition of erythrocytes remains unchanged.

When diagnosing anemia, attention is paid to the hemoglobin indices, since in some of its forms it is the number of erythrocytes that remains normal. However, a drop in the hemoglobin index leads to negative consequences and the development of a painful condition.

Hemoglobin indicators within the permissible norm

In this pathological condition, the reasons can be distinguished, due to which it is considered quite dangerous.

The human body has the ability to maintain the supply of oxygen to organs and tissues for a long time even in a situation of a deficiency of erythrocytes. For this reason, clear signs of anemia can manifest themselves already at the moment when the pathological condition becomes critical.
With a lack of oxygen, which is carried by the bloodstream, oxygen starvation can develop. This leads to tissue and organ dystrophy.
Anemia is also dangerous because it often develops in combination with diseases that can lead to serious consequences. Such diseases, for example, include various kinds of inflammatory and infectious diseases, and malignant tumors.
Due to the various forms of this pathological condition, which are based on different causes, anemia also poses a threat. After all, for example, a lack of vitamin B12, which provokes the emergence of one of the types of blood diseases, adversely affects the overall health.
Anemia can pose a separate danger during pregnancy, harming both the health of the woman and the baby developing in the womb.

Variants of anemia by severity

Anemia is diagnosed with three different degrees, which are based on the amount of hemoglobin in the patient's blood. The lower the indicators, the more difficult the form of this painful condition will be.

In addition to the severity of the disease, it is customary to distinguish:

relative anemia - more often characteristic during pregnancy or within the framework of significant blood loss, characterized by an increase in plasma in the blood;
absolute anemia - a noticeable decrease in the number of erythrocytes and, as a result, a decrease in hemoglobin indicators.

The main forms of anemia

There are many types of this painful condition. In the framework of the international classification of diseases (ICD-10), anemia ranks among other diseases of the blood and hematopoietic organs, while the pathology is assigned three positions:

anemia due to malnutrition;
pathological condition due to enzymatic disorders that have arisen;
other types.

What forms of anemia are considered the most common, and how are they characterized?

Iron-deficiency anemia. Refers to the number of pathology options based on disorders in the production of hemoglobin, erythrocytes. Its basis is a lack of iron, which is responsible for the presence of hemoglobin in the blood. Most women are susceptible to this form of anemia. This type of anemia is also typical for children, people whose diet limits the intake of iron from food, and with serious injuries.
B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia. This form of the disease occurs due to a lack of vitamin B12 in the body, which is also called cyanocobalamin. He takes part in the formation of red blood cells. In situations of its deficiency, a similar form of a pathological condition is diagnosed, and anemia of a malignant order, affecting the central nervous system and the brain, can also be detected.
Diamond-Blackfen anemia. This subspecies has no specific etiology. In this case, anemia in infants is diagnosed; its main manifestation, which allows such a diagnosis to be made, is a lack of erythropoiesis.
Post-hemorrhagic anemia. It includes two options: acute and chronic. The basis for any form of such a diagnosis is blood loss. With a significant loss of blood that occurred at a time, an assumption is made about the occurrence of an acute form of post-hemorrhagic anemia. When bleeding occurs from time to time, and its volumes can be quite scanty, a chronic form can be diagnosed.
Sickle cell anemia. It is considered a pathological condition that is inherited. Normally, red blood cells have a biconcave shape, resembling a disc in appearance. However, in the case of the development of this pathology, the blood cells are modified during the transfer of oxygen, they become like a sickle, hence the name of anemia. This happens due to the fact that normal hemoglobin is replaced by pathological.
Folic acid deficiency anemia. This is one of the forms of anemia, which is among the group of megaloblastic anemias. It develops due to a lack of folic acid, which can occur both due to an incorrectly selected diet, and due to the impossibility of absorption of the substance by the intestinal walls. The main characteristic of the pathological condition is the formation of megaloblasts in the bone marrow and the destruction of red blood cells.
Aplastic anemia. This subspecies by specialists refers to the so-called depressive blood diseases. Based on a significant shortening of the life of red blood cells, it is also manifested by the transient destruction of blood cells in the bone marrow. This type of anemia is considered a rather severe form and requires medical attention.

