Until the mid-20th century, anemia, or anemia, was considered a rare disease. Today, according to the WHO, every fourth inhabitant of the planet suffers from this violation. We will tell you what anemia is, how it is classified, diagnosed and treated.
general characteristics
Anemia is a pathological condition of the body in which the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) decreases. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as nutrients between tissues and organs. When gas metabolism is impaired and nutrients are not supplied enough, the tissues and organs cannot effectively perform their functions.
In a general blood test, anemia is detected by a reduced level of hemoglobin - a key protein with which the erythrocyte cavity is filled. It is he who gives the red color to these blood cells.
Installedthat most often children, women (especially during pregnancy) and the elderly suffer from this pathology. However, young men are not immune to anemia either.
How to recognize a disease
When the lack of erythrocytes is small, it almost does not affect the state of health. But with the progression of the disease, the following characteristic signs appear:
- You feel weak.
- Dizziness and headaches have increased.
- It seems as if you have started to think worse.
- You have cold, chilly hands and feet.
- You are told (or you yourself notice) that you look very pale. Especially pallor is noticeable on the gums - they have a whitish tint.
- You notice a rapid heartbeat, or, conversely, it seems that the heart sometimes skips beats.
- You often get short of breath. You have a tight feeling in your chest.
If you suspect you have anemia, it is best not to delay a visit to a therapist. After the examination, your doctor will most likely offer you a blood test. This is necessary in order to find out what exactly caused your symptoms, since cardiovascular diseases can also be disguised as anemia.
Types of anemia
There are several hundred types of anemia, which have different causes of origin. They are all divided into four groups:
1. Post-hemorrhagic anemia
Such anemias are associated with the loss of a significant volume of blood, as a result of which the number of red blood cells in the body decreases. External and internal bleeding (hemorrhoidal, nasal, uterine, renal, or gastric), as well as trauma or surgery, can contribute to this.
2. Deficiency anemias
Caused by a lack of substances that are necessary for blood formation. This group includes the following types:
- Iron-deficiency anemia. This is the most common type of anemia. It is provoked by a lack of iron, a trace element that is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, which fills the cavity of erythrocytes.
- Vitamin deficiency anemia. In addition to iron, vitamins B9 and B12 are needed for the normal production of red blood cells. Therefore, it is worth making sure that there are enough foods in your diet that contain these substances. However, sometimes there are enough vitamins in the diet, but the body simply cannot absorb them.
3. Hemolytic anemias
These pathologies arise when the processes of destruction of erythrocytes prevail over the processes of their production. In other words, the destruction of erythrocytes occurs faster than new cells are formed instead of destroyed ones. Hemolytic anemias can be hereditary and acquired.
4. Hypoplastic anemias
This group of anemias includes the most severe types. All of them are associated with a violation of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow. What causes such damage to the bone marrow? There are the following reasons:
- physical and chemical (radiation, industrial poisons, some drugs);
- systemic connective tissue diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis);
- endocrine (thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus);
- biological (viruses, mainly herpes groups);
- genetic mutations.
How to treat anemia
Treatment options are selected taking into account the reasons that triggered the development of anemia. Only a doctor can understand them, so do not delay going to the clinic.
In some cases, long-term and expensive treatment is required, associated with chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, blood transfusions, and drugs that suppress the immune system. But the most common types of anemia - iron deficiency or vitamin A - are easy to deal with.
The doctor will assess your condition and, possibly, prescribe pharmacy vitamins and dietary supplements for you. Or simply recommend eating a variety of foods, including:
- Vitamins B9 and B12. They are found in abundance in legumes, asparagus, leafy greens, chicken eggs.
- Iron. Meat and fish, liver and other by-products (kidneys, hearts), nuts and seeds, dried fruits, beans and lentils will help to compensate for the lack of this element.
- Vitamin A (helps the body absorb iron better). A lot of this vitamin is found in spinach, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and liver (especially beef).
- Vitamin C (also promotes the absorption of iron). This vitamin is found in large quantities in citrus fruits, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli.
When adjusting your diet, it is important to reduce your intake of foods that interfere with the absorption of iron. These include soy and soy-based products (soy meat, tofu, etc.), as well as tea and coffee.
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