Anemia (or in other words, anemia) is a condition characterized by a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood, usually combined with a simultaneous decrease in red blood cells. Most often it is secondary and is a sign of some disease in the body. Symptoms of anemia are experienced by people of all ages and genders. Usually, with its manifestations, patients complain of a constant feeling of fatigue and weakness, weakness and dizziness, excessive irritability and anxiety. When anemia worsens, people are diagnosed with shock conditions, severe hypotension, coronary, pulmonary insufficiency, and hemorrhagic shock. As a rule, when anemia is confirmed, the main treatment tactics are aimed at eliminating the signs of concomitant pathology and eliminating the root cause of anemia.
Anemia condition in adults
Symptoms of anemia among the adult population of the planet are one of the most common ailments. Medicine distinguishes between several types of anemia, dividing them according to their causes:
- Iron deficiency. Occurs against the background of a violation of the production of red cells in the blood. The basis for the appearance of such a pathology is the lack of iron in the body, which is responsible for the level of hemoglobin. This form of anemia most often affects women, children, and people with limited diets.
- Hemolytic. Occurs due to the rapid death of red blood cells. Usually it is a congenital or hereditary pathology (thalassemia, ovalocytosis). Often the symptoms of hemolytic anemia occur against the background of acquired autoimmune diseases.
- Aplastic. It belongs to the group of so-called depressive conditions of the blood due to the rapid destruction of red blood cells in the bone marrow. This subspecies of anemia is a serious condition and requires medical intervention and control.
- Siderroblastic. A type of anemia caused by low levels of iron in the blood. It occurs due to the fact that the bone marrow ignores this element during the synthesis of hemoglobin. This pathology is most often a genetic disease, which can be triggered by the appearance of autoimmune pathologies and tumor processes. The cause of symptoms of anemia is sometimes associated with alcohol or heavy metal poisoning, as well as treatment with tuberculostatic drugs.
- B12-deficient. It occurs against the background of a lack of B vitamins in the body, which are involved in the formation of red blood cells. Often, when this form of anemia is detected, patients have a malignant anemia affecting the central nervous system and brain.
- Posthemorrhagic. It can manifest itself in acute or chronic form. The root cause of this pathology in any form of flow is prolonged blood loss.
- Sickle cell. Pathological genetic condition. It is characterized by a modified form of the structure of erythrocytes.
- Megaloblastic. The reason for the appearance of this form of anemia is chronic beriberi, which results in structural changes in red blood cells.
- Folic deficiency. A lack of folic acid in the diet leads to the formation of megaloblasts in the bone marrow and the destruction of red blood cells.
- Normochromic. Pathological state of the blood with its normal color. The color of the blood indicates the degree of saturation of red blood cells with hemoglobin. However, the pathology is caused by insufficient production of erythropoietin in the body.
- Hypochromic or otherwise hypochromia. Pathology caused by a decrease in the color index of blood. This term can be applied to all forms of anemia.
Depending on the manifestation of symptoms of anemia and the causes of their occurrence, other forms and subtypes of anemia can be distinguished.
Prerequisites for morbidity
According to WHO statistics, about 25% of the world's population suffers from various forms of anemia. The risk group for developing such pathologies includes:
- Followers of variousdiets and vegetarian principles of nutrition. An unbalanced diet leads to insufficient intake of essential micronutrients, which leads to the appearance of pronounced signs and symptoms of anemia in adult women. Treatment in this case is dietary modification.
- Professional athletes and patients with acute and chronic forms of certain diseases, as well as people experiencing constant physical exertion.
- Persons experiencing constant blood loss due to physiological factors (heavy periods in women and diseases accompanied by internal hemorrhages).
- Donors who regularly donate blood.
- People suffering from a deficiency of essential trace elements, including those involved in the process of hematopoiesis.
- Women experiencing vitamin and mineral deficiencies during pregnancy and lactation.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Persons who had infectious diseases that caused structural changes in blood elements.
- Poisoning by chemical and radioactive substances.
Features of pathology
Medicine distinguishes between forms and types of anemia according to certain symptoms characteristic of a particular type of pathological condition. Common symptoms of anemia in an adult are:
- Yellow skin tone and enlarged spleen.
- Unpleasant tingling sensations in the limbs regardless of the time of day.
- Darkening of urine color.
- Permanent inflammation in the oral cavity (cracks, ulcers andwounds).
