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Hemoglobin Deficiency

Batul Nafisa Baxamusa
Hemoglobin deficiency is a condition wherein the hemoglobin count in the blood falls way below the normal range. This story provides some information that will help you understand more about the treatment of this condition.
You must have come across the term hemoglobin during your routine blood test. The doctor may tell that you are lacking it. So, what exactly does it do? It is basically an iron containing metalloprotein that transports oxygen in the red blood cells.
The vital molecule of life, oxygen is able to reach each and every cell as well as tissue in the body with the help of hemoglobin. It consists of a protein called heme, that helps in binding the oxygen molecule. The normal range is as follows:
• Men: 13.8 to 18.2 g/dL
• Women: 12.1 to 15.1 g/dL
• Pregnant Women: 11 to 12 g/dL
• Children: 11 to 16 g/dL
If the normal levels fall, it indicates hemoglobin or iron deficiency anemia. The lack of iron in blood causes anemia, that in turn causes the low hemoglobin levels in blood. This leads to many health problems like feeling tired or fatigued, and shortness of breath.
Anemia is generally a temporary condition that can be corrected by including more iron rich foods in the diet. However, in some cases, anemia can turn into a chronic and life-threatening problem, if one does not seek immediate treatment.

Causes

There are many causes of low hemoglobin levels; the main cause being lack of dietary iron. There are many other medical conditions, that can lead to the anemia. A pregnant woman, lactating mother, or growing children, as well as adolescents, tend to go through increase in red blood cell production.
This increase in blood cell production increases the body's requirement for iron. If one does not supplement the body with enough dietary iron, it can lead to hemoglobin deficiency. Lack of dietary iron is probably the main cause of deficiency in children.
People with gastrointestinal problems are not able to absorb iron through their small intestine. This abnormality causes a significant drop in the iron absorption, and level of hemoglobin in the body. Excessive blood loss due to an injury, gastrointestinal bleeding, or heavy menstruation periods may also lead to the deficiency.
Other conditions like sickle cell anemia, bleeding during childbirth, peptic ulcer bleeding can also lead to this problem. A few other medical problems that can be the causes include:
• Bladder cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Colon polyps
• Hiatal hernia bleeding
• Kidney cancer
• Uterine fibroid

Symptoms

The symptoms can be very vague or mild in some people. Sometimes, the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia indicate an underlying medical condition. The symptoms are as follows:
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• General Malaise
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Depression
• Pale skin, nails and gums
• Brittle nails
• Chest pain
• Cold hands and feet
• Heart palpitations
• Decrease in mental concentration
Hemoglobin deficiency in children can cause poor neurological development, behavioral disturbances, poor academic performance, and increase in the risk of lead poisoning.

Treatment

The first step in the treatment is change in diet. Food suitable for the condition include the following:
  • Green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, turnip greens, collard, cabbage, etc.
  • Lima beans, green peas, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, and canned baked beans
  • Yeast leavened whole wheat breads
  • Pasta, rice, and cereals that are iron enriched
  • Chicken, duck, turkey, liver, etc.
  • Clams, oysters, sardines, and anchovies
  • Beef, lamb, liver, other organ meat
Next, comes use of iron supplement therapy. The doctor may prescribe you iron tablets or tonics for several weeks or months as low hemoglobin treatment. These iron supplements help in increasing the level of iron in the blood. However, iron supplements can cause constipation. You should take these supplements on an empty stomach with orange juice. This will help in better absorption of the iron.
If your blood test shows low levels, your doctor will advice you the corrective measures. Blood oxygen levels decrease due to hemoglobin deficiency and will make you tired and fatigued more often. Thus, make sure you also include foods like dates, spinach, etc., in your diet.