Anemia — this is a decrease in the concentration and a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood. The most common form — iron deficiency. Signs of anemia can be vague and difficult to recognize.
Iron — an important mineral in the body, if it is not enough, then your body will not be able to produce enough red blood cells. These red blood cells carry an iron-rich protein — hemoglobin, which delivers oxygen to the tissues of the body.
How our body reacts to iron deficiency
You can understand whether the level of hemoglobin is normal on your own. There are a few key features to watch out for. Remember that the final diagnosis is made only by a doctor.
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Several signs that may indicate anemia:
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Fatigue. All people experience the feeling of fatigue due to lack of sleep, intense physical or mental labor. With anemia, lethargy — it is a chronic condition that constantly accompanies a person.
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Pale vascular line of the inner eyelids. is to look at the mucous membranes of the eyelids. If the line is pale, then there is not enough red blood cells in the body. The face, palms of the hands and the subungual part of the fingers may also be bloodless.
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Brittle nails. Layering, thin, suddenly breaking nails with anemia cannot be hidden even by an expensive manicure. They lose their luster, become flat or concave, spoon-shaped furrows appear.
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Shortness of breath. If you experience shortness of breath after exercise or climbing stairs — this is a clear sign of oxygen deficiency in the lungs, provoked by anemia.
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Radiated heart rate. If you experience rapid heart rate while lying down or irregular rhythms, your heart is in overdrive. This means it's working at limits to get more oxygen.
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Anxiety. The increased work of the heart can cause a feeling of anxiety. If anxiety — If this feeling is new to you, and it is not due to other causes, then it may be a sign of anemia.
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Numbness of the extremities. In iron deficiency, the body regulates the distribution of blood to oxygenate the vital organs. Usually compensation occurs due to the outflow of blood in the extremities. Anemic people feel tingling in the hands and feet. Hands and feet are cool even in extreme heat.
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"Perverted" taste. If there is an uncontrollable desire to eat chalk, paper, a handful of earth or ice, you should immediately pay attention to this. Unnatural desire to chew something inedible — a clear symptom of iron deficiency. But pathological taste — a common occurrence during pregnancy.
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Change of tongue. It becomes edematous, papillae smooth out and atrophy. The taste is disturbed, dryness in the mouth and tingling in the tongue.
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Headaches. Tension headaches —— common occurrence. If you notice that you have them very often, but disappear when you do nothing to remove — this is an occasion to consult a doctor to determine the level of hemoglobin.
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Hair loss. If you notice more hair in your brush while brushing, or if your hair is thinning, you may be anemic. It could also be a vitamin deficiency or hypothyroidism, so see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
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Signs of anemia: how to compensate for iron deficiency
Everyone knows that it is important to maintain hemoglobin levels. This can be done with a balanced diet.
For mild to moderate anemia, iron deficiency can be compensated for with a special diet.
The menu should include red meat, liver, oysters, beans, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, and iron-fortified grains.
Also, for better absorption of iron, it is useful to drink juices from carrots, beets, pomegranates, apples. It is better to cook them yourself, packaged juices from the store are not so useful.
After consulting a doctor, you can add multivitamin and iron supplements to your daily diet. It is not recommended to self-prescribe them for yourself, as you may not accurately assess the symptoms or overdo it with the dosage. And this will harm the body.
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