- Dryness of the oral mucosa and the appearance of cracks in the corners of the lips.
- Decreased sex drive.
- Disorders of the organs of touch, smell and taste buds.
- Prolonged healing of small skin lesions.
- Feeling weak and losing weight.
Often, along with diagnosing the symptoms of anemia in adults and treating the predetermining causes of its occurrence, secondary immunodeficiency syndrome is detected, which contributes to the appearance of fungal and cold diseases.
Anemia provokes exacerbation of chronic and congenital pathologies of the brain, central nervous and cardiovascular systems. Often this manifests itself in the form of an ischemic attack and provokes the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke. With age, the symptoms of anemia in women and men appear much more often. According to WHO statistics, the frequency of such manifestations in the elderly increases by 25%. Age-related anemia is expressed by such symptoms as: frequent attacks of cardiac arrhythmia and regular colds and inflammations of various etiologies in the body.
Dangerous blood pathologies: B12 deficiency
One of the main functions of hemoglobin is the task of transporting oxygen to all tissues and organs. Therefore, when its level decreases, the body begins to experience oxygen starvation.
All forms of anemia are undesirable phenomena for the full functioning of the internal organs of a person. However, if anemia caused by a lack ofiron, in most cases, can be cured by dietary modification and the use of vitamin-mineral complexes, then the treatment of other forms requires full medical intervention and careful monitoring of the body's condition.
So, with pernicious anemia caused by a lack of B vitamins in the body (deficiency form B 12 anemia), the symptoms at the beginning of the development of the pathology are almost invisible. The patient feels periodic weakness, dizziness and fatigue. Such phenomena are most often attributed to age or some kind of disease. Pernicious anemia gradually progresses: the mucous membranes of the eyes and skin become yellow, inflammation in the mouth constantly occurs in the form of stomatitis and glossitis.
Untimely visit to the doctor leads to disorders of the nervous system. The most severe complication is spinal cord injury. Against the background of the advanced course of B 12-deficiency anemia, psychoemotional disorders occur, accompanied by hallucinations.
To diagnose this pathology, it is enough to conduct a general blood test: an increase in red blood cells signals the occurrence of an undesirable process. The malignant orientation of this type of anemia is indicated by the modification of platelets and leukocytes. In this case, the doctor prescribes additional tests on an individual basis.
To successfully treat symptoms In 12-deficiency anemia, it is important to identify the pathology in the early stages. Therefore, even if anemia is suspected, it is necessary to undergo the necessary studies to exclude the possibility ofpernicious anemia.
Iron deficiency risk
Insufficient amount of iron in the body provokes iron deficiency anemia. This is a common phenomenon found all over the world. Since iron is the main building material for hemoglobin, the amount of pigment in the blood will directly depend on the amount of the trace element. However, the pathology develops intensively if an imbalance of its presence in the body appears.
Iron deficiency anemia occurs due to:
- Insufficient iron intake.
- The rapid growth of the body in adolescence.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- Compliance with certain methods for losing weight.
- Vegetarian food.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by insufficient production of gastric juice (low acidity) or during operations on the digestive organs.
- Profuse bleeding.
- After treatment of acute or chronic renal failure with hemodialysis.
Diagnosis of the pathological process is carried out on the basis of clinical blood tests. In some cases, to accurately determine the cause of the pathological process, the doctor may prescribe endoscopic examinations of the stomach, which allows you to identify hidden sources of bleeding.
For the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, the daily diet is usually adjusted and special medications containing the necessary element are prescribed.
Inhibition of hematopoietic processes
It happens that for some reason the bone marrow ceases to adequately produce blood cells. This is a dangerous and severe pathology. There are many factors that cause such dysfunction. Such a malfunction in the work of the body occurs with a genetic predisposition, the appearance of viral infections, or as a result of chemical poisoning. Symptoms of aplastic anemia are similar to those of radiation sickness.
However, this form of anemia appears imperceptibly. In the initial stages, the patient has a slight increase in body temperature, accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure, regular bleeding from the nose or bleeding gums. Immunity gradually decreases, frequent colds and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract occur.
