There are quite a few different diseases of the circulatory system. The most common of these is anemia. Today we will find out what anemia is, how it is classified, diagnosed and treated.
General characteristics
So, let's figure out what anemia is. Anemia is a pathological condition of the body, in which the level of hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells in the blood decreases. Erythrocytes are synthesized in the red bone marrow from protein and non-protein components. They are responsible for the transport of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and metabolic products between tissues and cells. The erythrocyte cavity is filled with hemoglobin protein, which consists mainly of iron. It is hemoglobin that gives these blood cells their red color and also helps them transport oxygen and carbon dioxide.
With anemia, due to a decrease in the number of red blood cells, the body's ability to exchange gases decreases. As a result, a person is faced with symptoms such as loss of strength, drowsiness and irritability. Anemia does not occur on its own and is a sign of other, more seriousdiseases. Its severe forms can lead to tissue hypoxia and complications. Therefore, when identifying symptoms of anemia, you should definitely undergo an examination and find out what caused it.
Causes of occurrence
There are quite a few reasons for anemia to develop. The disease itself is extremely rare. It usually appears as a result of a malfunction of the internal organs, affecting the composition of the blood.
Main causes of anemia:
- Wrong diet. A deficiency in the diet of such foods can lead to an increase in hemoglobin in the blood: meat, eggs, fish, liver, spinach, beets, beans and prunes.
- Pregnancy and lactation. During these two periods, the child takes a large amount of useful substances and trace elements from the woman's body. It is important to replenish these losses by eating iron-containing foods or vitamin complexes.
- Loss of large amounts of blood. This can occur as a result of bleeding (hemorrhoidal, nasal, uterine, renal and gastric), trauma or surgery.
- Chronic diseases. Diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, cancer, pyelonephritis and other diseases that cause depletion of the body can bring to a decrease in hemoglobin levels.
- Poisoning. Anemia can develop with excessive destruction of red blood cells. In most cases, this phenomenon is caused by a hereditary factor, but sometimes it can also be triggered by toxic poisoning. The cause of such poisoning may be the ingestion of the followingsubstances: arsenic, lead, bee and snake venom, copper.
- Gastritis. This ailment leads to a decrease in acidity. Digestion of foods worsens, as a result of which an insufficient amount of microelements enters the body.
- Illiterate diets. In an effort to get rid of excess fat, many excessively reduce the calorie content of their diet. As a result, the body does not get enough iron.
The body does not absorb iron and vitamin B12. This can happen with HIV infections, Crohn's disease, intestinal infections, and stomach surgeries. In addition, the body absorbs iron differently from different foods. So, from animal products, the body receives from 10 to 15% of this element, while plant foods provide only 15.
Having figured out what anemia is and why it appears, we turn to the classification of pathology.
Classification
Such a disease as anemia can be triggered by completely different reasons. In medicine, it is classified according to the severity, pathogenesis and concomitant symptoms. So, the classification of anemia: iron deficiency, aplastic, folate deficiency, sickle cell, posthemorrhagic and Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Let's dwell on each type separately.
Iron deficiency anemia
A he althy human body contains approximately 4-5 grams of iron, more than 50% of which is part of hemoglobin. Iron stores are stored in the bone marrow, liver, and spleen. daily giventrace element leaves the body with sweat, urine and feces. Therefore, iron-rich foods should always be in the human diet.
Iron deficiency anemia affects pregnant women and babies the most. In addition, this physiological disorder can affect people suffering from chronic blood loss and intestinal absorption disorders.
Symptoms of this disease are: headaches, shortness of breath, tinnitus, tachycardia, drowsiness and constant fatigue. The skin of a patient with iron deficiency anemia turns pale and dries up, and the hairline, along with the nails, becomes brittle. Such people like the smell of wet concrete and the taste of chalk.
Identify iron deficiency anemia using a clinical blood test. The disease is accompanied by a decrease in the content of hemoglobin and red cells in the blood, as well as a significant decrease in the content of reticulocytes.
Aplastic anemia
This type of physiological disorder affects the stem cells of the bone marrow and thereby inhibits hematopoiesis - the process of formation and development of blood cells. It can be both acquired and hereditary and requires serious therapy. In 80% of cases, aplastic anemia is fatal. Fortunately, this form of the disease occurs in only 0.0005% of the world's population. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that children and youth are most susceptible to it.
Acquired forms of aplastic anemia are often associated with a side effect of certain medications. Moreover, the dosage and duration of the therapeutic course do not matter here. Drugs that can cause this physiological disorder include: antihistamines, tetracycline antibiotics, sulfonamides, and gold preparations. In addition, ionizing radiation used in x-ray studies can provoke pathology. It poses a danger to employees of polyclinics who conduct these studies and treat patients with radio wave therapy.
