Causes of low hemoglobin (hb) and how to overcome it

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen. If red blood cells are impaired or their production decreases, the amount of hemoglobin will also decrease. You will probably still feel fine when hemoglobin is low. However, that doesn't mean you can just ignore it. Low hemoglobin levels can be caused by many conditions, from anemia to cancer. Check out the following explanation.

What are the causes of low hemoglobin (Hb)?

Low hemoglobin is usually detected when you have a complete blood count. Normally, men have normal hemoglobin levels of 13.5 grams / dL, and 12 grams / dL for women. Less than that, you have a low Hb.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, a low hemoglobin count can be related to a disease or condition that causes the body to lack red blood cells. This condition is usually caused by:

• Your body produces fewer red blood cells than usual
• Your body destroys red blood cells faster than producing them
• You lose a lot of blood

There are several conditions that cause your hemoglobin to be low, namely:

1. Anemia

Anemia is a health problem that is most often the cause of low Hb. There are several types of conditions that are often referred to as anemia. The various types are differentiated based on the cause of anemia. Here's the explanation:

• Iron deficiency anemia due to insufficient iron intake or impaired iron absorption. In fact, iron is a mineral that is needed in the formation of hemoglobin.
• Anemia in pregnant women. Without consuming iron-rich foods and iron supplement tablets, a pregnant woman's body cannot produce enough hemoglobin.
• Aplastic anemia, which is an insufficient number of red blood cells in the body due to damage to the bone marrow. This damage is caused by an attack by the immune system that mistakenly recognizes the bone marrow as a threat.
• Hemolytic anemia is characterized by the breakdown of red blood cells in the blood vessels or spleen. In fact, red blood cells are supposed to break down in the liver. This condition then causes a low hemoglobin (Hb) count.
• Anemia due to lack of vitamin intake. Lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid (vitamin B9) can change the shape of red blood cells and decrease the amount of hemoglobin in them.
• Sickle cell anemia, which is a condition when the red blood cells are abnormally shaped like sickles. This form results in a low hemoglobin count.

2. Lose a lot of blood

Injuries, accidents, and injuries are some of the factors that most often cause a person to lose a lot of blood. However, blood loss can actually occur in the body without realizing it, such as bleeding in the digestive system, urinary tract infections, cancer, injuries to internal organs, or hemorrhoids.

You can also lose a fair amount of blood as a result of heavy bleeding during menstruation or from frequent blood donations.

3. Hypothyroidism

People with hypothyroidism have a thyroid gland that produces small amounts of thyroid hormone. Lack of thyroid hormone causes decreased bone marrow activity. As a result, the production of red blood cells also decreases.

Decreased red blood cell production is the main cause of low Hb count. This is why people who have hypothyroidism are more at risk of developing anemia. The risk is even greater if you are also deficient in iron.

4. Blood cancer

Blood cancer is also a frequent cause of low Hb. There are three types of blood cancer, namely leukemia, multiple myeloma , and lymphoma.

The three types of cancer inhibit the production of red blood cells so that the numbers are very small. As a result, the amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells is also low.

In addition to the conditions above, there are also several diseases that cause your hemoglobin count to be low, namely:

• Chronic kidney disease
• cirrhosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Porphyria
• Thalassemia

Hemoglobin is an indicator in blood tests used to monitor health status. The number below normal indicates health problems, especially in the circulatory system.

Anyone can have low hemoglobin for a wide variety of causes. Consult a doctor if you experience this condition.

The doctor can perform further examinations on you to find the exact cause.

How to deal with low hemoglobin (Hb) levels?

If your complete blood count shows a low Hb level, your doctor will find out what caused it. How to deal with low hemoglobin due to health problems, of course, by treating the cause itself.

Later, the doctor will recommend the right treatment for your condition.

In addition, you can overcome low Hb by eating iron-rich foods. The iron content in food can help increase hemoglobin production.

The following are foods rich in iron that can increase Hb levels:

• Oyster
• Red beans
• Beef liver
• Tofu
• Beef (roast beef, lean beef)
• Turkey leg
• Wheat bread
• Tuna
• Egg
• Shrimp
• Peanut butter
• Brown rice

Tell your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of low Hb levels, such as fatigue, weakness, pale face, and shortness of breath. The doctor will ask you to do a complete blood test and determine the cause of low Hb. Check your symptoms here.