Low Hemoglobin In Nagpur
Treatments / Low Hemoglobin In Nagpur
What is Low Hemoglobin In Nagpur
Low hemoglobin in nagpur are count is a frequently observed result in blood tests. Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) is a protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body.
For men, a low hemoglobin count is typically defined as less than 13.2 grams per deciliter (132 grams per liter) of blood, and for women, it is defined as less than 11.6 grams per deciliter (116 grams per liter). In children, the threshold varies based on age and sex. These values might vary slightly depending on the medical practice.
A slightly lower-than-normal hemoglobin count often does not affect one’s overall well-being. However, a significantly low hemoglobin count that causes symptoms may indicate anemia.
What causes hemoglobin levels to go low?
Several factors can affect hemoglobin levels:
- Insufficient Red Blood Cell Production: Your body produces red and white blood cells in the bone marrow. Certain conditions and diseases can impair the bone marrow’s ability to produce or maintain adequate levels of red blood cells.
- Accelerated Red Blood Cell Destruction: Your body may produce enough red blood cells, but they might be dying faster than they can be replaced.
- Blood Loss: You can lose blood due to injury or illness. Blood loss also leads to iron loss, which can lower hemoglobin levels. Women may experience low hemoglobin levels during their menstrual periods. Internal bleeding, such as from a bleeding ulcer, can also result in blood loss.
- Iron Absorption Issues: If your body cannot absorb iron properly, it affects your ability to produce red blood cells.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Not getting enough essential nutrients, such as iron, and vitamins B12 and B9, can affect hemoglobin levels.
What affects red blood cell production?
Your bone marrow produces red blood cells, but various diseases, conditions, and factors can affect this production, including:
Lymphoma: This term refers to cancers of the lymphatic system. Lymphoma cells in the bone marrow can crowd out red blood cells, reducing their numbers.
Leukemia: Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The presence of leukemia cells in the bone marrow can limit the production of red blood cells.
Anemia: There are many types of anemia characterized by low hemoglobin levels. For instance:
- Aplastic anemia: In this condition, stem cells in the bone marrow fail to produce enough blood cells.
- Pernicious anemia: This autoimmune disorder prevents the body from absorbing vitamin B12, leading to reduced red blood cell production.
Multiple Myeloma: This condition causes the body to develop abnormal plasma cells, which can displace red blood cells.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes: These syndromes occur when blood stem cells fail to develop into healthy blood cells.
Chronic Kidney Disease: The kidneys produce a hormone that signals the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Chronic kidney disease can disrupt this process.
Antiretroviral Medications: Used to treat certain viruses, these medications can sometimes damage the bone marrow, impairing its ability to produce red blood cells.
Chemotherapy: This cancer treatment can affect bone marrow cells, reducing the number of red blood cells produced.
How do you fix low hemoglobin?
Healthcare providers treat low hemoglobin by diagnosing and addressing the underlying cause. For instance, if tests reveal iron-deficiency anemia as the reason for low hemoglobin levels, your healthcare provider will treat the anemia with supplements. They may also recommend following an iron-rich diet. In most cases, treating the root cause of anemia will help restore hemoglobin levels to normal.