The iron-containing protein delivers oxygen to the cells and removes carbon dioxide from the tissues. Pathologies, hormonal changes, age-related changes and others the reasons provoke anemia. There are often situations when the level of hemoglobin in the blood of men or women is overestimated. There are several ways to lower its concentration.
Record content:
- 1 General concepts of hemoglobin and blood norm
- 2 Signs of high hemoglobin
- 3 The reasons for the increase in hemoglobin
- 4 The danger of high hemoglobin
- 5 Medication treatment
- 6 Folk remedies
- 7 Unconventional methods
- 8 Diet
- 9 Erythrocytopheresis
- 10 Video about hemoglobin
General concepts of hemoglobin and blood norm
The iron-containing element belongs to the class of hemoproteins and has a complex chemical structure. There are 4 fragments in hemoglobin that are responsible for oxygen binding. By giving it to the cells, the protein protein attaches carbon dioxide molecules.
Hemoglobin is highly toxic. Therefore, its excessive concentration in the blood leads to an overload of the body with decay products - iron, bilirubin, porphyrin. Hemoglobin is included in the structure of erythrocytes. Some of it is found unbound in the plasma fraction of blood.
The normal indicator of hemoglobin is conditional and variable. Fluctuations in the level of this complex protein occur under the influence of pathological factors and for natural physiological reasons. Its concentration depends on age, gender, current state of the body.
Lowering hemoglobin in the blood in women or men is necessary to prevent blockage of the renal tubules products of protein breakdown, which leads to tissue necrosis and the development of functional failure organ. The highest level of hemoprotein protein is observed in newborns.
For them, the normal indicator is 115-180 g / l. Over time, its concentration decreases. In healthy middle-aged people, the physiological indicator fluctuates in the range of 130-160 g / l.
After 45 years, there is an increase in hemoglobin up to 180 g / l. For middle-aged women, the norm is set at 120-150 g / l. Pregnancy strongly affects the concentration of hemoglobin.
In such a physiologically specific state, the level of iron-containing protein rises to 155 calculated units for each liter of blood. During the period of an active menstrual cycle, the indicator decreases to 100 g / l.
For elderly women, the upper limit of the hemoglobin content is set at 160 g / l, and the lower threshold is 120 g / l. The concentration of hemoprotein protein begins to rise slowly but steadily after overcoming the 40-year milestone.
For young men (18-45 years old), an indicator of 130-160 g / l is considered normal. There is no consensus among hematologists about the permissible deviation. Some experts consider fluctuations up to 20 g / l to be acceptable.
Others believe that a deviation of 5 units is a reason for the appointment of an additional examination and the use of drug therapy. For women and men over 50 years old, the standard value is 120-157 and 125-165 g / l, respectively.
Signs of high hemoglobin
An excess content of hemoprotein protein is manifested by a disorder of visual function, lack of appetite, and other noticeable symptoms.
Common signs:
- pale skin tone;
- difficult deurination;
- fast fatiguability;
- pathological daytime sleepiness;
- muscle and joint pain;
- cephalalgia;
- permanently high blood pressure.
It is possible to lower hemoglobin in the blood in women or men by correcting the diet, medication and folk remedies, changing the lifestyle and unconventional methods. Elderly patients with such a physiological state are characterized by irritability, emotional instability, and memory impairment.
The reasons for the increase in hemoglobin
The etiological factors of excessive concentration of iron-containing protein in the blood are huge.
Among them are:
- pathology of internal organs;
- hematological diseases;
- regular physical activity for athletes;
- lifestyle and professional features associated with oxygen starvation;
- abuse of nicotine;
- the use of anabolic steroids;
- endocrine disorders, in particular diabetes mellitus associated with an excess of glucose;
- burn lesions;
- dehydration;
- severe stress.
Permanent excess of the established norm of hemoglobin is typical for people living in high mountainous regions. Some debilitating weight loss diets lead to this condition.
