Anemia In Women - What Is It? Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Anemia in women: first signs and treatment

Anemia is a common name that unites a whole group of hematological disorders associated with a decrease in the level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes in the blood. Anemia, if left untreated, threatens with serious health consequences, and in some cases it can even lead to death.

The most common type of anemia is iron deficiency anemia, which affects people of either sex, but it is most often diagnosed in women. However, this is not surprising. After all, it is in women that regular menstrual bleeding occurs, which, under some circumstances, can be very massive.

Women carry, give birth and feed children. During these periods of life, the body's need for iron also increases.

Women more often than men limit themselves in nutrition, go on diets, which leads to insufficient intake of iron in the body. Therefore, it is about female anemia that will be discussed further.

Content:

• Anemia in women - what is it?
• Causes of anemia in women
• The first signs of anemia in women after 30
• What are the main symptoms of anemia in women?
• What is the threat of anemia in women?
• Treatment of anemia in a woman

Anemia in women - what is it?

Anemia in women is a pathological condition of the body, which is characterized by a drop in the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood.

Erythrocytes in a woman are formed in the red bone marrow from protein compounds and other components. This process is called erythropoiesis. Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, which is responsible for gas exchange in the body. It supplies oxygen to organs and tissues, and takes carbon dioxide from them. Therefore, if the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells decreases, the person develops anemia.

The average lifespan of red blood cells is 21 days, after which the red blood cells travel to the spleen where they are destroyed. Non-protein fractions are utilized, and the protein components are sent back to the red bone marrow to become the basis for the formation of new red blood cells.

Anemia in a woman can be of the following types:

• Iron deficiency anemia, which develops more often than others and is characterized by a decrease in the amount of iron in the body. Anemia in a woman is said to be when the hemoglobin level drops below 120 g / l.
• B12-deficiency anemia, which develops against the background of a lack of vitamin B12 in the body, and sometimes folic acid.
• Folic acid deficiency anemia, which develops when there is a deficiency of folic acid in the body.
• Aplastic anemia is a disease that is accompanied by a decrease in the level of all blood elements against the background of bone marrow hypoplasia. This is a serious condition, predominantly inherited.
• Hemolytic anemia is characterized by early destruction of red blood cells, which leads to a decrease in their number.
• Post-hemorrhagic anemia, which develops against the background of acute or chronic blood loss.

Causes of anemia in women

More often than others, women develop iron deficiency anemia, therefore, it will be discussed below.

The reasons for its occurrence can be as follows:

• Prolonged and heavy menstrual bleeding, which can be a feature of the body, or occur against a background of various diseases. It should be understood that if your period lasts longer than 10 days, it is not normal and requires treatment.
• Disorders in the work of the digestive system. This leads to the fact that nutrients from food will not be able to be absorbed into the blood. Anemia can be caused by gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, previous resections of the stomach and intestines, intestinal infections, colitis, etc.
• Compliance with a strict diet with a sharp restriction on the menu of animal products.
• In girls, anemia can develop during the period of rapid growth of the body, with an unbalanced diet, with the early introduction of whole milk into the child's diet.
• Often a woman develops anemia during pregnancy. The probability of its occurrence is the higher, the more children the expectant mother carries at the same time. Anemia is a frequent companion of toxicosis, when useful substances are excreted from the body during vomiting and diarrhea.
• The period of breastfeeding can also trigger the development of anemia. At this time, the woman's body consumes iron and other useful substances in a double volume.
• Diseases of the female reproductive system, for example, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, uterine fibroids - all of this can lead to the development of anemia.

It should be noted that many of the listed reasons, for example, errors in nutrition and pregnancy, can lead to the development of not only iron deficiency anemia in a woman, but also other types of anemia (B12-deficiency and folate deficiency anemia).

The first signs of anemia in women after 30

Female anemia has certain characteristics of the course. It begins to develop when the hemoglobin level drops to 90-120 g / l. Such anemia is considered mild and may not manifest itself in any way. However, if a woman is attentive to her health, then she will nevertheless notice the minimal signs of a developing disorder.

The first symptoms of anemia in women after 30 include:

• Decreased performance. All those affairs and duties that a woman previously performed will now be difficult for her.
• During the day, drowsiness begins to worry more and more often, despite the fact that the woman did not change the regime of the day and she has enough time for a night's sleep.
• Flies and flashes periodically appear before the eyes.
• When in a cool room, a woman will be very cold. Such an unexpected reaction to a low temperature should give rise to the idea of developing anemia.
• The skin of the face becomes dry, wrinkles and cracks appear on it.
• The mucous membranes suffer from ulceration.
• Be sure to pay attention to nails that become brittle and dull, longitudinal stripes may appear on them.
• Anemia is reflected in the condition of the hair. At the age of 30, a woman may find that her hair has begun to turn gray and fall out.
• From the side of the psyche, the changes caused by anemia are more difficult to notice, but still, most women note that they have become much more irritable and whiny. There is a weakening of memory and concentration.

