
Choosing An Anemia Treatment That Works
Choosing An Anemia Treatment That Works
People who have an abnormally low level of hemoglobin are suffering from a condition called anemia. In the most obvious cases, this condition is caused by massive blood loss but in others, there are physiological problems that lead to the condition. For people in this situation, an effective anemia treatment is needed.
Hemoglobin is a protein that is needed for red blood cells to successfully carry oxygen to the various tissues. Oxygen is utilized by every cell found in the human body so the lack of this vital substance may also make any other medical problem worse. An anemic condition will eventually lead to destruction of tissue and a decrease in immunity and the ability to fight off disease.
The most common causes of anemia are a decrease in hemoglobin production, a decrease in the ability of the blood to absorb iron and nutritional habits that do not include enough iron.
An anemic condition usually progresses slowly as iron stores are released and used up. Male bodies normally store higher levels of iron because the female body tends to lose more during menstruation. When this condition is seen in men it is usually caused by bleeding ulcers or taking too much aspirin which will both result in blood loss.
Folic acid is needed for red blood cells to form and grow. This substance is not stored by the body so a dietary supply is needed to maintain appropriate levels. Liver and green leafy vegetables are rich in folic acid.
Insufficient amounts of B12 will also interfere with the production of blood cells. Good sources for this vitamin include dairy products, eggs and meat. People who adhere to strictly vegetarian diets must make sure they get enough of the vitamin from some other source.
Proper oxygenation of the tissues will be affected without enough iron in the blood. As one of the key components of hemoglobin, iron is required in sufficient amounts. A lack of iron can sometimes be caused by poor absorption.
People diagnosed with this condition often feel tired and weak in addition to finding it difficult to concentrate. There may be chest pain, headaches and shortness of breath, especially during exercise. In very severe cases, oxygen levels can drop low enough to start affecting vital organs and it can even result in a heart attack. In mild cases there may be no symptoms.
Treating this condition requires restoring the proper amounts of oxygen to the tissues and this may require an increase in red blood cell production. The bone marrow and kidneys must receive the proper supplies needed to function together in this process. Replenishing the nutrients will go a long way toward restoring normal levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin.
A proper treatment will get to the root cause of the condition. The body must be stimulated to bring up the levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells. It will also be important to address the rate of absorption of iron from the diet. Restoring proper nutrient levels will not lead to results if the cells cannot adequately absorb iron.…