Hemoglobin in women - what is the norm?
Hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells, which is responsible for the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. The concentration of this element is considered one of the most important biochemical parameters of blood. Depending on how high or low the level of hemoglobin in a woman, one can judge the reasons for the internal trouble in her body.
Content:
- What is the norm for hemoglobin levels in women?
- Increased hemoglobin in women
- Low hemoglobin in women
- What if a woman has hemoglobin 60-80?
- Sample menu for patients with anemia:
What is the norm for hemoglobin levels in women?
The hemoglobin content is determined by a general blood test. Its normal value in women varies from 120 to 140 g / l. A higher rate can be observed in professional athletes (up to 160 g / l) or in women who smoke (up to 150 g / l). In such cases, a small deviation is considered a variant of the norm.
On a separate scale, doctors assess the hemoglobin level in the blood of pregnant women. The lower limit of the norm in the I and III trimester of pregnancy is 110 g / l, in the II - 105 g / l. The upper value during the entire waiting period of the child should not exceed 120 g / l.
The significant difference in normal indicators in pregnant and non-pregnant women is explained by physiological changes in the body of the expectant mother. During gestation, the volume of circulating blood increases by 50%, making it increasingly difficult for the bone marrow to supply sufficient hemoglobin. In addition, additional iron consumption is required for the formation of the placenta and the growing embryo.
| Average for all women | from 120 to 140 g / l |
| Smoking women | up to 150 g / l |
| Women doing sports | up to 160 g / l |
| Pregnant women in the first and third trimester | 110 g / l |
| Pregnant women in the II trimester | 105 g / l |
Increased hemoglobin in women
The reasons for the increase in hemoglobin in women can be both physiological and pathological. The former include intense physical activity and prolonged exposure to hypoxia (for example, living in a high-mountainous region). At the same time, the body begins to experience an acute lack of oxygen, which is compensated by the "overproduction" of erythrocytes. Such deviations from the norm, as a rule, are always insignificant - in the range of 10-20 g / l. They do not alert doctors and do not require medical intervention.
The situation is much more serious if hemoglobin rises for no apparent reason. This can be a sign of dangerous pathologies, in particular, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, intestinal obstruction or cardiopulmonary failure.
It is most dangerous when the hemoglobin concentration reaches 180-190 g / l. At the same time, an increase in blood viscosity is observed, microcirculation processes are disrupted, oxygen delivery to organs is hampered. Such patients are diagnosed with blue tips of fingers and toes, fatigue, loss of appetite, distraction and irritability.
Prolonged circulatory disorders lead to the development of thromboembolism (blockage of blood vessels). Therefore, an excessively high level of hemoglobin is a condition that requires immediate treatment.
How to lower hemoglobin in women?
The following measures can be used to reduce hemoglobin:
- Diet therapy. The patient is asked not to abuse food with a high iron content: red meat, animal by-products (liver, kidneys, etc.). The consumption of foods that increase cholesterol levels and blood viscosity (butter, pork, caviar, confectionery) is limited. The diet is recommended to be filled with protein foods: legumes, white meat, fish. Fast food, carbonated drinks, canned food and semi-finished products are completely excluded. Also during the period of treatment, it is prohibited to take vitamin and mineral complexes containing vit. B12, folic acid and iron.
- taking antiplatelet agents. These drugs thin the blood and reduce the risk of blood clots. However, you should not use them yourself without the appointment of a specialist - you can harm your health. The reason for using antiplatelet agents should be consulted with your doctor.
- Search for the underlying disease. An increase in the level of hemoglobin indicates a malfunction in the body. To identify the cause of the problem, the doctor must prescribe a comprehensive medical examination.
Low hemoglobin in women
A condition in which hemoglobin drops below normal is called iron deficiency anemia (or anemia). An experienced doctor is able to detect pathology even before passing laboratory tests, barely glancing at the patient who turns to him. A pale face, dry skin, "sticking" in the corners of the mouth, dull hair and sluggish movements are the main symptoms of low hemoglobin. And if, in addition to this, a woman complains of increased fatigue, “flies” in the eyes and frequent dizziness, then the diagnosis does not raise any doubts at all.
In pregnant women, anemia is often accompanied by eating and smelling disorders. The desire to eat chalk, coal, sand, to smell whitewash or gasoline is by no means a "sweet whim" of a future mother, but a reason to see a doctor.
The danger of anemia lies in the insufficient supply of oxygen to the tissues. At the initial stages of the disease, the body tries to cope with the lack of a vital element, depriving it of the organs that are least significant from its point of view (hair, nails, teeth). However, over time, oxygen deficiency increases and everyone, including the brain and heart, has to "starve". In order to prevent serious complications, it is important to identify and eliminate the cause of the disease at an early stage of its development.
