Anemia is called anemia in the common people. This condition is not an independent disease, but a syndrome manifested against the background of another disease. The signs of anemia, depending on its type, manifest themselves in different ways.
Iron-deficiency anemia
This term refers to a condition in which hemoglobin is detected in the blood in extremely low amounts (90-70 g / l at a rate of 120-140 g / l). Anemia of this type is caused by a decrease in the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells, which carry oxygen through the body).
There is anemia with general weakness, dizziness, very fast fatigue from small physical exertion, pallor of the skin and mucous membranes. The patient's blood is pale pink. Friability of hair and nails, dry skin, itching of the vulva are noted. Patients are difficult to work with, concentrate attention.
Talking about the cause of anemia, it is worth noting what causes it:
- loss of iron (heavy bleeding, uncontrolled donation, urolithiasis, kidney tumors, etc.)
- inadequate intake of iron (poor nutrition);
- poor absorption of iron (amyloidosis of the intestine, chronic enteritis, resection of the small intestine);
- a great need for iron (pregnancy, breast-feeding, intensive growth, exercise).
Diagnosis and treatment
If you notice signs of anemia in your body, you should immediately call a doctor who will prescribe the appropriate tests. Based on their results, a diagnosis will be confirmed (or not), and the cause of anemia will be revealed.
After diagnosis and evaluation of the severity of symptoms, the treatment of anemia is prescribed, which consists of:
- elimination of the cause of lowering the level of iron in the body;
- medical nutrition;
- reception of iron preparations.
Folic deficiency anemia
Another type of anemia is spoken of when the body lacks vitamins B12 and B9 (folic acid). Symptoms of anemia of this type occur, as a rule, in the elderly, and the reason is:
- insufficient intake of vitamins B12 and B9 with food;
- poor absorption of folic acid and B12 due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver
, helminthic invasions.
Symptoms of acute folio-deficient anemia are the violation of gastric secretion and the functions of the nervous system:
- increased fatigue;
- spinal cord injury.
The patient is recorded with a "polished tongue" and a slight jaundice, the liver and spleen are enlarged in size. Increased indirect bilirubin is found in the blood.
Treatment consists in taking medications B12 and B9 in high doses until the blood is completely normalized.