Anemia treatment

An anemia is the decreased level of hemoglobin in the blood (protein, responsible for oxygen supply in the organism). The decreased level of hemoglobin in the blood is a symptom, but not an independent disease.

The anemia occurs due to the deficiency of necessary elements in the blood, in most cases –iron deficiency. The anemias, caused by the deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid, are encountered more rarely.

In most cases, the anemia is caused by the unbalanced diet, as the result of which the organism suffers from the deficiency of necessary substances. The latent, chronic infections are the widespread cause of the anemia. The anemia can also occur as the result of blood loss, for example, due to the hemorrhoid, profuse menstruations, after surgical operation or blood transfusions.

The decreased level of hemoglobin is often caused by the helminthic invasions, as the nutrients are not fully absorbed in the intestine, affected by the parasites. The tumor is the most dangerous cause of anemia.

Anemia leads to oxygen deprivation in tissues. If it persists for a long time, hypoxia intensifies, and internal organs and systems begin to suffer. In moderate to severe anemia, metabolic processes may be disrupted, toxins may accumulate, and the load on the liver and kidneys may increase. Oxygen deprivation also increases the load on the lungs and heart.

In addition, anemia weakens the immune system. A person becomes more susceptible to various infections and gets sick more often. Children may lag behind their peers in development and growth.

In case of suspicion of the decreased level of hemoglobin, the patient takes blood test, which allows checking its concentration. The normal levels of hemoglobin is not less than 130 g/l for men and 120 g/l for women. For the pregnant women, the normal level is considered to be 110 g/l. For the people with congenital high level of hemoglobin, its sharp decrease is also the worrisome sign.

Though, at first sight, the anemia does not seem to be a serious problem, it can be indicative of the presence of serious diseases. The treatment of anemia consists in detecting and eliminating its prime cause.

If it is caused by the insufficient supply of nutrients, the doctor will prescribe the preparations, which will replete and compose the correct diet. If the anemia is caused by the chronic disease, it is eliminated. If it is caused by the tumor (for example, polyps in the stomach, intestine or uterus), then it is surgically removed.

The self-medication of anemia is not recommended, because you cannot establish the cause of the disease on your own, without examination. And if you do not know the cause, you cannot self-medicate it. 

You can make appointment with the family doctor by calling us or filling in the form on our website. 

To prevent anemia, experts recommend eating a balanced diet, leading an active lifestyle, engaging in physical activity, spending more time outdoors, and treating all illnesses in a timely manner.

To maintain normal hemoglobin levels in the blood, it is recommended to regularly include the following foods in your diet:

• meat (beef, chicken, turkey);
• liver (chicken, beef, pork);
• fish;
• egg yolks;
• buckwheat;
• oatmeal;
• beans, peas, lentils;
• carrots, tomatoes, corn;
• green vegetables and herbs;
• prunes;
• black currants;
• rose hips;
• pomegranates and pomegranate juice;
• plum juice;
• apples, viburnum, strawberries;
• almonds.

You can make an appointment with a family doctor by phone or by filling out the form on the website.