An Important Neglected Problem: Anemia

It is the protein called hemoglobin, found in red blood cells, which gives blood its red color and carries oxygen to the tissues. The building block of this protein is iron. A healthy person's blood contains approximately 12-16.5 grams/deciliter of hemoglobin. According to the World Health Organization criteria, hemoglobin level below 13 g/dL in men and 12 g/dL in women is called anemia.

Anemia is one of the most common health problems in the world. Approximately 30% of the world's population suffers from anemia. The most common conditions that cause anemia are iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies.

Anemia is never a disease. Anemia is a laboratory and disease finding that develops due to an underlying disease. In order to treat anemia, this cause must first be found. For example, anemia occurring after the age of 40 may be a harbinger of cancer, or it may lead to anemia by lowering blood values ​​due to stomach ulcers, intestinal wounds or polyps bleeding. There are dozens of different causes and diseases that cause anemia in both men and women. Since this problem affects both people's daily lives and work performance, it should definitely not be neglected.

ANECESSISE IS EASY TO DETECT

Anemia is diagnosed with a complete blood count performed in almost every health institution. It can be detected by an examination called 2 cc (1 tube) of blood is sufficient. As a result of this examination, the degree of anemia can be determined by obtaining the hemoglobin level. In addition to anemia, it can also be checked whether the numbers of white blood cells, which are the body's fighting cells, and platelets, which are clotting cells, are normal.

If anemia is detected as a result of the examination, further investigations are carried out to determine the underlying cause.

CAUSES OF ANEMIA

Anemia can occur for many reasons. The most common cause of anemia in the whole society and especially in women is anemia due to iron deficiency. The most important cause in women of reproductive age is blood loss during menstruation. Except this; Iron deficiency may occur due to malabsorption from the gastrointestinal tract or due to nutritional deficiency. Again, malabsorption and nutritional Anemia may also develop in cases of folic acid and vitamin B 12 deficiency due to insufficiency. Apart from these, various rheumatic diseases, chronic inflammations related to the gastrointestinal system (colitis, etc.), chronic infectious diseases, some types of cancer, kidney failure, diabetes, hypothyroidism caused by underactive thyroid gland, one-time or continuously used medications, Bone marrow laziness is the most common cause of anemia.

HOW IS ANEMIA TREATMENT?

A person who consults a doctor with anemia problem must first find out the disease that causes it. . At this point, possible diseases that may cause anemia are evaluated, taking into account the patient's age, gender, profession and place of residence. The patient's physical examination is checked to see if there is any abnormality. After the examination findings are determined, laboratory tests are requested. The cause of anemia is determined through the patient's history, physical examination and laboratory tests, and the treatment strategy is determined according to this cause. For example, if anemia due to iron deficiency is detected in a woman with heavy menstrual bleeding, it is first investigated whether this bleeding is abnormal. If the cause of abnormal bleeding is, it is examined whether the cause of bleeding is related to gynecological diseases. If it is due to gynecological diseases (myoma, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, etc.), treatment is given for this cause. If the research for gynecological diseases is found to be normal, it is evaluated whether the patient has a tendency to bleeding (bleeding and clotting disorders). If a bleeding problem is found, treatment for this cause is started. While these causes are being investigated, iron treatment should also be started in order to reduce the patient's complaints, relieve fatigue, and improve the quality of life.

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