Iron deficiency anemia: how dangerous it is?

November 18, 2011

  • Iron deficiency anemia: how dangerous it is?
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment and prevention

 Iron-deficiency anemia
 Iron is essential for normal functioning of our body. The biological significance of iron is defined by its ability to reversibly oxidized and recover. This feature ensures the participation of iron in the processes of tissue respiration. The body of an adult man contains about 3-4 grams of iron, 60-70% of which are widely used in the blood (hemoglobin), and the remaining 30-40% (1 - 1, 5 grams) is stored as a reserve (account). Each gram of hemoglobin contains approximately 3, 34 mg of iron. The iron content in a woman weighing 60 kg is approximately 2, 1 g (35 mg / kg body weight).

Iron compounds have different structure, possess characteristic only for them the functional activity and play an important biological role. Iron is a part of complex compounds in the body and distributed as follows:

  • heme iron - 70%;
  • iron stores - 18% (intracellular accumulation in the form of ferritin and hemosiderin);
  • functioning iron - 12% (myoglobin and iron-containing enzymes);
  • transported iron - 0, 1% (iron bound to transferrin).

 Iron deficiency anemia: how dangerous it is?

Forms of iron in the human body

There are two types of iron: heme and non-heme .  Heme iron is part of hemoglobin .  It contains only a small part of the diet (meat products) are well absorbed (20-30%) for its absorption hardly influenced by other food components .  Non-heme iron is in free ionic form - ferrous (Fe II) or ferric (Fe III) .  Most of the dietary iron - non-heme (found mostly in vegetables) .  The degree of its assimilation is lower than the heme, and depends on several factors .  Because food is absorbed only ferrous non-heme iron .  In order to "transform" the ferric iron to ferrous, requires reducing agent, whose role in most cases, played by ascorbic acid (vitamin C) .  In the process of absorption in the intestinal mucosal cells of ferrous iron Fe2 + turns into ferric Fe3 + and links the carrier protein - transferrin, which transports iron to the hematopoietic tissues and sites of iron deposition .

The recommended daily intake of iron from food revenues: for men - 12 mg, women - 15 mg (for pregnant women - 30 mg). The organism only marginally can regulate food intake of iron and does not control its expenditure. Iron deficiency is the result of inconsistencies between the requirements for iron and its income (or loss).

In the development of iron deficiency can be divided into two stages:

  • Latent iron deficiency - iron levels of ferritin and transferrin saturation reduced hemoglobin levels Hemoglobin: worse - low or high?  Hemoglobin: worse - low or high?
   reduced, clinical symptoms of iron deficiency are not available;
  • Iron deficiency anemia (clinically pronounced iron deficiency) - a disease where reduced iron content in the blood and bone marrow; resulting in the formation of hemoglobin is broken, there are hypochromic anemia and trophic disorders in the tissues.

 Iron deficiency anemia: how dangerous it is?

The most common causes of iron deficiency anemia in adults

Hemorrhage: this is one of the most common causes of iron deficiency in adults. For example, anemia Anemia - when you do not have enough blood  Anemia - when you do not have enough blood
   It can cause heavy menstruation. Blood loss may also be associated with internal bleeding, such as in the gastrointestinal tract. A stomach ulcer, ulcerative colitis, cancer or long-term use of such drugs as aspirin and the like, can cause stomach or intestinal bleeding. Therefore, it is important to as quickly as possible to determine the cause of iron deficiency in the body.

The increased consumption of iron: pregnancy, lactation, intensive growth, puberty Puberty child - stages of a complex path  Puberty child - stages of a complex path
 , Chronic infectious diseases, inflammatory processes and tumors.

Malabsorption of iron: gastrectomy, enteritis; medication, reduces the absorption of iron.

Lack of iron in the diet. This phenomenon is particularly common among children and young girls. Iron deficiency threatens children who drink a lot of milk, but do not like foods rich in iron Foods rich in iron - strengthening the body  Foods rich in iron - strengthening the body
 And the girls who observe trendy diets.

Diseases of the blood - always seriously

July 19, 2009

 Blood diseases

Dozens of different diseases may to some extent affect the blood. They may affect any of the three major blood components. Red blood cells that carry oxygen to the tissues of the body; white blood cells that fight infection; platelets, due to which blood can clot. Diseases of the blood can also can affect liquid part of blood - plasma.

 Diseases of the blood - always seriously

Blood disorders that affect red blood cells

The most common disorders that affect red blood cells:

