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Reasons For Low Hemoglobin Count And Measures To Make It Normal?
Question: What can be the reasons for low Hemoglobin count, and what measures should be taken to make it to normal. What problems can be there because of this low value. Planning for children, so will this be any problem? Do you suggest any tests/scans..
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Low hemoglobin count or anemia occurs when your blood does not have enough red blood cells. This can happen if:
• Your body does not make enough red blood cells
• Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced
• Your body destroys red blood cells
Chief causes include vitamin deficiency, iron deficiency, kidney disease, heavy menstrual bleeding, sickle cell disease, lymphomas or malignancies.
In order to increase the iron/hemoglobin levels in the body, you can have iron XXXXXXX foods like liver, lean red meats, beans like kidney, lima, navy, black, pinto, soy beans, and lentils, iron fortified whole grains, green vegetables like spinach, tofu, broccoli, swiss chard, asparagus, parsley, chicken, nuts, egg yolk and dry fruits.
You should also have iron supplements along with these foods. The iron preparation you take should contain between 30-100 mg elemental iron. Avoid enteric-coated or prolonged-release preparations. Consult your doctor and get a complete blood count along with peripheral smear done and if you have iron deficiency anemia then get iron supplements prescribed.
It should not come in your wife of having children. However, the mother should have a normal hemoglobin to have a safe pregnancy.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Thanks for posting your query.
Low hemoglobin count or anemia occurs when your blood does not have enough red blood cells. This can happen if:
• Your body does not make enough red blood cells
• Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced
• Your body destroys red blood cells
Chief causes include vitamin deficiency, iron deficiency, kidney disease, heavy menstrual bleeding, sickle cell disease, lymphomas or malignancies.
In order to increase the iron/hemoglobin levels in the body, you can have iron XXXXXXX foods like liver, lean red meats, beans like kidney, lima, navy, black, pinto, soy beans, and lentils, iron fortified whole grains, green vegetables like spinach, tofu, broccoli, swiss chard, asparagus, parsley, chicken, nuts, egg yolk and dry fruits.
You should also have iron supplements along with these foods. The iron preparation you take should contain between 30-100 mg elemental iron. Avoid enteric-coated or prolonged-release preparations. Consult your doctor and get a complete blood count along with peripheral smear done and if you have iron deficiency anemia then get iron supplements prescribed.
It should not come in your wife of having children. However, the mother should have a normal hemoglobin to have a safe pregnancy.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
As you said, below can be the reasons:
• Your body does not make enough red blood cells
• Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced
• Your body destroys red blood cells
How to know the root cause of this problem, do you suggest any specific tests or take the mentioned diet for some time and then go for tests. How long will it take for a body to get back to normal value(in days or months) if we start taking appropriate diet and supplements?
And what problems can be there because of this low value?
• Your body does not make enough red blood cells
• Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced
• Your body destroys red blood cells
How to know the root cause of this problem, do you suggest any specific tests or take the mentioned diet for some time and then go for tests. How long will it take for a body to get back to normal value(in days or months) if we start taking appropriate diet and supplements?
And what problems can be there because of this low value?
Hello,
Thanks for writing back.
You can take the above mentioned diet and iron supplements first. If the hemoglobin count remains the same even after diet and iron supplementation then you can get investigated by getting a peripheral blood smear and serum iron and serum ferritin tests.
The time taken for the hemoglobin levels to come back to normal are dependent on many factors like the type of anemia, the degree of anemia, your general health and health of your bone marrow.
In general, there should be signs if improvement within 1-2 weeks after taking the right diet and iron supplements.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Thanks for writing back.
You can take the above mentioned diet and iron supplements first. If the hemoglobin count remains the same even after diet and iron supplementation then you can get investigated by getting a peripheral blood smear and serum iron and serum ferritin tests.
The time taken for the hemoglobin levels to come back to normal are dependent on many factors like the type of anemia, the degree of anemia, your general health and health of your bone marrow.
In general, there should be signs if improvement within 1-2 weeks after taking the right diet and iron supplements.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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