Common pathological causes of increased hemoglobin:
| Disease | Clinical characteristics |
| Congenital heart defect | Anatomical defects of the valve mechanism or the walls of the organ. This is an extensive group of pathological changes in the structure of the heart organ. |
| Arterial hypertension | Syndrome of high systolic or diastolic vascular pressure. This condition leads to a significant increase in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood. Arterial hypertension is considered to be a systolic reading of ≥ 140 mm Hg. Art. and diastolic - at least 90 mm Hg. Art. |
| Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis | A specific type of chronic interstitial pneumonia of the progressive type of unexplained genesis. A common cause of increased hemoglobin in elderly patients. |
| Erythrocytosis | A hematological disease that leads to an increase in the number of red blood cells and thickening of the body fluid. This is not a separate nosological unit, but a natural way of adaptation of the body to abnormal processes and pathological conditions. |
| Malignant hyperplasia | Autonomous rapidly progressing tumor neoplasms associated with uncontrolled proliferation of pathologically altered cells. The body reacts to such processes by an increase in the level of an iron-containing fragment of the blood. |
| Renal dysfunction associated with increased erythropoietin synthesis | Hormonal disruption, as a result of which the formation of red blood cells is disrupted. The body tries to compensate for the imbalance by increasing the hemoglobin content in the available red blood cells. |
| Cholelithiasis | Pathology characterized by the formation of calculi in the gallbladder and excretory ducts. Considered a severe hepatobiliary disorder. |
An excess of the concentration of iron-containing protein in a blood test is found in intestinal obstruction and hyperhidrosis, in patients with overweight and morbid obesity. Such a clinical picture is observed with intoxication, asthma, an excess of B vitamins.
The danger of high hemoglobin
Excessive content of hemoprotein protein disrupts the rheological properties of blood, increasing its viscosity. This leads to a lot of complications. The risk of vascular thrombosis increases. Hemoglobin performs the most important gas exchange function for life.
Its increase is a common cause of the formation of tumor neoplasms, the development of diabetes mellitus, the occurrence of a heart attack or stroke. Vascular thrombosis disrupts blood circulation, causes starvation of tissues and organs. A great danger to life is the destruction of the walls of the arteries by blood clots.
With an increase in the level of hemoglobin, the following diseases and pathological conditions develop:
- decreased quality and duration of sleep;
- allergic skin itching;
- cholesterol deposits in the bloodstream;
- metabolic disorder;
- stunted growth in children;
- pulmonary thromboembolism.
During pregnancy, due to the increased concentration of hemoglobin, the functions of the kidneys and liver are inhibited.
Medication treatment
There are no drugs that directly affect the concentration of iron-containing protein. To lower its level, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the pathological condition. Apply etiotropic and symptomatic drug therapy.
To reduce the level of hemoglobin in the blood in young men and women, elderly patients, drugs of the pharmacological category of antiplatelet agents, which prevent thrombus formation, allow. Such medicines affect the hemostasis system, reducing the ability of platelet elements of the blood to stick together.
This physiological process is called aggregation. Medicines of this category prevent the adhesion of erythrocytes - their adhesion to the vascular walls. An important property of antiplatelet agents is the ability of active substances to reduce the surface tension of membrane membranes.
This normalizes the hemoglobin content. Antiplatelet agents facilitate the deformation of red blood cells and their movement along the bloodstream. They disintegrate adhered platelets and erythrocytes.
These medications include:
- acetylsalicylic acid;
- Aspirin Cardio;
- Thrombo-ACC;
- Aspikor.
Adesinophosphate blockers - Ticlopidine and Clopidogrel - have similar properties. Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase, an enzyme that provokes the adhesion of erythrocytes and the formation of blood clots, effectively thin the blood.
To reduce the sensitivity of platelet glycoprotein receptors, medications of the pharmacological group of HPR blockers are prescribed. These include Eptifibatid and Tirofiban.
To improve the rheological properties of blood, inhibitors of the synthesis of arachidonic acid are used. Such medicines have a pronounced antiplatelet effect. The most famous and affordable drugs in this category are Indobufen and Ibustrim.
In complex etiotropic therapy, Aspirin is used, which in small doses (1/2 tablet) improves the rheological properties of blood.
It is prescribed for the following pathological conditions that increase the level of hemoglobin:
- angina pectoris;
- ischemic heart disease;
- cerebral circulation disorders;
- stomach ulcer;
- intestinal bleeding;
- renal dysfunction.
In combination treatment, Cardiomagnet is often used. It has properties similar to Aspirin, but less irritating to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract due to the content of magnesium hydroxide in the chemical formula.
