Hypochromic anemia: weakness and green skin

Some people look unhealthily pale. Sometimes the skin color becomes close to a very unpleasant greenish shade. This condition is called chlorosis, earlier doctors considered it a form of anemia. And they were right - indeed, most often such a skin color indicates that the blood is not all right. Nowadays, often with this symptom diagnose "hypochromic anemia".

The essence of the disease is that in the erythrocytes, which are responsible for the transport of oxygen, there is little hemoglobin in relation to the total mass of the cell. Normally, in the middle of the erythrocyte, there is a region that is slightly colored. In patients this area of pallor is very large. And sometimes proper hemoglobin per cell is enough, but only the cells themselves become very small - this condition is called microcytic anemia. In any case, if you see that the color of the skin of a loved one is clearly abnormal, you need to insist on a quick reference to the doctor.

How else is hypochromic anemia manifested ? Symptoms are associated with the fact that the body begins to lack oxygen. Therefore, a typical state of weakness against a background of normal nutrition, although sometimes the appetite worsens or becomes perverted - people eat hair, chalk, coal. The body is trying to get the iron that it lacks. The only problem is that it is not in these inedible products.

Also for the sick, it is typically dizzy when you get up. Of course, this is a fairly common symptom, which can be not only with this disease, but in combination with other symptoms it should be taken into account. Especially if there are symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain, for example, inability to concentrate, daytime sleepiness, headaches that last for a long time. This is often accompanied by a decrease in cognitive ability. Such a person is often very difficult to fall asleep, and sleep itself is restless.

Some symptoms are associated with cardiac activity. So, hypochromic anemia manifests itself in that the value of the pulse at rest increases. The heart needs to pump more blood, to at least somehow satisfy the request of organs and tissues for a sufficient amount of oxygen. Therefore, the heart rate even for a lying person can exceed 100 beats per minute (at a rate of 60-70). Typically, the appearance of dyspnea, even with mild physical exertion, that is, the cause of this condition is oxygen deficiency.

Without a blood test, the diagnosis can not be made. And those who regularly go for preventive examination are unlikely to demonstrate the whole range of symptoms. The fact is that even the simplest common blood test can detect a deficiency of hemoglobin. So, the disease can be cured at an early stage and do not worry about the consequences. Of course, we are talking about acquired forms of the disease, but not congenital ones.

What if you have hypochromic anemia? Treatment is usually aimed at increasing the amount of iron in the diet and improving its absorption. Sometimes it's not the iron itself that is prescribed, but its salts, so that the body can work with them more easily. In some cases, patients also take vitamin B12. Sometimes iron and vitamins are prescribed in the form of injections, not tablets. This happens when there is a suspicion of a violation of the assimilation of these substances.

The first two weeks of therapy, the effect is not noticeable, and should not be noticeable. Then, if everything was done correctly, hemoglobin begins to grow at a rate of 1g per liter per week, until it reaches at least the minimum limit of the norm. Of course, patients are advised to revise their diet, in this case the vegans are advised to abandon a life-threatening lifestyle.

In our time, hypochromic anemia is a rare phenomenon. And it occurs either as a hereditary disease, or as a disease of very poor people who can not afford a healthy diet. In any case, do not be afraid of reduced hemoglobin - it is adjusted quite easily.