Symptoms of Low Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a form of conjugated protein present in the red blood cells. It is a pigment component that has rich iron content. The main function of hemoglobin is to bind the oxygen that we breathe in and transport it to various parts of the body. The hemoglobin molecule undergoes oxygenation to form an unstable compound named oxyhemoglobin. When the oxyhemoglobin reach those sites where the oxygen concentration is low and carbon dioxide is higher, it releases the oxygen molecules to replace the carbon dioxide. Normal hemoglobin range in men is 13.5 to 16 grams per hundred millimeters of blood and in women, it should be 12 to 16 grams. When hemoglobin count goes below these levels, it is considered as low hemoglobin. People, irrespective of their age and sex, can suffer from this problem. However, it is more commonly found in infants, children, pregnant women and athletes.

Causes of Low Hemoglobin
The main reason behind low hemoglobin is deficiency of iron in the body. This is because iron is responsible for the production of hemoglobin. People who do not include sufficient iron rich food in their diet tend to develop iron deficiency. When the body is incapable of absorbing certain vitamins, production of hemoglobin also gets affected. In some people, specific types of genetic disorders such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease are responsible for low hemoglobin. It is also found in those people who have a medical history of alcoholism.

Common Symptoms of Low Hemoglobin
Low hemoglobin is the main cause of anemia. When the hemoglobin level is slightly below normal, it is possible that the symptoms may not even get detected at all. Feeling of tiredness, headache, dizziness, fatigue and lack of concentration are some general symptoms that cannot be identified as symptoms of low level of hemoglobin in particular.

Physically, the visible signs of lack of hemoglobin in the blood are pale skin, nail beds and gums. Low hemoglobin means less oxygen in blood which often causes shortness of breath. In order to compensate for the deficiency of oxygen in the blood, the body tries to enhance the output of the heart. Due to this, symptoms like palpitations, chest pain and aggravation of heart problems are observed. In case level of hemoglobin becomes extremely low, it can lead to enlargement of the heart and signs of heart failure may also show up.

There are other symptoms that are comparatively less common and are found in few cases only. These are: swelling of limbs (both arms and legs), continuous sense of heartburn, bruises, excessive sweating, vomiting and discharge of blood with stool. When infants and small children continue to suffer from low hemoglobin for a long time, it causes poor neurological development in them. During the growing up years, these children often show behavioral disturbances and unsatisfactory performances in academics. It also makes them prone to lead poisoning.

Treatment for Low Hemoglobin
Lack of hemoglobin in the blood is detected by the means of physical examination and blood tests. Doctors prescribe iron supplements and vitamin supplements to improve the level of hemoglobin. These supplements are available over the counter as well but it is advisable to consult a physician before taking these medicines. They recommend correct dosage of the iron supplement as per the health condition of the patient. If the hemoglobin count is extremely low, stronger dose of iron supplements are needed. There can be improvement in the level of hemoglobin by increasing the intake of food that are rich in iron. Foodstuffs that supply a high amount of iron are leafy vegetables, dried peas, beans, cereals, dried apricots and raisins. Also, red meat, shrimp and oysters are good sources of iron.

Thus proper diet and medication can help you to get rid of the symptoms of low hemoglobin. However, the level of hemoglobin is not going to rise instantly. It will take several months before one can see signs of improvement. Therefore, those who are at a risk of developing this condition should include an adequate amount of high iron food in their daily diet to prevent it.