Hemoglobin?

Question

HI can someone explain in laymans terms if your Hemoglobin is low what cause's this and how it can be put right?

Answer 1

Your haem levels are basically the level of haemoglobin in your blood. Haemoglobin is the part that carries oxygen to your body's cells, so is obviously very important.

When haem levels get too low, not enough oxygen gets to your cells, leading to breathlessness, excessive tiredness and when it's severe, can actually affect your periods.

A diet low in protein or iron, copper or zinc can cause haem levels to dip, as can blood loss (such as while on a period).

The best thing to do is have a diet high in iron-rich foods (such as lean red meats, and dark green leafy vegetable) and ALWAYS follow any meat with something containing vitamin C - your body cannot absorb iron without vitamin C, so even if you do have a diet already rich in iron, you're probably not absorbing it correctly.

Answer 2

Hemoglobin is a protein, a pigment which helps in the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to vital body organs. Hemoglobin is found in RBCs - red blood cells, and having a low hemoglobin count usually means one is anemic/iron -deficient --- which means lacking in / having not enough iron. Women are more prone to being anemic because women menstruate - have bloody periods every month. In other cases, having low hemoglobin can be a cause of internal bleeding, such as from the colon (where solid waste passes on its way out). There are several possible causes of low hemoglobin count, but if you are simply anemic and have no other complication, the doctor might prescribe an iron supplement and tell you to eat iron-rich foods , & rest well.

Answer 3

Hemoglobin (iron based) is what binds the oxygen in your blood. If it is low you do not get all the oxygen you need. Your heart has to work harder to get all cells the oxygen they need. If very severe that is where the trouble will hit the hardest as your heart can not keep up.

Usually it is fixed by adding iron to your diet. In they old days they would feed you an apple where they had put in a rusty nail. Don't eat the nail of course..works but we can do better now. Take a pill or eat peas, spinach or nuts. If it is really low you want to kick start with some pills.

Answer 4

Blood is made of of three parts:
1) Plasma (the liquid part of your blood)
2) white blood cells (leukocytes)
3) red bloody cells (erythrocytes)

Hemoglobin is a molocule that is found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin stores oxygen and as the blood travels around your body it delivers that oxygen to cells that need it to survive.

Iron in your system helps you produce more red blood cells and therefore more hemoglobin. iron supplements are good (but can cause constipation) another good way to get iron in your system is to eat more red meat. if you dont fancy these options have a word with your GP. you dont have to eat red meat with every meal just introduce more into your diet. some fortified breakfast cerials or cerial bars (kellogs especially) have about a third of the reccommended daily amount of iron in them.

hope this helps :)

Answer 5

Haemoglobin levels are usually low in people who suffer with anaemia (low iron in the blood). It causes tiredness and mental lethargy. It can be caused by a number of reasons, poor diet. inability to absorb iron and heavy periods in women. Levels below 11 are usually regarded as low. Treatment is usually by prescription tablets or solution eg. ferrous sulphate. A diet high in iron can also help.....red meat especially liver and green vegetables. Consuming a food or drink high in vitamin C at the same time aids the absorption of iron. If the iron supplements do not improve things then an iron infusion can be given at the hospital.

Answer 6

Hi.
When your iron level and vitamine B12 is low,your hemoglobin is low too so this can cause anemia.

When i went to donate blood my hemoglobin level was little bit low.The nurse advised me to eat beatroot,runner beans,brocoli,spinach.These veg,are rich in vitamine B12.

You can also take tablets for iron and/or injections for B12 but you should see a doctor first.

Answer 7

The most common cause is iron deficiency. In the developed world it is due to chronic bleeding.
Girls usually get this because of heavy periods. Older people usually get this because of bleeding from the stomach.
How you correct this? By finding the cause, correcting the cause and iron tablets

Answer 8

More iron in diet needed, red meat is good way to get iron. Eat some red meat at least three times a week I was told.

Answer 9

low hemoglobin can be iron deficiency. Take one a day with
iron. ,poor diet or you could be bleeding lets hope not.

Answer 10

It means you have anemia (not enough iron in your blood). Depending on how severe it is, you can just eat more iron rich food (dark veggies etc) or you may have to take iron tablets.