Causes of low hemoglobin in women
Anemia can be provoked by:
- Improper nutrition. In order for hemoglobin to be synthesized in the right amount, a sufficient amount of iron must enter the woman's body with food. Its main source is animal products: meat, liver, kidneys. Plants also contain iron, but in a form that is much worse absorbed. This is why vegetarianism and low meat diets are becoming one of the most common causes of anemia. Excessive consumption of foods that inhibit the absorption of iron can also lead to a decrease in hemoglobin: coffee, tea, chocolate, cereals.
- Folic acid deficiency, vit. C or vit. B12 in the body. All these elements play an important role in the formation of hemoglobin. Vit. B12 is most often caused by helminthic invasion, and lack of vit. C and folic acid - an unbalanced nutritious diet.
- Blood loss. They can be both obvious (with systematic donation, profuse prolonged menstruation, uterine bleeding) and latent (blood loss associated with hemorrhoids, ulcerative lesions of the digestive tract, polyps in the large intestine, etc.).
- Hypothyroidism The thyroid hormone - thyroxine - regulates the absorption of iron in the intestine. Its deficiency also entails a lack of hemoglobin.
- Diseases of the digestive system. Gastritis, ulcerative lesions of the stomach or intestines lead to thinning of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, as a result of which iron practically ceases to be absorbed.
- Premature death of erythrocytes. This condition can be caused by long-term infectious diseases (hepatitis, tuberculosis, etc.) or immune disorders (for example, lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis).
- Sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity is one of the factors that influence the synthesis of red blood cells. If the blood is not intensively accelerated throughout the body, the brain receives signals that there are "enough" erythrocytes and their additional synthesis is not required.
- Stress. May cause a decrease in appetite and, as a result, inadequate intake of iron from food.
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What if a woman has hemoglobin 60-80?
A hemoglobin level below 80 g / l is considered severe anemia. Correction of the condition is carried out taking into account the factor that caused it. To find out the cause of the pathology, a woman is asked to pass a number of tests and undergo specialists: a gynecologist, a gastroenterologist, an endocrinologist, a nutritionist. After identifying the underlying disease, the patient is selected a set of therapeutic measures aimed at combating it.
Proper nutrition is definitely recommended. A woman's daily diet should include foods rich in iron and vitamins.
These include:
- beef, lamb, white rabbit meat,
- liver, tongue, kidneys,
- egg yolk,
- dried apricots, raisins, prunes, figs,
- apple and pomegranate juice,
- buckwheat soups and cereals,
- legumes,
- sprouted wheat grains,
- rosehip broth,
- plums, green apples,
- almonds and walnuts.
The body is able to regulate the amount of iron absorbed from food itself - with a shortage it increases and vice versa.
Drinking plenty of fluids is very useful for low hemoglobin levels. Doctors advise taking plain water and juices for 1/4 cup every 30 minutes.
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Sample menu for patients with anemia:
| Millet porridge with dried apricots, prunes and nuts, 1 tbsp. apple juice, wheat bun. | |
| 2nd breakfast | White bread sandwich with cheese, 1 tbsp. rosehip decoction. |
| Dinner | Fresh vegetable salad with pieces of meat, vegetable soup with beef broth, dried fruit compote. |
| Afternoon snack | Fruit or fruit salad, croutons, fresh carrot juice |
| Dinner | Salad with green peas, buckwheat porridge with beef ribs, tea |
| At night | It is permissible to drink a glass of kefir (but not more, dairy products inhibit the absorption of iron). |
Diet alone does not eliminate anemia, but serves as a prerequisite for meeting the physiological needs of the body. In addition to nutrition, iron supplementation helps to fill the hemoglobin deficiency. They come in the form of capsules, tablets, syrups, drops, and injection solutions. What dosage form and in what dose to take is decided by the doctor, guided by the patient's well-being.
Vitamin C and folic acid are usually prescribed in addition to iron supplements. The medication course of treatment can last from 1 to 3 months. The effectiveness of the therapy is monitored according to the results of biochemical blood tests.
Do not take calcium supplements, antacids and tetracycline antibiotics at the same time as iron. These funds reduce its absorption in the intestine. Between the doses of antagonist drugs, a time interval of at least 2 hours must be observed.
Of the folk methods of treating anemia, the use of dandelion gives a good effect. In the warm season, juice is prepared from freshly picked shoots and drunk at 1 tbsp. l. in a day. In winter, make an infusion of dried plant roots: 1 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for an hour. Take 1/2 tbsp. in the morning and in the evening for 30 min. before meals.
Rosehip decoction is also good for normalizing hemoglobin. Add 2 tbsp to one glass. l. lemon juice, 1 tbsp. l. honey and drink in the morning on an empty stomach.
It is also useful to use freshly prepared vitamin cocktails from carrot, beetroot and apple juices. Drinks are mixed in equal proportions and take 1 tbsp. a day half an hour before meals.
Of no small importance for patients with anemia are walks in the fresh air. Constant presence in the room aggravates oxygen starvation and leads to the fact that the body actually begins to "suffocate". Long walks help patients feel better, strengthen the nervous system and get rid of insomnia.
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.
