Severity Of Anemia: 1, 2, 3 (mild, Moderate, Severe)

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

Mild, moderate, and severe anemia

Anemia is a pathological condition of the body characterized by a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood. If a person is diagnosed with anemia, then he needs treatment. It will depend on the severity of the disorder, as well as on the cause that led to the drop in hemoglobin.

Content:

• Severity of anemia by hemoglobin level
• Mild 1 anemia
• Moderate 2 anemia
• Severe grade 3 anemia
• Possible causes of all degrees of anemia
• Consequences of untreated anemia

Severity of anemia by hemoglobin level

Anemia develops against the background of other diseases, acting as a pathological symptom of many disorders in the body. Moreover, it is always accompanied by a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood. As a result of such changes, organs and tissues begin to suffer from a lack of oxygen. Oxygen starvation is called hypoxia.

Normally, in adult men, the hemoglobin level should vary between 130-180 g / l. In women, this figure is 120-150 g / l.

If these values begin to decrease, then doctors talk about anemia, which can have 3 degrees of severity:

• The first severity of anemia is characterized by a drop in hemoglobin levels to 90-120 g / l. This condition can be corrected by proper nutrition; hospitalization of the patient is not required.
• Moderate anemia develops when the hemoglobin level drops to 70-90 g / l. in this case, it will no longer be possible to get rid of the violation only with the help of a diet; medications are required. If a person feels satisfactory, then he is not hospitalized.
• The third degree of severity of anemia is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin levels less than 70 g / l. In this case, the person is placed in a hospital where complex treatment is carried out. Depending on the cause that led to the development of anemia, therapy can be either conservative or surgical.

Mild 1 anemia

If a person develops mild grade 1 anemia, then there are usually no symptoms of the disorder. Therefore, the patient may not even suspect that he has pathological changes in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood. This can be determined using laboratory tests.

Symptoms that can occur with mild anemia:

• Weakening of concentration.
• Increased pulsation.
• Deterioration in performance.
• Weakening of memory.
• Rapid fatigue, a feeling of constant fatigue, despite a good rest.
• Pallor of the skin and mucous membranes.
• Orthostatic hypotension can be a sign of first-degree anemia. At the same time, a person's pressure drops when the position of the body changes (with a sharp rise from the bed), which is expressed in darkening in the eyes. Also at this time, an increase in heart rate is possible. This symptom is called orthostatic tachycardia.
• Periodically, a person may be haunted by dizziness. Fainting for the first degree of anemia is not typical.

The reasons. The reasons for the development of anemia can only be determined by a doctor. To install them, you will need to donate blood. Most often, people have iron deficiency anemia, when a lack of iron leads to a drop in hemoglobin levels. After all, it is this trace element that is necessary for the normal production of Hb. According to average data, iron deficiency anemia affects up to 50% of children at an early age, up to 15% of women during the childbearing period of their lives and up to 2% of adult men. As the analysis of statistics shows, every 3 inhabitants of the Earth has a latent tissue iron deficiency. It takes about 80-90% of all types of anemias.

Sharp iron deficiency anemia is rare. First, a person has a so-called pre-latent iron deficiency. Trace element reserves are depleted only in tissues. As the disease progresses, the level of not only deposited, but also transport, as well as erythrocyte gland decreases. The severity of iron deficiency anemia can be minimal or completely hidden.

Treatment. Treatment of a mild degree of anemia requires nutritional correction, although it all depends on the reasons that provoked this violation. However, the patient's diet will need to be followed without fail. It is adhered to until the level of hemoglobin in the blood returns to normal. It is imperative to include in the menu foods that are rich not only in iron, but also in vitamin B.

These foods include: red meat, fish, eggs, nuts, spinach, beets, pomegranates. The diet must include tomatoes, carrots, fresh herbs, legumes (peas, lentils and beans), oatmeal, buckwheat, bread, honey. In order for iron to be better absorbed by the body, you should enrich your menu with foods that are rich in vitamin C. It increases the bioavailability of this trace element, which makes it easier for it to enter the bloodstream. In addition, citric and succinic acid improves the absorption of iron. Succinic acid is present in sufficient quantities in kefir, yogurt, sunflower oil, sunflower seeds, barley, Borodino bread, green gooseberries, apples, cherries, and grapes.

There are also foods that, on the contrary, slow down the absorption of iron. These are those drinks and dishes in which the content of tannin, polyphenols and oxalates is exceeded. Therefore, it is recommended to refrain from drinking coffee, tea, soy proteins, whole milk, chocolate.

