Blood loss is the most common cause of iron deficiency. In men and postmenopausal women, iron deficiency is almost always the result of gastrointestinal blood loss. In menstruating women, genitourinary blood loss often accounts for increased iron requirements. Oral contraceptives tend to decrease menstrual blood loss, whereas intrauterine devices tend to increase menstrual bleeding. Other causes of genitourinary bleeding and respiratory tract bleeding also increase iron requirements.
For blood donors, each donation results in the loss of to mg of iron. During periods of growth in infancy, childhood and adolescence, iron requirements may outstrip the supply of iron from diet and stores. Iron loss from tissue growth during pregnancy and from bleeding during delivery and post partum averages mg.
Breastfeeding increases iron requirements by about 0. Your "iron level" is checked before each blood donation to determine if it is safe for you to give blood. In many cases, a low hemoglobin count that's only slightly lower than normal doesn't affect how you feel. A low hemoglobin count that's more severe and causes symptoms might mean you have anemia. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.
Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.
If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. These are other reasons you may need this test: To diagnose a disease that causes anemia To see how severe your anemia is To see whether your anemia is responding to treatment To evaluate a disease called polycythemia Symptoms of anemia may include: Shortness of breath Dizziness Fatigue Headache Cold, pale skin Chest pain Polycythemia is a disease that causes your body to make too many red blood cells.
What do my test results mean? Low hemoglobin may be caused by: Anemia Iron deficiency Liver disease Cancer and other diseases Hypothyroidism How is this test done? Does this test pose any risks? What might affect my test results? Your hemoglobin may be affected by several factors: Living at high altitudes may make hemoglobin go up. Certain medicines can make hemoglobin go down or up. An extreme amount of exercise can make hemoglobin go up.
Pregnancy may make hemoglobin go down. Taking in too much fluid can make hemoglobin go down. How do I get ready for this test? Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about: Any chance you are pregnant Any extreme exercising you have been doing Be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.
Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Hemoglobin plays a vital role in your body. It's the protein in red blood cells RBCs that carries oxygen from your lungs to all of your tissues and organs.
As such, any abnormalities of hemoglobin levels or structure can lead to serious symptoms. Symptoms associated with hemoglobin abnormalities can include fatigue, rapid heart rate, pale skin, and more.
If you have any of these problems, your healthcare provider will begin a diagnostic process to identify the cause and may order a hemoglobin test for you. Hemoglobin is a protein made up of four amino acid chains. Each of these chains contains heme, a compound that contains iron and transports oxygen in the bloodstream.
Hemoglobin is responsible for the shape of RBCs, which usually appear like donuts—but with a thin center rather than a hole. In conditions involving abnormal hemoglobin, such as sickle cell anemia, the abnormal shape of the RBCs can lead to problems. Hemoglobin functions by binding and transporting oxygen from the capillaries in the lungs to all of the tissues in the body. It also plays a role in the transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body back to the lungs.
Nitric oxide and carbon monoxide can also bind with hemoglobin. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin much more readily than oxygen, and its presence actually prevents oxygen from binding to hemoglobin. This is why carbon monoxide poisoning is so serious. A low hemoglobin level is often referred to as anemia.
Causes of anemia may include anything that interferes either with the level or function of hemoglobin or RBCs. Causes of low hemoglobin include:.
0コメント