  • Anemia. This disease is characterized by a reduced amount of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. Soft forms of anemia often cause no symptoms. Symptoms of more severe forms of anemia may be fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath and even during minor exercise. There are several types of anemia.
  • Iron-deficiency anemia. Iron is needed by the body to create red blood cells. Lack of iron in the diet and / or blood loss during menstruation are the most common causes of iron deficiency anemia. For the treatment of food additives generally used Food additives - basic classification  Food additives - basic classification
   iron; in rare cases, a blood transfusion.
  • Anemia of chronic disease. People with chronic kidney disease and some other chronic diseases tend to develop anemia. Typically, in this form of anemia, treatment is not required, but in severe cases injections of synthetic hormones (Epogen, Procrit) to stimulate the production of blood cells. Very rarely, doctors resorted to blood transfusions.
  • Pernicious anemia (anemia caused by lack of vitamin B12) -autoimmunnoe disorder that prevents the absorption of a sufficient amount of vitamin B12. In addition to anemia this condition can lead to nerve damage (neuropathy). To prevent complications appointed taking high doses of vitamin B12.
  • Aplastic anemia. People with aplastic anemia bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells, including - of red blood cells. Viral infection, drug side effects, or an autoimmune disorder - all of which can cause aplastic anemia. For the treatment of aplastic anemia may require blood transfusions, and even bone marrow transplantation (of course, most of these therapies are used primarily for the treatment of major diseases caused by aplastic anemia).
  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. An overactive immune system of patients with this disease destroys red blood cells, causing anemia. To stop this process may need to take drugs that suppress the immune system, such as prednisone.
  • Thalassemia - a genetic form of anemia, which is mainly found in the inhabitants of the Mediterranean. Most patients with this disorder do not complain of any symptoms and do not need treatment, but in some cases, to facilitate the state make a blood transfusion.
  • Sickle-cell anemia - a genetic disorder in which the red blood cells change shape periodically and block blood flow. It may be accompanied by severe pain and / or organ damage.
  • Polycythemia vera. At the same violation for unknown reasons, the body produces too many blood cells. Usually this does not cause particular problems, however, in some people this disruption results in the formation of blood clots.
  • Malaria. As a result of the bite of mosquito in human blood fall parasites that infect red blood cells. Periodically, the red blood cells burst, causing fever, chills, and organ damage. This blood infection is most common in Africa.

 Diseases of the blood - always seriously

Blood disorders that affect the white blood cells

  • Lymphoma - type of blood cancer Blood cancer - do not despair  Blood cancer - do not despair
 That develops in the lymphatic system. When lymphoma white blood cells become cancerous, printed and distributed not as healthy white blood cells. There are two main types of the disease: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy Radiotherapy in cancer treatment: irradiation aid  Radiotherapy in cancer treatment: irradiation aid
   can prolong the life of patients with lymphoma, and sometimes even cure it.
  • Multiple myeloma - this is another kind of cancer of the blood in which malignant plasma cells are. The plasma cells multiply abnormally fast, produce harmful substances, causing considerable damage to various organs. From multiple myeloma there is no cure, but with chemotherapy Chemotherapy - it always falls the hair?  Chemotherapy - it always falls the hair?
   and a bone marrow transplant can people live with the disease for years.

 Diseases of the blood - always seriously

Anemia

Anemia - a condition characterized by a decrease in red blood cell count and decrease the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. There are three main groups of anemia: iron deficiency, anemia arising from the formation of red blood cell disorders and anemia, resulting from the increased destruction of red blood cells.

Iron deficiency anemia - a widespread condition in which decreases the amount of iron in the body, resulting in impaired formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells and in the future. The most common cause of anemia is a frequent minor bleeding. The reduced number of blood hemoglobin and erythrocytes. With this iron deficiency anemia prescribers and a diet with plenty of meat, eggs, fish roe and so on.

Anemia due to red blood cell disorders may be inherited, occur when lead poisoning, with a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid, etc. . d .  The basis of hereditary anemia is an inherited disorder of one of the enzymes involved in the formation of red blood cells .  Treat such anemia introduction of RBC .  The lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid is disrupted formation of the active form of folic acid, but without the non - formation of DNA, i.e. cell proliferation, including blood cells .  Treatment - introduction of vitamin B12 and folic acid .  There are aplastic anemia, in which disrupted production of all elements of the blood .  The reasons for this are unknown anemia, but starting torque can be receiving some chemical seedineny, including drugs having inhibitory action of hematopoiesis (e.g., chloramphenicol, analgin, insecticides, etc. . d . ) .  Treatment of anemia such a difficult, mainly administered packed red blood cells .

Anemia due to increased destruction of red blood cells - is hemolytic anemia, it occurs when the transfusion of incompatible blood group, with rhesus conflict between mother and fetus. There are also hereditary forms of hemolytic anemia. The main treatment - withdrawal from the body decay products of red blood cells and substitution blood transfusion.

 Diseases of the blood - always seriously

Leukemia or leukemia

Leukemia or leukemia - is a general term describing a group of acute and chronic neoplastic diseases of the blood system. In leukemia, the white blood cells do not mature until the end, so they can not perform their inherent function of protecting the body against viruses and bacteria. The number of immature cells (blasts) literally fills the circulatory system and internal organs and is responsible for development of the main symptoms - anemia, bleeding, various infections, irritation, increase and dysfunction of affected organs.

The causes of this disease are unknown. However, it was observed that the leukemia often occurs after ionizing radiation, by exposure to some chemicals, viruses.

Leukemia can be acute or chronic. Acute leukemia is divided into acute lymphoblastic leukemia (if proliferating blast cells) and acute myeloid leukemia (blast grow granulocytes). Chronic leukemia is divided into chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia (mostly elderly sick man).

Treatment of leukemia - is, above all, the suppression and destruction of breeding blasts, as even one or two of the remaining cells may lead to a new outbreak of the disease.

 Diseases of the blood - always seriously

Hemorrhagic diathesis

Haemorrhagic diathesis - a group of diseases and disease states hereditary or acquired nature, which is a manifestation of the general tendency to intense, often prolonged bleeding and hemorrhage.

The cause of hemorrhagic diathesis may be vascular changes, the lack of quality or inferiority of platelets, blood coagulation disorders. Each of these reasons can cause both inherited and acquired forms of hemorrhagic diathesis. Mechanism of hemorrhagic diathesis may be different, and therefore the treatment is also very different.

Remember, any change in the composition of blood requires careful examination.

  Galina Romanenko






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