If first-degree anemia is found, treatment should not be delayed. Otherwise, the violation will progress and lead to serious consequences for the body. Self-selection of therapy is not allowed.

Medication is generally not required for mild anemia. They are prescribed only if the nutritional correction does not eliminate the existing problem. The doctor can prescribe medications for a minimum period of 1.5 months and in minimum dosages. If after the specified time the hemoglobin level returns to normal, then the dose is halved and treatment is continued for another month. This measure is aimed at consolidating the result. In addition to pure iron preparations, it is possible to prescribe multivitamin complexes, which must include iron and folic acid.

Often, patients with mild anemia are prescribed drugs such as:

• Ferro-foil containing not only ferrous sulfate but also ascorbic acid, folic acid and cyanocobalamin. With mild anemia, 1 capsule is prescribed 3 times a day. Take the drug after meals.
• Ferroplex is represented by a complex of ascorbic acid and ferrous sulfate. With a mild degree of anemia, taking 1 tablet 3 times a day is indicated.
• Hemofer prolongatum is prescribed 1 tablet once a day.

After the start of taking iron supplements, the signs of anemia will be stopped already on the 3rd day of treatment, but this does not mean that it is time to stop therapy. The normalization of the hemoglobin level in the blood will occur no earlier than 6 weeks from the start of therapy.

It is imperative that people at risk should be checked for the development of anemia of the first severity. They may not have symptoms of anemia, but their health status indicates a high likelihood of developing anemia. People at risk include:

• Pregnant women.
• Children under the age of 3. This is especially true for babies born prematurely or with low birth weight.
• Children born as a result of multiple pregnancies.
• Children born to a woman who suffered from anemia during pregnancy.
• Children and adults with diagnosed helminthiases and diseases of the digestive system.

In order to prevent the development of mild anemia, you need to monitor your diet, and if you are at risk, regularly take blood tests to determine the level of hemoglobin.

Read more: Anemia 1 degree

Moderate 2 anemia

Moderate anemia is characterized by a much more pronounced decrease in hemoglobin levels in the blood, which determines the severity of symptoms. Now it will be impossible not to notice anemia.

Its symptoms are:

• Frequent dizziness.
• Insomnia with increased daytime sleepiness.
• Lack of appetite.
• The appearance of noise in the ears.
• Increased shortness of breath. If earlier it arose only against the background of physical efforts, or was completely absent, now shortness of breath will appear even at rest.
• Tachycardia and arrhythmia.
• Headaches.
• The appearance of "flies" before the eyes.
• Swelling of the skin. In the morning, puffiness under the eyes, the so-called "bags", is especially noticeable.
• Memory impairment.
• Joint problems.
• Pale skin and pale mucous membranes. The skin becomes dry, prone to peeling, and cracks form on it.
• Hair turns gray ahead of time, falls out more, becomes dull. The same applies to the nail plate. In patients with anemia, the nails become pale and lose their natural shine.
• The skin in the area of the legs, face and feet becomes pasty.
• Perversion of taste is observed in many patients already in the second degree of anemia. In this case, a person may be tempted to eat clay, sand, ice, chalk, coal, raw dough, raw minced meat or cereals. Most often, taste perversion occurs in children, adolescents and young women. Their cravings for sour, spicy, and spicy foods increase.
• Perversion of smell is possible. A person will begin to like to inhale aromas that disgust in healthy people (acetone, paint, varnish, etc.).
• The patient's muscle strength decreases.
• In 10% of patients, angular stomatitis is observed, which is popularly known as "seizures".
• The appearance of pain in the tongue, as well as a feeling of bursting of the tongue from the inside, is possible.
• The eye sclera can acquire a bluish color, or a deep blue color. Iron deficiency provokes disturbances in the production of collagen in the sclera of the eyes, which leads to their thinning. The vessels of the eye begin to shine through the sclera, which gives it a characteristic color.
• A person may experience an urgent urge to empty the bladder. It will be difficult for him to keep urine in his bladder if he laughs, sneezes or coughs violently.
• A person with grade 2 anemia begins to suffer more often from ARVI and other inflammatory and infectious diseases, since the performance of leukocytes decreases, immunity decreases.

It should be borne in mind that in full the listed symptoms are observed in patients not only with iron deficiency anemia, but also suffering from a lack of other vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Treatment. Depending on what exactly caused the development of anemia, the doctor selects a treatment regimen. In addition to diet, the patient will need medications.