For the diagnosis of allogeneic pathology, a clinical blood test is required. As a result of the studies, a decrease in erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets in the blood is found. Accurate diagnosis of the resulting dysfunction of the bone marrow requires a puncture and / or trepanobiopsy. Such studies exclude other pathologies: leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, etc. Successful treatment of symptoms of anemia in both adults and children requires allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
Heredity: risk of blood defects
Some genetic changes in the blood lead to structural changes in red blood cells. As a result, red blood cells lose their flexibility and mobility. ATas a result of stagnation in the circulatory system, they quickly die. Organs and tissues of the human body experience oxygen starvation. Delayed detection and treatment of symptoms of sickle cell anemia leads to serious conditions, up to death.
Inheritance of this disease and its further development can be heterozygous or homozygous. In the first case, the child inherits the defective gene from one of the parents, so both normal and sickle-shaped red blood cells are present in his blood. In the second case, the gene is transmitted by both parents, so only sickle-shaped red blood cells are present in the child's body. In this case, the disease is determined early and proceeds in a severe form. Most homozygous children die in childhood.
Anemia caused by a gene mutation in blood cells appears in infants at 4-6 months of age. In clinical studies, an increase in HbS is found and the number of sickle red blood cells reaches 85-90%. Such kids lag behind their peers in physical and mental development. Visual disturbances in the development of the anatomical structure are revealed: the shape of the skull has a towering appearance with a thickening of the frontal sutures in the form of a ridge, kyphosis of the thoracic spine and lordotic changes in the lumbar region are clearly manifested. Signals of the occurrence of genetic changes in the blood are: early diseases of the joints of the extremities, their symmetrical swelling, pain in the chest, yellow tint of the skin and sclera of the eyes, splenomegaly. These children often get sick.
BThere are three stages in the development of this genetic disease. The first occurs at the age of a child from six months to three years, the second - from three to 10 years, the third - in adolescents over 10 years old. With stress, dehydration, infections, pregnancy and other provoking factors in people suffering from such a hereditary pathology, sickle cell crises often develop. Untimely access to a doctor in this case often leads to an anemic coma and death.
However, under normal conditions, heterozygous carriers of the defective gene feel quite he althy. Threatening and life-threatening symptoms of anemia in women, children and men occur in situations associated with hypoxia (during strong physical exertion, during air travel, diving, high- altitude ascents and other factors).
Despite the fact that sickle cell anemia is considered an incurable blood disease, many people suffering from this disease start families and live to old age. The main thing is to pay sufficient attention to the state of your he alth. For adequate maintenance therapy and treatment of symptoms of this type of anemia, lifelong follow-up by a hematologist is necessary, and specific therapy is required to prevent the occurrence of sickle cell crises. With the development of hemolytic, aplastic, vascular-occlusive, sequestration and other syndromes, emergency hospitalization and symptomatic therapy are necessary.
Similar genetic abnormalities in most cases occur in a number of regions in Africa,Near and Middle East, Mediterranean basin, India. There, the frequency of symptoms and signs of anemia of this kind often reaches 40%. In our country, such phenomena occur much less frequently.
This disease cannot be prevented, however, genetic screening before planning a pregnancy will reduce the risk of having a child with sickle cell anemia.
Anemia in men
The minimum level of hemoglobin in the male body is 130 grams per liter of blood. Symptoms of anemia in men are much less common than in women. This is due to physiological characteristics: the absence of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lactation, during which there is a lack of the necessary trace elements.
Nevertheless, among the representatives of the stronger sex, anemia is often observed. As a rule, the symptoms of male anemia are a signal of malfunctioning of internal organs or malfunctions of entire body systems. Often they signal the formation of chronic diseases. Most often, the symptoms of anemia in an adult male indicate the occurrence of hidden gastrointestinal bleeding with peptic ulcers or hemorrhoids.
Etiological causes of male anemia can be parasitic invasions and the appearance of benign or malignant neoplasms in the body. Sometimes the occurrence of such phenomena may indicate pathologies of the bone marrow and blood diseases. Decreases in hemoglobin levels inblood loss often occurs as a result of strong physical exertion and overwork or a poor, unbalanced diet.
In any case, when symptoms of anemia appear, it is necessary to diagnose, identify and eliminate the causes of the development of such a pathology.
Anemia in women
The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are most common in women, since they are the ones who regularly lose blood during menstruation and bleeding caused by gynecological diseases. The female body intensively loses iron during pregnancy, delivery and lactation. This pathology is diagnosed if the hemoglobin level drops to 120 g/l or to 110 g/l during pregnancy.
