Know how you can naturally increase your haemoglobin levels at home; read what expert says
When the number of red blood cells in the body are low or more importantly the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal, it results in a condition called anaemia. The common symptoms of anaemia which occur due to a decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen are fatigue, generalised weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath.
The most common causes of anaemia are nutritional deficiencies
particularly iron deficiency anaemia, or due to deficiency of vitamin
B12 and folic acid. Women of reproductive age who have excessive
bleeding during their menstrual cycles may develop iron deficiency
anaemia. Some of the good sources of iron among plant-based foods are
pumpkin seeds, green leafy vegetables like spinach, whole grains and
legumes such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas, and soybeans. Food rich
in Vitamin C like citrus fruits also help in improving iron absorption.
Those who follow a predominantly vegetarian diet may also develop
Vitamin B12 deficiency which can lead to anaemia and hence may need
vitamin b12 supplements. Folic acid is another vitamin that if deficient
can lead to low levels of haemoglobin. Some of the good sources of
folic acid are beans, lentils, leafy vegetables, bananas, broccoli,
beetroot. It is important to incorporate a healthy balanced diet with
enough water intake.
Another important aspect to keep in mind is that Anaemia can occur due to inherited genetic conditions, which can affect the production of haemoglobin in the body by either causing a defect in the structure or its function- a condition known as haemoglobinopathies such as Thalassemia, Sickle cell anaemia, etc.
New-onset anaemia in the elderly especially should prompt evaluation for any underlying cancers. Elderly people who present with iron deficiency anaemia should be evaluated with endoscopies to rule out internal bleeding in the Gastrointestinal tract which can occur due to cancers.
Myelodysplastic syndromes wherein there is an abnormality in the production of the blood also presents as anaemia most often in the elderly. Anaemia is also seen as a presenting feature of Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer that causes destruction of bones, elevated calcium levels and kidney failure. And lastly, when there is low haemoglobin associated with grossly elevated white blood cell counts or lymph node swellings in the body or enlargement of the spleen in the body, it should prompt for evaluation of blood cancers such as leukaemia/lymphoma.
One should not forget that anaemia occurs in the presence of an underlying chronic disease such as Tuberculosis, HIV, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, and Chronic Kidney disease. It is therefore important to be aware of other causes of anaemia and one should not ignore it and have it evaluated completely with necessary blood investigations and imaging as required by the treating physician.