Reduce blood clotting and hemoglobin concentration Trental, Warfarin, Curantil.
Folk remedies
The level of iron-containing protein can be reduced by special herbal preparations and the use of berries with antiplatelet properties. Foods rich in vitamin C are of great benefit in this aspect. Traditional medicine recommends drinking lemon juice regularly.
Dilute 50 ml of ascorbic acid into 3 liters of water. Such a volume of liquid saturated with vitamin C should be drunk every day for 3 months. Freshly squeezed lemon juice will over time normalize the level of hemoglobin in the blood and reduce the risk of vascular thrombosis.
Effective folk remedies include a mixture of valerian with:
- willow bark;
- dried lavender;
- celandine;
- rose hips, which contain a large amount of ascorbic acid.
The ingredients are combined in a 1: 1 ratio. The healing composition is poured with boiling water at the rate of 4-5 tsp. for 1 liter of steaming liquid. The recipe has strong antiplatelet properties, suppresses the vital activity of infectious agents, eliminates the inflammatory process.
Before use, the composition is insisted for 2 hours and filtered through a fine sieve or gauze. You need to drink the healing liquid in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening, 200 ml. Another effective folk recipe involves mixing dandelion root and horsetail with mistletoe and shepherd's bag.
Cooking algorithm:
- All ingredients are mixed in a 50 g bowl.
- The components of the healing recipe are poured into 400 ml of boiling water.
- It is enough to add 3 tsp to such a volume of water. l. mixtures.
- Next, you need to mix the components thoroughly.
- The composition must be filtered and insisted for 1.5-2 hours.
It is advisable to use the remedy immediately after a meal instead of tea. To obtain a similar therapeutic effect, rosehip berries can be mixed with pharmaceutical chamomile and powder of a plant of the plantain family - Veronica.
The composition has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. For 100 g of rose hips, 50 g of chamomile and veronica are required. Take 200 ml after meals 2 times a day. Any liquid by itself thins the blood. But the proposed formulations have many other useful properties.
To lower hemoglobin in the blood in women of any age, you can regularly use a decoction of birch leaves. The tool serves as a good prevention of diseases of internal organs and autoimmune pathologies.
For patients with dysfunctions of the urinary system, it is advisable to use all the proposed therapeutic fluids in the daytime, so as not to create an unnecessary burden on the kidneys.
A ready-made collection of Altai herbs is sold in pharmacies. It is excellent for reducing the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood by gentle methods, without the use of potent medications.
These formulations include:
- elecampane;
- ordinary politrich;
- club-shaped lyre;
- narrow-leaved fireweed;
- schizonepeta multi-cut.
The Altai tax must be poured with boiling water at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. vegetable mixture for 0.5 liters of liquid. It should be brewed for about 8 hours, then filtered and drunk 1/3 cup before each meal.
Unconventional methods
These methods of normalizing the level of hemoglobin include hirudotherapy. The method consists in using medicinal leeches. Their salivary secretions have antiplatelet properties.
Hirudin is a biologically active component of the secretion produced by medicinal leeches. The saliva of these beneficial worms has bactericidal properties. It prevents the development and reproduction of pathogenic microflora.
Medicinal leeches are anti-inflammatory. Their salivary fluid contains a special enzyme called hyaluronidase. The substance provides the antiplatelet compound to cross the transdermal barrier.
Hirudin destroys connective tissues, which helps to improve the condition of the skin and resorption of scars.
This unconventional method of treatment is used for:
- cardiovascular pathologies;
- digestive disorders;
- lung diseases;
- endocrine disorders;
- inflammation of the genitourinary apparatus;
- dermatological destructions, including cosmetic ones.
Hirudotherapy not only normalizes the level of hemoglobin in the blood. It is effective for disorders of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system, rheumatism. The method is used to treat infectious and post-traumatic diseases, ophthalmic disorders. Hirudotherapy is not suitable for all patients.
The use of medicinal leeches is prohibited when:
- severe thrombocytopenia;
- malignant hyperplasia;
- hemophilia;
- active internal bleeding;
- tuberculosis;
- hypotension;
- pregnancy;
- menstrual cycle;
- pathological conditions of unexplained etiology.
Another unconventional way to reduce hemoglobin and improve the rheological properties of blood involves taking mummy - a mineral-organic product of natural biological origin.
