Everything you need to know about anemia
“Everything you need to know about”, is a series of articles with concrete information on different aspects of health
DID YOU KNOW? Blood is a tissue that functions as a defense against viruses, bacteria and fungi.
WHAT IS BLOOD COMPOSED OF?
The main components of blood are: red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells.
WHAT IS HEMOGLOBIN AND HEMATOCRIT?
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is the main pigment that carries oxygen to all areas of the body. The hematocrit is an important parameter as it represents the percentage of the blood that is made up of red blood cells.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE ANEMIA?
In a person with anemia, red blood cells decrease to levels that cause health problems.
WHAT EXAM SHOULD I TAKE IF I HAVE ANEMIA?
The complete blood count is the test used to determine these parameters of hemoglobin and hematocrit. The test is performed through a blood sample and prior fasting is not required. At Bioclinic Laboratory we have trained personnel and the highest quality equipment, whose results are available in a short time but which provide important information on the patient’s health status. Remember that in Puerto Viejo, Talamanca our laboratory is available to the population of Limon.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ANEMIA?
Patients with anemia may present:
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Fatigue
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Pallor
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Headache
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Weakness
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PREVENT ANEMIA IN PREGNANCY?
Anemia is the most common disease during pregnancy, which if not handled properly can have negative effects on both the child and the mother. The main cause is iron deficiency. It is important that pregnant women have a control in the clinical laboratory, since there are reference values for hemoglobin in each trimester of pregnancy, as well as a determination of their iron levels.
It is important for pregnant women to know their iron and folic acid levels as their requirements increase during pregnancy. At Bioclinic Laboratory, a complete blood count is performed to determine anemia during pregnancy.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PREVENT ANEMIA IN CHILDREN?
Anemia is a major health problem in the pediatric population that according to the World Health Organization afflicts 800 million children, the most vulnerable ages are between 0-3 years. It is important to treat anemia in children because if the proper treatment is not provided, it has negative consequences on intellectual capacity since it can cause irreversible poor cognitive development.