Anemia ( or anemia) is a decrease in the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells ( erythrocytes) or a decrease in the amount of a key oxygen - ( hemoglobin) below a certain value. Normal levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells are different in different groups of patients , they are associated with age and gender. In men, hemoglobin is higher , in women it is usually lower.
The same applies to the number of red blood cells.
Anemia is a common blood disorder that is most commonly caused by iron deficiency. There are situations when the treatment of anemia seems impossible. In such cases, the doctor informs the patient that his body is so arranged. Anemia always indicates that something is not working properly
in our body Anemia: causes and how to treat
The consequences of anemia can be serious. Lack of iron makes it difficult to transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues , as well as energy production ( in mitochondria), which leads to anoxia and weakening of the body. Anemia disrupts metabolism , DNA synthesis, and neurotransmitter function , which causes memory problems.
The most common causes of anemia
Deficiency of food components necessary for blood production: iron , folic acid , vitamin B12 , vitamin C , copper.
Problems associated components : intestinal disturbance by intolerant food , most often gluten and milk. Parasites ( Giardia lamblia , worms) and fungi ( Candida albicans) are responsible for intestinal damage. The cause of problems associated with iron absorption may be a deficiency of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Insufficient concentration of hydrochloric acid is difficult to diagnose independently. This is the task of a doctor or nutritionist. Abundant periods caused , among other things , hormonal disorders , bleeding of the digestive tract.
We can diagnose gastrointestinal bleeding through a fecal blood test. Women are advised to consult a gynecologist and study for the absence of fibroids. Anemia should not be ignored , as it can lead to serious health problems and can also be a signal of hidden diseases.
Anemia patients are sometimes prescribed synthetic iron supplements. They seem to help , but not for long. After the completion of supplementation, the level of hemoglobin again falls below normal , which means a return of anemia.
Replenishment of iron deficiency
It is necessary to introduce foods containing iron into the diet . These include:
- eggs , amaranth , oily fish , legumes ( lentils , beans , peas);
- beet sourdough , beets baked in the oven;
- nuts , almonds , sesame;
- ecological dried fruits ( with the exception of sulfate), mainly apricots; green vegetables;
- other products: kelp , ginger ( as an additive to soups , herbal tea);
- spices: anise , cumin , mint , parsley , thyme , cinnamon;
- beef ( if not allergic to cow protein).
Nettle juice or parsley juice is a good natural source of iron , folic acid and vitamin C. However, remember: nettle is not recommended for allergy sufferers. For the treatment of anemia, all green vegetables are excellent , as they contain chlorophyll , which has a positive effect on the absorption of iron. It is called the "blood of plants", since its structure resembles the structure of human blood.
Comparison of the structure of chlorophyll and hemoglobin
Which foods interfere with iron absorption
If anemia is detected, foods that impede the absorption of nutrients , including iron, should be avoided. These are tea , coffee , alcohol , all kinds of bran , spinach , chocolate , rhubarb , sorrel , dairy products.
If an iron supplement is needed , at the same time, dairy products must be excluded from our menu. It is worth choosing fermented milk products , such as cottage cheese or kefir. Iron absorption can be impaired by vitamin E taken as a dietary supplement.
During the treatment of anemia, it is necessary to stop taking pharmacological drugs ( painkillers , anti-inflammatory drugs), since they have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa. The disturbed mucus may well be able to create the required amount of hydrochloric acid needed the absorption of iron.
Should we take various supplements and give them to children
This is a frequently asked question by patients. We can help the body with iron supplementation in the form of a chelate to speed up the saturation of the body with vitamins. However, the use of the chelate should not be continued for longer than one month. These drugs usually do not cause painful constipation , but they also do not prevent the accumulation of free iron in the body , which can affect the functioning of the liver , lead to lipid and DNA disorders , and also induce the appearance of cancer cells ( which applies primarily to menopausal women). The use of any supplement must be reasoned , based on medical tests and take place under the supervision of a physician.
The process of saturating the body with iron depends on what factors violated its absorption. If food intolerances and allergies are the cause of intestinal damage , the Six Step Allergy Relief Program ( see Chapter VIII) will come to the rescue, which will eliminate the problem of application without the need for any iron supplements. Thus , I was able to increase the hemoglobin level in one of the patients from 6 to 11 g/dl within two months!
The cause of anemia may also be a deficiency of vitamins B12 , B6 , folic acid. In this case, I advise my patients to do a blood test for these components. There is also a serum vitamin B6 test , but this is rarely offered to patients because it is quite expensive. , it is worth including in our diet containing a complex of these vitamins , the so-called complex in the form of chelates.
If the recommendations do not help , most likely , other diseases will be the cause of iron deficiency: kidney disease or intestinal disorders. If you suffer from bowel diseases , I suggest doing an analysis to detect parasites - Giardia , pinworms.
How to diagnose the presence of parasites in the body
There are times when detecting the presence of parasites in the body is not at all a simple matter.
A good example is the difficult-to-diagnose ailments of a 16-month-old baby: anemia , skin spots , hyperexcitability , constant crying. All tests for the presence of parasites were negative. The cause of the illness was discovered by the Child Health Center in Warsaw. It turned out that the boy was infected with giardiasis. Giardia settled in his bile duct. Once the correct diagnosis was made, I was ready to begin the appropriate treatment. Today the child is completely healthy.
Infections with the protozoan Giardia lamblia often resolve without symptoms. However, anemia may indicate an infection. The most common symptoms are: nausea , sudden , loose , spherical stools , constipation , abdominal pain.
Since it is difficult to diagnose the presence of parasites , two methods are best used for the reliability of the disease
- Microscopic method - identifies parasites in the feces. A stool sample is collected three times at four-day intervals. It is evaluated by a laboratory assistant under a microscope.
- Enzymatic method - detects the presence of protozoan antigens in feces. Research can be done in two classes: IgG and IgM are antibodies ( proteins) in the blood that are created through contact with the parasite.
If parasites are found in the body , the main task is to eliminate them. In this case, it is necessary to undergo pharmacological treatment. Treatment of giardiasis is very difficult , and pharmacological drugs have a toxic effect. The most important thing in the recovery process is the immune system , which will cope with the infection in the future.
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