The main groups of anemias

From a medical point of view, this pathological condition of the blood can be divided into subspecies, but also collected into groups due to some common reason. The most common are:

hemolytic anemia- This is the generalized name for anemias that develop due to the rapid destruction of red blood cells. Such subspecies of anemia can be congenital or hereditary (thalassemia, ovalocytosis), acquired and immune (autoimmune);
megaloblastic anemia- this phrase means a small group of variants of anemia, which are based on a lack of vitamins in the body. Its main characteristic is a change in the size and shape of red blood cells;
normochromic anemia- this group is characterized by a normal blood color in the presence of a pathological condition. The color index is responsible for the saturation of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Within the framework of normochromic anemias, for example, anemia is isolated due to low production of erythropoietin in the body;
hypochromic anemia- another name - hypochromia... This is a group of pathological conditions of blood, in which the color index is significantly reduced. This phrase can be used as a generalized name for all forms of anemia with low hemoglobin levels;
dyshemopoietic anemia- a group based on the idea of impaired blood formation that occurs within the red bone marrow.

Separately, there are anemias that accompany any diseases, for example, due to infectious diseases that cause chronic inflammatory processes, or within the framework of collagenoses (pathology of connective tissues or rheumatic diseases).

Features of the course of anemia during pregnancy and the effect on the child

Many expectant mothers are diagnosed with anemia. According to statistics, it turns out that more than 50% of pregnant women experience this pathological condition, which is most often expressed by iron deficiency anemia. Usually, a mild form is diagnosed that does not pose an undue threat to the health of the mother and child. But in some cases, it is possible to develop anemia of the 2nd degree, which is considered more dangerous.

Doctors tend to believe that mild and moderate forms of anemia do not adversely affect the child in the womb, since the fetus still receives the necessary portion of oxygen and iron. Anemia is more dangerous for the expectant mother. But in a situation where anemia passes into the final, critical degree, the threat hangs over the child. In this case, there is a risk of developing hypoxia due to an excessively low hemoglobin index in the mother's blood.

The features of the course of anemia in pregnant women include the following factors:

increased tendency of the mother to various kinds of infectious, viral diseases during pregnancy;
the possibility of developing venous thrombosis;
the danger of premature or rapid childbirth, low labor activity, as well as early withdrawal of waters increases significantly; in some cases, a miscarriage is possible;
in pregnant women susceptible to this condition, toxicosis and gestosis occur many times more often and are more difficult to tolerate; and there is also a risk of placental abruption;
one of the features of anemia during pregnancy is bleeding throughout the entire period, while there is a threat of significant blood loss during and after childbirth;
anemia provokes a weakening of the heart muscle, which can cause pre-infarction or heart failure.

Despite the fact that, for the most part, the mother's pathology does not negatively affect the unborn child, it is customary to highlight some features of the effect of anemia on the fetus. In addition to possible hypoxia, the pathological state of the mother's blood can manifest itself:

underdevelopment of the internal organs of the baby;
the appearance of early childhood anemia after birth;
the child's tendency to various kinds of diseases of the digestive system and respiratory organs;
too low birth weight;
reduced immune system of the child, as well as congenital anemia.

Childhood anemia: characteristic features

Anemia as a pathological condition of the blood has a number of characteristic symptoms that can be observed in both adults and children. However, from the point of view of the development of this condition in children, some features can be identified that will affect the development of the child.

Severe iron deficiency in the newborn's body, which occurs due to the presence of anemia in the mother. With this outcome, anemia can be diagnosed immediately or there is a risk of developing early childhood anemia.
If a rather severe form of the disease occurs, the child may desire to chew chalk, earth, sand, paper, and also inhale specific odors (paint, acetone, glue).
Another feature is the suppression of the functions of the cardiovascular system, due to which there may be unreasonable drops in pressure, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and irregular breathing.
A disease in childhood can lead to pathological changes in the child's body, in particular, cellular and tissue metabolism can be disrupted.
In some cases, jaundice is diagnosed, as well as a significant increase in the liver.
Prolonged anemia, which turns into a chronic form and does not have medical intervention, negatively affects the growth of the child.