The disease can also be caused by toxic substances that are part of drugs for the treatment of oncopathologies. In autoimmune diseases, aplastic anemia may occur due to the fact that the immune system seeks to eliminate not only disease-causing agents, but also its own bone marrow cells.
In people suffering from this disease, there is a general weakness and causeless fatigue. They may also experience bleeding gums, nosebleeds, pale skin, fever, and low blood pressure. And in the fairer sex, the disease may be accompanied by prolonged and intense menstruation.
Folic deficiency anemia
Folic acid is a vital substance for the human body. If its reserves in the body are reduced, folate deficiency anemia begins. As a rule, this physiological disorder is associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the small intestine absorbs nutrients worse.
The symptoms of the disease are quite extensive, so it is quite difficult to determine it, especially oninitial stages. The most common signs of folic acid deficiency anemia are: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, unexplained weakness, fatigue, tinnitus and dizziness.
If this disorder is found in a patient, a good doctor will recommend reviewing the diet before starting drug therapy. Among the foods rich in folic acid can be noted: carrots, greens, grapefruit, bran bread, eggs, liver and honey. In most cases, the introduction of these products into the diet allows you to cope with the problem without the use of drugs.
Sickle Cell Anemia
This pathology is associated with a violation of the structure of the hemoglobin protein. It is characterized by the appearance of an unusual crystalline form - hemoglobin S. The erythrocytes, which contain such a substance, acquire a crescent shape, which is the reason for the name of this type of anemia.
Erythrocytes with hemoglobin S are less resistant and carry out the transport of useful substances more slowly. As a result, due to the defeat, their life cycle is reduced. This is accompanied by an increase in hemolysis and the appearance of the first symptoms of hypoxia.
This pathology is inherited. In patients with heterozygous genetics, in the blood system, in addition to sickle-shaped bodies with hemoglobin S, there are also normal bodies with hemoglobin A. In this case, the deviation is mild and practically not expressed. In people with homozygous genetics, normal red blood cells are absent, so the diseaseproceeds much harder.
This anemia can be accompanied by hemolytic crises, swelling of the extremities, blurred vision, enlarged spleen and jaundice.
Posthemorrhagic anemia
This type of anemia occurs in the case of profuse blood loss caused by various injuries, surgical interventions and internal bleeding. In people who are faced with such an ailment, the body temperature decreases, the pulse quickens, cold sweat appears, dizziness occurs with loss of consciousness, and pressure drops.
Severity of symptoms has no direct correlation with the amount of blood lost. The general condition of the patient depends more on the rate of bleeding than on the amount of blood lost. Blood pressure in some cases may decrease as part of the body's response to pain.
Severe and dangerous is the condition of a person who has lost more than half a liter of blood. In this case, vascular insufficiency and oxygen starvation develop, caused by the loss of a large number of red blood cells. Without timely action, death may occur.
Diamond-Blackfan Anemia
If many people are familiar with the first types of the disease, then only a few know what Diamond-Blackfan anemia is. The reason for the development of this pathology is a violation of the functioning of the bone marrow, which is responsible for the production of blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. Most often, this deviation is observed in infants, in the first months of their life.
About 50% of patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia experiencewith physical disabilities:
- Dangling eyelids.
- Wide-set eyes.
- Wide and flat nose bridge.
- Small and low set ears.
- Small lower jaw.
- Hole in the sky.
In addition to the described deviations, the following symptoms can be observed: visual impairment, improper functioning of the heart and kidneys, opening of the urethra in guys.
Diamond-Blackfan anemia is treated with corticosteroids and blood transfusions. In order to avoid addiction of the child to hormones, the course of treatment is systematically interrupted. In adolescence, the body's need for corticosteroids disappears, and the level of hemoglobin in the blood returns to normal.
Degrees of anemia
Easy degree. The beginning of the development of pathology is accompanied by a slight decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. With mild anemia, people experience general malaise, a drop in concentration, and fatigue. As a rule, patients do not pay attention to these symptoms, explaining them by lack of sleep and excessive workload. In women with mild anemia, the hemoglobin content varies in the range of 90-110 g/l, and in men - 100-120 g/l.
Medium degree. The content of hemoglobin is reduced to 70-90 g/l in women and 90-100 g/l in men. At this degree of anemia, more severe symptoms occur: tachycardia, headache attacks, shortness of breath and dizziness.
Severe degree. With chronic anemia, in addition to the listed symptoms, a person begins to go numb, nails and hair deteriorate, and the sense of smell changes.