The principles for constructing a therapeutic scheme are as follows:

• If there is latent bleeding in the human body, then it must be established and stopped. Most often, ulcers located on the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines bleed. Therapy of diseases of the digestive system is in the competence of the gastroenterologist.
• The patient is selected preparations containing iron. These can be medicines such as: Ferroplex, Sorbifer Durules, Tardiferon, Ferretab, Maltofer, Fenyuls, Ferrum lect, etc.
• To normalize the processes of blood coagulation in the body and to replenish the lack of vitamins, vitamin complexes are prescribed. Possible injection of vitamin B12 and vitamin B6.
• Oral folic acid prescription.
• If it is not possible to eliminate the progression of anemia with the help of the listed drugs, then the patient may be prescribed a blood transfusion.
• Corticosteroids (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, etc.) and antibiotics are prescribed for the development of inflammatory processes in the body.

Diet food involves eating the same foods as for first degree anemia. It is important to take into account that products of animal origin saturate the body with iron to a greater extent than food of plant origin. Therefore, the emphasis should be on beef (meat and liver), pork (liver), chicken liver and eggs. Be sure to supplement the diet with juices: pomegranate, tomato, beetroot and apple.

A patient undergoing outpatient treatment should not restrict his physical activity. If he feels satisfactory, then the patient should spend time in the fresh air, maintain an orderly daily routine, and avoid stress. All medical recommendations must be followed impeccably. Otherwise, grade 2 anemia will progress.

Read more: Anemia of the 2nd degree

Severe grade 3 anemia

Severe grade 3 anemia develops against the background of a pronounced drop in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.

This causes the development of severe symptoms, which are manifested by the following pathological changes:

• Muscle weakness increases, muscle atrophy develops, which is caused by a lack of myoglobin and tissue respiration enzymes.
• Dystrophic changes in the skin and its appendages continue to progress.
• The nails acquire a characteristic spoon-shaped concavity. This symptom is called koilonychia.
• The mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue are affected. Patients are diagnosed with glossitis, periodontal disease and caries. A characteristic feature of a severe course of anemia is the symptom of "lacquered tongue" and atrophy of the papillae located on it.
• With severe anemia, atrophic changes in the mucous membrane of the digestive system develop. The lining of the esophagus becomes very dry, which makes it difficult to swallow food. Also, patients are diagnosed with atrophic enteritis and gastritis.
• Bedwetting is often observed, which occurs against the background of weakening of the sphincters of the bladder.
• The patient's temperature can rise to subfebrile levels and remain at this level for a long time.
• Wounds and injuries to the skin heal over a long period of time.

Treatment. A patient with grade 3 anemia is hospitalized. In the hospital, he should receive complex therapy. Only diet and iron supplementation in this case will not be enough. The therapy is supplemented with corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, androgens, cytostatics. Often, patients with grade 3 anemia are prescribed blood transfusions, intravenous drugs. In emergency situations, the patient is referred for a bone marrow transplant operation. Removal of the spleen is sometimes required.

Treatment of grade 3 anemia without medical supervision is impossible. Often, tumors of the blood and bone marrow lead to the development of this severe pathology. Before starting therapy, the doctor must fully examine the patient. During the treatment, his condition is monitored.

Possible causes of all degrees of anemia

There are many reasons that can lead to the development of anemia. First of all, this concerns the deficiency of minerals and vitamins, although various diseases should not be ruled out either.

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Iron deficiency anemia develops against the background of a chronic deficiency of this element. He takes part in many metabolic processes, and is also necessary for the synthesis of hemoglobin. Iron from the body tends to be excreted. In order not to develop its deficiency, an adult must receive at least 20 mg of this trace element with food products per day. Otherwise, the likelihood of developing anemia increases.

The impetus for its manifestation can be:

• Power supply errors. Often a similar situation occurs among vegetarians or people with low income who are unable to provide themselves with a complete menu.
• Diseases of the digestive system (chronic enteritis, enteropathy, bowel and stomach resections, etc.). This entails problems with the absorption of iron.
• Chronic diseases: erosive esophagitis, ulcers and erosion of the stomach and duodenum, diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal varices, stomach or intestinal cancer, hemorrhoids, pulmonary tuberculosis, lung cancer.
• Pregnancy and the period of breastfeeding, when a woman's body consumes significant amounts of iron.
• Intense sports can provoke a lack of iron, which is due to the accelerated growth of muscle mass.
• Puberty. At this time, the body is growing rapidly, so the iron supplied with food may not be enough for it.
• Internal bleeding. Most often, chronic blood loss, not abundant, but prolonged, leads to iron deficiency anemia. The patients themselves may not notice them. For example, uterine bleeding in women during menstruation. In men, iron deficiency anemia develops more often with chronic bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.