Separate features of anemia in adults

Depending on the type, form of the disease, doctors may distinguish general symptoms characteristic of a particular pathological condition of the blood. However, against their background, certain features of the course of anemia of varying degrees in adults are also diagnosed.

Yellowing of the skin and an increase in the size of the spleen.
, goose bumps and tingling sensations in the lower and upper extremities.
Unreasonably dark color of urine at different times of the day.
The appearance of non-permanent inflammatory processes in the oral cavity (ulcers, cracks, non-healing wounds), excessive dryness of the lips, tongue, the formation of cracks in the corners of the mouth.
Decreased libido.
The development of pathology of the sense organs, this can be manifested by an incorrect identification of smells or tastes.
Difficulty healing even minor wounds and cuts in the skin.
A noticeable decrease in total lean body mass.
Often, along with any form of anemia in adults, secondary immunodeficiency is diagnosed, leading to the development of fungal and colds infections.
In the course of the pathological state of the blood, there is an exacerbation of congenital, acquired, chronic diseases of the brain, vascular system, heart. This can manifest itself, for example, ischemic attack or provoke the threat of myocardial infarction, stroke.

In old age, various forms of this condition are noted several times more often, the diagnosis is made in 25% of cases. Features in this version can be:

frequent attacks of angina pectoris;
an increase in the frequency of inflammatory processes in the body of various etiologies;
the risk of development becomes an order of magnitude higher due to the low oxygen supply of brain cells.

Some forms of this blood condition can provoke internal bleeding, the first symptom of which may be sudden, severe dryness in the mouth. The next feature in this option is a seemingly unreasonable increase in body temperature. There may also be blood in the urine or stool; the general state of health resembles severe intoxication.

Being quite common, anemia poses a certain threat to the human body. Therefore, this pathological condition of the blood requires the intervention of doctors and certain treatment, even in the case of anemia of the 1st degree. Attention to your health will help you avoid unpleasant consequences in the future.

Most people are more interested in deficiency anemias, which can occur in almost every person. Therefore, we will dwell in more detail on this type of anemia.

Iron-deficiency anemia- causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

The iron content in the human body is 4 - 5 g or 0.000065% of the body weight. Of these, 58% of iron is part of hemoglobin. Iron can be deposited (stored) in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. At the same time, physiological losses of iron occur in feces, urine, sweat, with menstruation and during breastfeeding, therefore it is necessary to include iron-containing foods in the diet.

Causes of iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when:

lack of iron in the body (premature babies, children under 1 year old, pregnant women)
increased need for iron (pregnancy, breastfeeding, period of increased growth)
disorders of absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract and its subsequent transportation
chronic blood loss

Iron deficiency anemia symptoms

Clinically, iron deficiency anemia is manifested by three main syndromes - hypoxic, sideropenic and anemic. What are these syndromes? What characterizes each of them? A syndrome is a persistent collection of symptoms. So, hypoxic syndrome is characterized by shortness of breath, headaches, tinnitus, fatigue, drowsiness and tachycardia; anemic syndrome is expressed in a decrease in the content of the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin. Sideropenic syndrome is directly related to a decrease in the amount of iron in the body and manifests itself as follows: malnutrition of the skin, nails, hair - skin of "alabaster" shade, dry and rough skin, brittle hair and nails. Then the perversion of taste and smell is added (desire to eat chalk, inhale the smell of washed concrete floors, etc.). There may be complications from the gastrointestinal tract - caries, dysphagia, decreased acidity of gastric juice, involuntary urination (in severe cases), sweating.

Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia

In the blood, there is a decrease in the hemoglobin content to 60 - 70 g / l, erythrocytes up to 1.5 - 2 T / l, the number of reticulocytes is also reduced or completely absent. Red blood cells of various shapes and sizes appear. Serum iron concentration is below normal.