It is an effective stimulant of physiological processes, which is available in the form of oral tablets or enteric capsules. They need to be taken in 10-day courses with a weekly intermission in between.
Shilajit is effective for blockage of blood vessels, thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities, infectious infections. It is prescribed for patients with sprains and bone fractures. Shilajit improves respiratory function, which makes it possible to use it for chronic respiratory diseases - bronchial asthma, COPD, and others.
Diet
To lower the level of hemoglobin, a special therapeutic nutrition system is used, which assumes minimal consumption or a complete rejection of protein-rich foods. Such food provokes an increase in the concentration of iron in the blood.
The diet provides for the rejection of confectionery, fatty meats, smoked meats. The emphasis is on the consumption of fruits, vegetables and berries with a high content of ascorbic acid.
These include:
- bananas;
- pineapples;
- grape;
- apricots;
- citrus.
Red apples, tomatoes, and tomatoes are strictly prohibited.
It is necessary to exclude from the diet all foods high in iron:
- liver;
- peanut;
- processed cheese;
- beef;
- pork;
- beans;
- flour products from wheat.
Soy, river fish, spinach will help reduce hemoglobin in the blood in elderly women and men. Introducing white cabbage, fermented milk products of low fat content into the therapeutic diet.
Chicken fillet, saturated with amino acid compounds and practically devoid of a lipid layer, is suitable for a therapeutic diet. The body cannot function normally without protein, therefore, mushrooms and seafood are introduced into the diet, which do not contribute to an increase in hemoglobin.
A traditional vegetarian diet, which focuses on green table vegetation, is considered the ideal choice for rapidly improving blood rheology.
It is advisable to give preference to liquid dishes over solid ones, and boiled, steam and stewed dishes over fried ones. Fasting days are of great benefit. But here you need to consult a nutritionist.
Erythrocytopheresis
With a significantly increased hemoglobin, folk remedies, dietary food and drug therapy do not demonstrate adequate clinical efficacy. They are used as an adjunct treatment.
The leading technique for the rapid reduction of the level of iron-containing protein is erythrocytopheresis. The hardware procedure gives a good clinical result. Without eliminating the cause of the increase in hemoglobin, it will be temporary.
The essence of the hemocorrection method is to remove excess red cells from the plasma fraction that carry the protein compound. This is a blood transfusion procedure in order to restore blood to its normal formula.
A special apparatus separates the hematological fluid into fractions, separating the red bodies. Erythrocytopheresis is prescribed for patients with a hemoglobin content of more than 200 g / l.
This condition is considered life-threatening. Therefore, the procedure plays the role of a resuscitation measure. Most often, a similar clinical picture is observed with hemochromatosis, called pigmentary cirrhosis.
This is a hereditary, genetically determined pathology, which is characterized by a violation of iron metabolism and its accumulation in tissues:
- liver;
- pancreas;
- myocardial muscles;
- parenchymal organs of the abdominal cavity;
- skin;
- endocrine system.
Erythrocytopheresis is performed for transmissible infectious diseases, which include malaria. In such patients, the hemoglobin indicator is always off scale. Another medical prescription for the procedure for correcting the composition of the blood is nocturnal paroxysmal hemoglobinuria.
This rare disease is life threatening. It is characterized by intravascular hemolysis and rapid blockage of the bloodstream by blood clots. Removal of red blood cells is often required for large blood loss.
The patient is connected to the aggregation apparatus using a medical needle inserted into the central vein at the bend of the elbow. The system is recirculating, so the blood, after removing the red blood cells, flows back into the body.
At the end of the procedure, a compression bandage is applied to the puncture site, which must be worn for 6 hours. After erythrocytopheresis, weakness, involuntary muscle contractions, and mild anaphylactic reactions sometimes occur.
The procedure is not prescribed for patients with:
- decompensated cardiovascular pathologies;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases of internal organs;
- narrowing of the lumen of the bloodstream;
- persistent hypotension;
- mental disorders.
To lower hemoglobin in the blood in men and women of any age, several effective techniques have been developed. With minor deviations, it is enough to change the diet, reconsider the lifestyle, and consume more fluid. In acute and severe conditions, resuscitation is indispensable.
Video about hemoglobin
When hemoglobin is elevated:
