Have you been finding yourself experiencing shortness of breath, headaches, pounding in your ears, dizziness, fast and irregular heartbeats, and just feeling weak in general? Alamak. Chances are, if you’re already experiencing most, if not all, of these symptoms, you could be low on hemoglobin.
Causes of low hemoglobin levels can be due to your body simply not producing enough red blood cells, or it does but the cells mati before your body can replace them. Low hemoglobin levels doesn’t automatically mean anemia, but it can be a sign of it.
Low hemoglobin levels can also be caused by internal bleeding, your body having weak iron absorption ability, or you’re lacking in nutrients like iron, vitamins B9 and B12. It should also be noted that low hemo can be common among women who are pregnant or on their period, but these are temporary situations.
Selain itu, examples of common illnesses that causes low hemo ialah various kinds of anemia such as asplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, and vitamin deficiency anemia. Lymphoma, leukemia, and chronic kidney disease adalah some of the conditions that influences low red blood cell production jugak.
Don’t be scared of finding out, because the sooner you get things checked out, the better your chances are of managing the health issue at hand. You might even find out that the cause and solution to your health issue is simpler than what you might expect. So if you’re experiencing these symptoms, cepat cepat pergi for checkup je, ok?
Ok, sambung cerita about low hemoglobin: so if you didn’t know already, low hemoglobin levels are no laughing matter. This protein found in our red blood cells is essential for oxygen to be carried around our body. Hemoglobin also carries carbon dioxide out of our cells and into our lungs. And tentulah, kita release carbon dioxide whenever we exhale. When our hemoglobin levels are low, that’s when our bodies struggle to perform these basic tasks.
The silver lining to this is that there are actually many ways for any of us to increase our levels naturally through healthy and delicious foods. Let’s get into it, ya:
Iron-rich foods boosts the hemoglobin that we are producing and helps us form more red blood cells too. Iron-rich foods include meat, fish, peanut butter, eggs, tofu, edamame, broccoli (and other leafy green vegetables in general), nuts and seeds, and dried fruit (like dates and figs – avoid sweetened dried fruit though).
Folate, a type of vitamin B, is another important key to producing hemoglobin. Sufficient levels of folate means that red blood cells are able to mature. Foods like beef, rice, peanuts, avocados, and lettuce are some good examples of folate-rich foods.
This vitamin, along with Vitamin C, aids in the absorption of iron, so that’s just as important too. Sources of Vitamin A-rich foods include fish and liver, while for Vitamin C it includes carrots, mangoes, oranges (and other citrus fruits), strawberries, and leafy green vegetables. Foods macam sweet potatoes and squash are rich in both Vitamin A and C.
As you can see, eating healthy foods is an essential component to keeping your hemoglobin levels healthy. Tapi semestinya, there is the option of taking iron supplements too, but here at Healthlah we prioritise taking the natural route whenever possible. Always consult a medical professional before taking iron supplements, as too much iron can be harmful and cause adverse effects.
Apa pun sebab for your low hemoglobin levels are, whether it’s due to pregnancy, a chronic health condition, liver/kidney problems, hypothyroidism, iron-deficiency anemia or something else, know that with guidance from medical professionals, achieving a normal range of hemoglobin levels is always possible.
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Disclaimer: Our content is strictly for educational and informational purposes only. Healthlah.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