Treatment for iron deficiency anemia

The treatment of iron deficiency anemia is based on the principles of eliminating the cause of its occurrence - the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the introduction of a balanced diet. The diet should contain foods high in iron (liver, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, cereals, etc.). However, the main means of restoring the amount of iron in the body at the initial stage are iron medications. In most cases, these medications are prescribed in pill form. In severe cases, they resort to intramuscular or intravenous injections. In the treatment of this anemia, for example, such drugs are used: sorbifer, ferrum-lek, tardiferon, totema and others. The choice of various drugs, including combined ones, is very wide.

When choosing, you must consult a doctor. Usually, the daily dose for the prevention and treatment of mild anemia is 50-60 mg of iron, for the treatment of moderate anemia - 100-120 mg of iron per day. Treatment of severe anemia is carried out in a hospital and iron preparations are used in the form of injections. Then they switch to tablet forms. Iron supplements cause darkening of the stool, but this is normal in this situation. If the iron supplement causes stomach discomfort, then it must be replaced.

Iron refractory anemia causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Cause of iron refractory anemia

Iron refractory anemia is also called sideroblastic or sideroachristic... Iron refractory anemia develops against the background of a normal iron content in the blood serum and a lack of enzymes that are involved in the synthesis of hemoglobin. That is, the main cause of iron-refractory anemia is a violation of the processes of "assimilation" of iron.

Symptoms of iron refractory anemia, what is hemosiderosis?

Iron refractory anemia is manifested by shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, drowsiness, sleep disturbances and tachycardia. Due to the high content of iron in the blood, tissues are observed hemosiderosis .Hemosiderosis is the deposition of iron in organs and tissues due to its excess. With hemosiderosis, cardiovascular insufficiency develops due to iron deposition in the heart muscle, diabetes mellitus, lung damage, and the size of the liver and spleen increases. The skin takes on an earthy hue.

Diagnosis of iron refractory anemia, what are sideroblasts?

The color index of blood is reduced to 0.6 - 0.4, erythrocytes of various shapes and sizes are present, the amount of hemoglobin and erythrocytes is below normal. There are changes in the bone marrow - cells appear - sideroblasts. Sideroblasts are cells that have a corolla of iron around the nucleus. Normally, such cells in the bone marrow are 2.0-4.6%, and with iron-refractory anemia, their number can reach 70%.

Treatment of iron refractory anemia

To date, there is no cure that could eliminate it altogether. It is possible to use replacement therapy - the infusion of erythrocyte mass and blood substitutes.

B12 deficiency anemia, causes of the disease, diagnosis and treatment.

What is B12? Where is this vitamin found?

First, what is B12? AT 12 Is a vitamin that also has a name cyanocobalamin ... Cyanocobalamin is found mainly in animal products - meat, liver, kidneys, milk, eggs, cheese. The level of vitamin B12 must be constantly maintained by the use of appropriate foods, since its natural physiological losses occur in feces and bile.

Causes of B12 deficiency anemia

So, B12 - deficiency anemia is anemia that occurs due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Lack of vitamin B12 can be caused by insufficient intake of it with food or a violation of its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Insufficient intake of cyanocobalamin from food is possible in strict vegetarians. Also, a lack of B12 can manifest itself with an increase in the need for it in pregnant women, nursing mothers, and cancer patients. Indigestion of vitamin B12, supplied with food in sufficient quantities, occurs in diseases of the stomach, small intestine (diverticula, worms) and treatment with anticonvulsants or oral contraceptives.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency anemia

Symptoms of B12 deficiency anemia are characterized by disorders in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. So, consider these two large groups of symptoms:

from the central nervous system. There is a decrease in reflexes, paresthesia ("chills"), numbness of the limbs, feeling of cotton feet, gait disturbance, memory loss
from the gastrointestinal tract. There is an increased sensitivity to acidic foods, glossitis, difficulty swallowing, atrophy of the gastric mucosa, an increase in the size of the liver and spleen

Diagnosis of B12 deficiency anemia

In the blood system, there is a transition to the megaloblastic type of hematopoiesis. This means that giant erythrocytes with a shortened life span, brightly colored erythrocytes without enlightenment in the center, pear-shaped and oval erythrocytes with Jolly's bodies and Cabo rings appear in the blood. Also, giant neutrophils appear, the number of eosinophils (up to a complete absence), basophils and the total number of leukocytes decreases. In the blood, the concentration of bilirubin is increased, and therefore, slight yellowness of the skin and sclera of the eyes may be observed.