The listed symptoms may not develop in full and not always. However, anemia cannot be completely asymptomatic. The main thing is to listen to your body and not ignore its signals.

What are the main symptoms of anemia in women?

The main symptoms of anemia in women develop when the disease reaches moderate severity. In this case, hemoglobin drops to 70-90 g / l.

The main manifestations of moderate anemia include:

• Circular hypoxic syndrome. As anemia progresses, the skin and mucous membranes become very pale and undergo trophic changes. A woman is increasingly beginning to be bothered by dizziness, which can turn into fainting. The heartbeat becomes more frequent, if there are already any diseases of the cardiovascular system (coronary artery disease, heart failure), then anemia will aggravate their course. During exercise, and then at rest, the woman will begin to pursue shortness of breath.
• Sideropenic syndrome. The skin becomes covered with cracks, ulcers form in the mouth, which heal for a long time and painfully. The tongue is often inflamed. Women begin to complain of abdominal pain, and when examining the organs of the digestive system, they are often diagnosed with atrophic gastritis. From time to time, there may be a desire to smell some specific smells (acetone, paint, gasoline), or to eat any unusual food (chalk, tooth powder, clay). Sideropenia is indicated by weakness of the muscular apparatus, uncontrolled urination, dyspepsia.
• Asthenovegetative syndrome. Irritability increases, the woman becomes whiny and quick-tempered. Memory and attention continue to deteriorate.
• Immune system disorders. As anemia progresses, the body's natural defenses weaken. Therefore, a woman often begins to get sick with ARVI and intestinal infections.

What is the threat of anemia in women?

If anemia is not detected in time and treated, then it will lead to the development of irreversible processes in a woman's body. A decrease in hemoglobin levels leads to a decrease in immunity. With a failure of the immune system, the likelihood of contracting not only mild respiratory infections, but also serious diseases, such as tuberculosis, increases.

In addition, the cardiovascular system with a deficiency of hemoglobin and erythrocytes, works in an enhanced mode. The heart pumps large volumes of blood to stop oxygen deprivation of organs and tissues. This leads to rapid wear and tear of the heart muscle and threatens the onset of heart failure.

A woman becomes irritable, her psycho-emotional background will be unstable, which is associated with the risk of developing neurological pathologies.

Possible complications of anemia include:

• Decreased immunity.
• Myocardial dystrophy and heart failure.
• Pathology of the digestive system and respiratory system.
• Damage to the mucous membranes.
• Deterioration of mental abilities.

The most formidable complication of anemia is hypoxic coma, which can be fatal.

Anemia during pregnancy is no less dangerous, as this violation increases the likelihood of miscarriage and early birth. Not only the mother suffers, but also the fetus, which begins to lag behind in mental and physical development.

Treatment of anemia in a woman

A woman should find out about how anemia is treated in the doctor's office. You cannot diagnose yourself and start therapy on your own. Even the presence of all signs of anemia requires laboratory tests.

Therapy for anemia begins with establishing the cause that provoked it. However, following a special diet is a prerequisite for getting rid of iron deficiency in the body. A woman is recommended to include in the menu products - sources of heme iron. This is red meat, liver, tongue. It is imperative to add foods rich in vitamin C to the menu. Otherwise, iron will not be absorbed in full. You need to give up drinking coffee, tea, milk, chocolate. These foods contain oxalates and polyphenols, which interfere with the absorption of iron.

It is worth considering that only one diet will not be able to get rid of anemia. You will need to take drugs based on it (ferro-drugs): Tardiferon, Sorbifer Durules, Gestalis, etc. The course of treatment should last at least 1.5 months. During this time, the hemoglobin level should return to normal. Then, for another 1.5-2 months, a woman should take iron-containing preparations in order to replenish the depot of this substance in the body.

Useful articles on the restoration of hemoglobin in the blood:

• List of iron supplements in the treatment of anemia
• Diet and nutrition for anemia
• Home treatment for anemia (effective and proven recipes)
• TOP 5 products to increase hemoglobin in the blood
• Which doctor should I contact for anemia?

If the anemia is severe, then the patient is transfused with red blood cells.

During pregnancy, all women without exception should receive iron supplements in order to prevent anemia. They start taking this substance in the second trimester and finish after completing breastfeeding. The dosage should be adjusted by the doctor.

Anemia is a serious problem that can make life difficult for any woman. Therefore, to prevent the development of anemia, one should not abandon the annual medical examination and donate blood for analysis. If even minor deviations in the blood picture occur, treatment should be started.

The author of the article: Shutov Maxim Evgenievich | Hematologist

Education: In 2013 he graduated from the Kursk State Medical University and received a diploma "General Medicine". After 2 years, completed residency in the specialty "Oncology". In 2016 completed postgraduate studies at the National Medical and Surgical Center named after N. I. Pirogov.