The fairer sex most often adhere to all kinds of diets, not always balanced and adequate. Some methods are based on reducing the intake of protein foods in the diet. As a result, the concentration of ferritin is reduced, which is responsible for the accumulation of iron in the body and releases it when the level of hemoglobin decreases. Therefore, women most often suffer from symptoms of anemia and manifestations of beriberi.
Anemia during pregnancy is a risk for mother and baby
In pregnant women, anemia can occur for various reasons. The fetus developing in the womb draws all the substances it needs from the mother's body. As a result, a woman may develop a lack of iron, folic acid and B vitamins needed for the production of hemoglobin. This leads to symptomsdeficiency anemia. Anemia, occurring in mild and moderate forms, does not harm the body developing in the womb. The mother suffers more from this pathology. Only in critical situations, when the disease goes into the last stage, there is a danger to the baby.
Anemia in expectant mothers has a negative impact on her he alth because:
- A woman's predisposition to viral and infectious pathologies appears during gestation.
- Increased chance of blood clots.
- The risk of preterm labor and weak labor activity of the uterus increases.
- The symptoms of toxicosis and preeclampsia are intensifying. There is a possibility of placental abruption and miscarriages.
- There is a possibility of heart failure, which can cause heart failure or a heart attack.
When more severe symptoms of anemia occur in women (treatment in this case is necessary), the child suffers. As a result of the progression of the pathology and the lack of symptomatic therapy in the mother, the baby develops:
- Congenital anemia.
- Underdevelopment of internal organs.
- Diseases of the digestive system and respiratory tract.
- Underweight.
- Decrease in immunity and soreness of the newborn.
With physiological anemia during pregnancy, the appearance of hydremia (thinning) of the blood in the later stages is considered normal. In this case, an increase in the liquid part of the blood and a decrease in the concentration of red blood cells are allowed in the event thatif the hemoglobin level does not fall below 110 g / l. Usually, this phenomenon resolves on its own without signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. Treatment in women is required if the hemoglobin level falls below the minimum allowable limit.
Mild forms of anemia during pregnancy and breastfeeding disappear after childbirth and at the end of the lactation period. However, with a short interval between births, the body does not have time to recover. As a result, the signs of the pathological condition are intensified. It is believed that a woman's body needs 3-4 years to fully recover.
The occurrence of various forms of anemia, including iron deficiency or B12 deficiency anemia (symptoms of any form will be detected in the same way) is a common occurrence in women during menopausal changes in the body. Usually this pathology is detected late and is often diagnosed already in the severe stages of anemia. This is due to fluctuations in well-being, constant fatigue, irritability, weakness and dizziness, when a woman believes that all these are harbingers of menopause. The desire to reduce the rate of weight gain during this period by restricting food leads to impaired production of ferritin, which is responsible for the accumulation of iron in the body and releases it when the hemoglobin level decreases.
Detecting symptoms of anemia and treating adult women is a very important task. Often, such dysfunctions lead to exacerbation of old chronic diseases, disorders in the functioning of cardiovascular pathologies, or the appearance ofnew inflammatory diseases caused by different pathogenesis. Advanced anemia is one of the common causes of the development of brain pathologies up to the disturbance of the sense organs, the appearance of auditory hallucinations or the development of dementia. This happens due to insufficient nutrition of brain cells with oxygen and developing hypotension against the background of various forms of anemia.
Anemia in children
Symptoms and treatment of childhood anemia, especially in severe forms, require mandatory medical supervision. Low levels of hemoglobin provoke a delay in mental and physical development. Anemia in a child leads to depression of cardiovascular function, which often causes drops in blood pressure, shortness of breath, tachycardia attacks and a feeling of lack of air. Such a pathology leads to metabolic disorders in the child's body.
The reasons for such phenomena are:
- Unbalanced or poor diet.
- Gastrointestinal diseases associated with impaired iron absorption.
- Metabolic dysfunctions.
- Parasitic infestations.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Poisoning and hypoxia.
Treatment of childhood anemia with dietary modification is not always effective, so drug therapy is prescribed.
The form of anemia directly depends on the specific symptoms and course. At the initial stage of treatment of symptoms of anemia in women, men and children, it is possible to usefolk funds. However, it is worth remembering that an independent struggle with the disease is not always beneficial. Often it is she who becomes the cause of the aggravation of the condition. The best thing that every patient can do is to balance the daily nutrition menu, enriching it with useful vitamins and microelements. It is better to entrust the main treatment to specialists.
Caring for your he alth and the well-being of loved ones is very important, so you should never neglect it.