Danger of anemia
If you do not diagnose anemia in a timely manner and do not begin to eliminate it, then it can cause significant harm to he alth. Regardless of the type of pathology, it increases the risk of oxygen starvation of the most important internal organs. The most terrible and serious complication of anemia is hypoxic coma, which in more than 50% of cases leads to death. In addition, a person with this physiological disorder is at risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases and respiratory failure. Women may have irregular periods, and children may become irritable and inattentive.
Symptoms
Signs of anemia depend on its type, stage and the cause that provoked the disease. However, there are also common symptoms that are characteristic of all types of pathology:
- Pale skin and mucous membranes.
- Dry and sagging skin.
- Cracks in the corners of the mouth, not healing for more than a week.
- Swelling of the legs and face in the evening.
- Changing the structure of the nail plate (foliation and the appearance of furrows).
- Drying, brittleness and hair loss.
- Regular unexplained headaches.
- Disease, lack of energy and constant fatigue.
- Vertigo at rest.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of anemia begins with the patient telling the doctor how long the symptoms of the suspected disease have been present, and what measures have been taken to alleviate the condition. To confirm orrefutation of the diagnosis, the doctor sends the patient for testing:
- Complete blood count. It is carried out almost at every visit to the doctor. In this case, it is necessary to determine the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
- Complete blood count. It is carried out to determine the amount of hemoglobin in the erythrocyte. Allows you to get information about the functioning of the bone marrow.
- Biochemical blood test. Blood taken from a vein determines the amount of iron and various fractions of bilirubin.
Having received the results of all studies, the doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis, as well as the type and severity of anemia. In addition, it can identify the cause of the pathology. Based on the data received, treatment is prescribed.
We already know what anemia is and how dangerous it is, it remains to figure out how to deal with this disease.
Anemia treatment
In order for therapy to bring the desired effect, it must be comprehensive. All efforts are aimed at eliminating the cause of anemia, which is only a symptom of a more serious disease. As a rule, after eliminating the very cause, the hemoglobin level quickly returns to normal.
When answering the question of how to treat anemia, it is worth noting that at the initial stage of the pathology, it is not necessary to resort to taking medications. It is enough to enrich your diet with iron-containing foods. If the doctor decides that it is impossible to do without medicines, then he prescribes drugs that stimulate the activity of the bone marrow in order to increase the amount ofhemoglobin and red blood cells. In most cases, these are iron-containing preparations (Totetema, Fenyuls, Aktiferrin, Sorbifer) and vitamin complexes.
Folk remedies to combat anemia
Despite the fact that pharmacies offer a huge variety of medicines for the treatment of anemia, many people prefer traditional medicine. With self-treatment, it is extremely important to strictly follow the recipes and dosages. Periodically (at least once a month) it is necessary to donate blood in order to understand whether the therapy brings results and whether it is worth continuing. Now let's get acquainted with the main recipes of traditional medicine in the fight against anemia.
Vegetable cocktail. To prepare the product, you need to peel and grate the same amount of the following ingredients on a fine grater: carrots, beets and black radish. After mixing the resulting liquid, it must be poured into a saucepan and put in the oven for three hours. The remedy is taken daily, a tablespoon for adults, and a teaspoon for children.
Fruit cocktail. To treat anemia with fruit, mix one part each of apple, carrot, and lemon juice with two parts of pomegranate juice. About 70 grams of honey must be added to the resulting cocktail. For two days, the product is infused in the refrigerator. You need to take it 2 tablespoons three times a day.
Berry cocktail. To prepare this remedy, you need to mix equal amounts of strawberry, mountain ash and blackcurrant juice. You need to take it twice a day, 125 milliliters.
Mugwort tincture. It's pretty efficientremedy for anemia, however, it is not suitable for children and pregnant women. To prepare the tincture, you need to mix 100 grams of wormwood with a liter of vodka and leave the mixture for three weeks. The remedy is taken on an empty stomach, five drops.
Rosehip tea. To prepare this remedy, you just need to pour 1 tablespoon of berries with a glass of boiling water and leave to infuse for 8 hours. The resulting daily portion should be divided into three doses.
Before resorting to treatment with folk remedies, it is not superfluous to consult a doctor in order to avoid unpleasant consequences. Of course, home treatment is only acceptable for mild anemia. If the pathology has become severe, then such therapy will not be enough.
Prevention
As you know, the treatment of a disease is always more difficult than its prevention. To prevent anemia you need:
- Eat sensibly and in a balanced way so that the body gets enough iron and other nutrients.
- Timely treat chronic and acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Regularly undergo examinations.
- Quit smoking and alcohol.
- Get rid of excess fat.
- Avoid working in hazardous industries.
These simple rules allow you to avoid not only anemia, but also many other pathologies and diseases. If you still find any abnormalities in your body, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Remember that any disease is mucheasier to cure at the initial stage.