Treatment of B12 deficiency anemia

First of all, it is necessary to cure diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and establish a balanced diet, with a sufficient content of vitamin B12. The use of a course of injections of vitamin B12 quickly normalizes hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, and then a constant, regular intake of a sufficient amount of vitamin B12 with food is required.

Folic acid deficiency anemia, causes, symptoms and treatment

Vitamin B9 - folic acid ... It enters the body with food - beef and chicken liver, lettuce, spinach, asparagus, tomatoes, yeast, milk, meat. Vitamin B9 is able to accumulate in the liver. Thus, B9 - deficiency anemia occurs due to a lack of folic acid in the human body. Lack of folic acid is possible when feeding children with goat milk, with prolonged heat treatment of food, in vegetarians, with insufficient or unbalanced nutrition. Also, a deficiency of folic acid is observed with an increased need for it in pregnant women, lactating, premature babies, adolescents, and cancer patients. Sun - deficiency anemia is caused by the presence of such diseases as chronic renal failure, liver disease. The emergence of a deficiency of folic acid is possible in case of impaired absorption of this vitamin, which occurs with alcoholism, taking oral contraceptives and a lack of B12.

Folic acid deficiency anemia symptoms

With folate deficiency anemia, the gastrointestinal tract suffers, therefore, the manifestations of this anemia are associated with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The appearance of hypersensitivity to acidic foods, glossitis, difficulty swallowing, atrophy of the gastric mucosa, an increase in the size of the liver and spleen is observed.
In the blood system, the same changes occur as in B12 - deficiency anemia. This is a transition to the megaloblastic type of hematopoiesis, the appearance of giant neutrophils, a decrease in the number of eosinophils, basophils and the total number of leukocytes.

Treatment of folate deficiency anemia

For the treatment of this type of anemia, folic acid tablets are used and the diet is normalized, in which there should be foods containing a sufficient amount of folic acid.

Hypoplastic anemia, causes, diagnosis, treatment

Hypoplastic anemias are characterized by a decrease in the content of all cells in the blood ( pancytopenia ). Pancytopenia is associated with the death of precursor cells in the bone marrow.

Symptoms of hypoplastic anemia

Hypoplastic anemias can be hereditary or acquired, but all subspecies of this type of anemia are characterized by the same manifestations. Consider these symptoms:

Bleeding, bleeding gums, fragility of blood vessels, bruises on the skin, etc. These phenomena occur due to the low content of platelets in the blood.
Ulcerative - necrotic lesions of the mouth, pharynx, nose, skin. Accession of infections. This is due to the small number of leukocytes in the blood.
Dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, drowsiness, fatigue, fainting, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, etc.
In a general blood test, a decrease in the content of all blood cells - erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets. In the bone marrow, there is a picture of desolation, since the foci of hematopoiesis are replaced by adipose tissue.

Causes of the development of hypoplastic anemia

What are the reasons that can cause such damage to the bone marrow? Hereditary anemias, respectively, are inherited, but acquired? All factors that can lead to the development of hypoplastic anemia are divided into exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal). The table shows the main exogenous and endogenous causes that can cause the development of hypoplastic anemia.

External factors	Internal factors
Physical - radiation, high-frequency currents, vibration	Genetic - mutations due to unknown reasons
Mechanical - injuries	Endocrine - diseases of the thyroid gland, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the ovaries, in which their function is enhanced
Chemical - industrial poisons, some medicines	Systemic connective tissue diseases - systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis
Biological - viruses, mainly herpes groups, fungi, intracellular bacteria	Malnutrition - a lack of substances necessary for hematopoiesis

Principles for the treatment of hypoplastic anemias

Treatment of hypoplastic anemias is strictly within the competence of the hematologist. Various methods of stimulating hematopoiesis, or bone marrow transplantation, can be used.

So, we have considered all the main types of anemias. Of course, there are many more of them, but we cannot grasp the immensity. If any signs of anemia appear, you should consult a doctor promptly. And regularly take a blood test for hemoglobin content.