B12 deficiency. This is the anemia that occurs against the background of a lack of vitamin B12 in the body.

The following factors can lead to the development of B12-deficiency anemia:

• Lack of vitamin B12 in the menu.
• Parasitic invasions, intestinal infections.
• Diseases of the hepatobiliary system, such as cirrhosis of the liver.
• Increased intake of vitamin B12 by the body.

There is also folate deficiency anemia, which develops with insufficient intake of folic acid. The norm of this substance for an adult is 200-400 mcg per day. Folic acid is of great importance for the development of the fetus, as well as for the normal course of pregnancy. Folic deficiency anemia will be caused by the same reasons that influence the development of iron deficiency anemia.

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Aplastic is another type of anemia.

The reasons for its occurrence are considered:

• Hereditary diseases.
• Intoxication of the body with chemical compounds.
• Systemic diseases.
• Exposure to radiation on the body: ionizing and X-ray radiation.
• Infectious diseases: influenza, cytomegalovirus, herpes, mumps, HIV, etc.
• Taking certain medications: antibiotics, sulfonamides, drugs from the NSAID group, drugs to lower blood pressure.

Hemolytic. It is anemia characterized by the destruction of red blood cells.

The triggering factors leading to the development of hemolytic anemia can be:

• Intoxication of the body with poisonous compounds.
• Injuries received.
• Severe infectious diseases.
• Genetic abnormalities.
• Treatment with certain medications.

A separate type of anemia is hemolytic anemia. It develops against the background of blood loss (acute or chronic).

The reasons leading to the development of the violation:

• Uterine bleeding.
• Trauma or other damage that causes bleeding.
• Ectopic pregnancy with ruptured epididymis.
• Bleeding ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
• Cancer tumors of a malignant nature.
• Myoma of the uterus, accompanied by blood loss.

However, iron deficiency is the most common type of anemia. It often occurs in pregnant women against the background of toxicosis and profuse vomiting. Women who are carrying 2 or more fetuses are at increased risk. Diseases in a pregnant woman such as pyelonephritis and hepatitis can also lead to the development of anemia.

Treatment methods

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Consequences of untreated anemia

The consequences of untreated anemia can be very diverse, ranging from mild, barely noticeable hypoxia of organs and tissues to death. This largely depends on what exactly caused the drop in hemoglobin in the blood, as well as on the severity of the disease.

1. With anemia of the first severity, the following health problems are possible:

   • Decrease in blood pressure.
   • Increasing the load on the heart and blood vessels.
   • The occurrence of nosebleeds, which is more common in childhood.
   • A drop in immunity, which can be expressed in an increase in ARVI episodes in adults and children.
   • Deterioration of mental abilities.
   • For the fetus, maternal anemia carries the risk of intrauterine growth retardation. The baby may be born early.
   • A woman who suffers from mild anemia may have a weakening of labor. During pregnancy, she can be haunted by toxicosis. It also increases the likelihood of bleeding.

2. Untreated moderate anemia can lead to the following complications:

   • Myocardial dystrophy. Symptomatically, this is manifested by shortness of breath, tachycardia, arrhythmia, expansion of the borders of the heart to the left, deafness of heart sounds, systolic murmurs.
   • Prolonged and severe anemia can lead to severe circulatory failure and heart failure.
   • Cerebral hypoxia leads to depression. The patient's quality of life is significantly reduced, he does not get enough sleep at night, during the day he feels tired.

3. The third degree of anemia is a formidable disorder in the body, which can lead to dire consequences:

   • Cardiogenic shock.
   • Acute renal failure.
   • Bleeding that is difficult to stop.
   • Heart failure with heart attack.

With the third degree of anemia, the likelihood of death increases. All organs suffer from hypoxia, their performance is impaired. In addition, a weakened immune system becomes unable to fight off infections. All of them have a protracted and prolonged course. Therefore, assistance to the patient should be provided urgently.

Severe anemia in pregnant women threatens with premature birth, gestosis, placental abruption, bleeding and other complications during labor.

Most often, anemia is well treated, but you need to seek medical help in a timely manner. If this is not done, then the violation will progress. In childhood, anemia is dangerous with a delay in mental and physical development.

In order to timely detect the existing problem, you should regularly donate blood to determine the level of hemoglobin, do not abandon dispensary observation. If a person is at risk of developing anemia, then the doctor may prescribe him a preventive intake of iron supplements.

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.