Anemia is a pathological condition in which there is a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood and a decrease in the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes). Anemia is not an independent disease, but a symptom of any pathology of internal organs or metabolic disorders.
Symptoms that occur with anemia can be divided into nonspecific (observed with any type of anemia) and specific (characteristic only for a specific type of anemia).
Common signs of anemia
- general weakness, increased fatigue , drowsiness;
- dizziness, headache;
- heart palpitations (even at rest);
- noise in ears;
- pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
- sleep disorders;
- failure of the menstrual cycle in women;
- dyspnea.
Specific signs of anemia
- Iron-deficiency anemia. The most common is up to 90% of all cases of anemia. In the initial stage is characterized by common symptoms. In the future, the skin can acquire an alabaster shade, it becomes dry and rough, pale mucous (especially eye conjunctiva), hair and nails become brittle. Further, there may be a violation of taste and smell (for example, the draft is chalk, clay, other substances not intended for consumption). Possible disruption of the gastrointestinal tract - rapid development of caries, dysphagia, involuntary urination. The last symptoms are observed with severe anemia.
- B12 deficiency anemia. The disease is associated with a lack of vitamin B12 in food or poor digestibility. This type of anemia is characterized by disturbances in the activity of the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. From the side of the nervous system can be observed: numbness of the limbs, a decrease in reflexes, a sensation of "goosebumps" and "cotton feet", a violation of coordination. In severe cases - memory dips. From the digestive tract: difficulty swallowing, enlargement of the liver and spleen, inflammation of the tongue.
- Hemolytic anemia - is a group of diseases in which there is an accelerated destruction of erythrocytes in comparison with their normal life. Hemolytic anemia can be hereditary, autoimmune, viral. Most hemolytic anemias are characterized by an increase in the size of the spleen and liver, jaundice, dark urine and feces, fever, chills, elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood.
- Aplastic anemia. It arises because of a violation of the ability of the bone marrow to produce blood cells. Very often it is the result of irradiation and other adverse effects. In addition to the general symptoms for aplastic anemia are characterized by: bleeding gums, nosebleeds, gastric bleeding, fever, loss of appetite and rapid weight loss, ulcerative stomatitis.
Diagnosis of anemia
The diagnosis of "anemia" can be made only by a doctor based on tests that determine the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. Normal values of hemoglobin are 140-160 g / l in men and 120-150 g / l in women. The index less than 120 g / l gives grounds to talk about anemia.
By severity of anemia divided into 3 degrees:
- Light, 1 degree, anemia, in which the indices are reduced slightly, not lower than 90 g / l.
- The average, 2 degree, anemia, in which the hemoglobin in the blood are in the range of 90-70 g / l.
- Severe, grade 3, anemia, in which the hemoglobin is less than 70 g / l.
With mild anemia, there may not be any clinical symptoms at all, with moderate symptoms already expressed, and a severe form can be life threatening, with a serious deterioration of the general condition, blood thinning, disruption of the cardiovascular system.