Anemia is a very common clinical condition and many people, especially women, develop mild anemia. Sometimes we wonder if we are unwell due to anemia, so we need to have our hemoglobin levels checked, but many times we don't want to go to the hospital. So how do we know to check hemoglobin at home?
Checking the skin condition is our latest simple way to check hemoglobin at home
One of the most intuitive things to look at is the face, the good or bad color can often be seen at a glance. You can look in the mirror to see if you have a pale face, poor tone, and no blood color. Of course, other diseases or poor rest will also appear poor facial appearance, can not be generalized.
Why you need to check hemoglobin at home？
Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is one of the most common causes of anemic rashes and your need to check your hemoglobin. Aplastic anemia is a rare disease, but it can be serious. It can develop or be inherited. It is most often seen in adolescents and older adults. It is two to three times more common in Asian countries than in the rest of the world, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Aplastic anemia occurs when the body's bone marrow does not make enough new blood cells. The rash resembles red or purple patches the size of a pinpoint and is called petechiae. These red patches may be raised or flat on the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body, but are more common on the neck, arms and legs.
Petechial redness usually does not cause any symptoms, such as pain or itching. You should notice that they stay red even when you press on the skin.
In aplastic anemia, there is not only a shortage of red blood cells, but also a lower than normal level of platelets (another type of blood cell). A low platelet count often leads to more bruising or bleeding. This leads to bruising that looks like a rash.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is a rare blood disorder that causes tiny blood clots to form all over your body. This can lead to tiny red or purple spots called petechiae, and unexplained purple petechiae that look like a rash. This bruising is called purpura.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a very rare genetic disorder in which a genetic mutation causes your body to produce abnormal red blood cells that break down too quickly. This can lead to blood clots and unexplained bruising.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome
Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a condition in which an immune response leads to the destruction of red blood cells. The immune response can be triggered by a bacterial infection, some medications, or even pregnancy. It can cause small, unexplained bruises and swelling, especially on your face, hands, or feet.
Other reasons to check hemoglobin at home
Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common types of anemia. People with any type of iron deficiency may develop pruritus, which is the medical term for itchy skin. Because of the itching, you may scratch your skin, which can lead to redness and bumps that look like a rash.
In some cases, treatment for iron deficiency anemia may also cause a rash. Ferrous sulfate is an iron supplement that may be prescribed by your doctor if you have iron deficiency anemia. Some people may develop an allergy to the ferrous sulfate treatment. This may cause you to develop an itchy rash and hives. Hives or rashes can appear anywhere on the body and may also be accompanied by some swelling of the skin under a red area.
If you think you have hives or an allergic rash caused by ferrous sulfate, especially if you have any swelling on your lips, tongue or throat, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Diagnosing and chech hemoglobin rash at home
If your rash fits the physical description and is accompanied by other common symptoms of anemia, you may have anemia as a cause. These symptoms include:
- Pale skin
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
You need to be checked for aplastic anemia if you have the following symptoms:
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Unexplained, easy bruising
- Prolonged bleeding from wounds, especially small ones
- Dizziness and headaches
- Nosebleeds
- Bleeding gums
Frequent infections, especially those that take longer than normal to clear
If you develop a rash or skin changes, you should make an appointment to see a doctor or dermatologist, especially if
- The rash is severe and appears suddenly without any explanation
- The rash covers the entire body
- The rash lasts for more than two weeks and does not improve with home treatment
- You also have other symptoms, such as fatigue, fever, weight loss, or stool changes.
If you think the rash is a reaction to a new iron supplement you started taking, seek medical attention immediately. You may have had an allergic reaction, or may have taken too high a dose.
Ways to check your hemoglobin at home include knowing your mental state
Anemia tends to affect one's mental state in a subtle way. People who suffer from anemia tend to have poor mental health, drowsiness and easy fatigue. Do you have a tendency to lose energy and do not have the energy to do things with sufficient rest time? If this performance exists for a long time, you should pay attention to your health.
Research has found a link between iron deficiency and mental health. People with IDA may experience a variety of psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.
There are many different things you can do to manage and reduce the emotional impact of IDA. If you find that you are struggling to cope with the emotional effects of IDA, talk to your doctor.
There are different options to help you manage your anxiety or depression. These may include
Talk therapy. Also known as psychotherapy, you talk with a psychotherapist to address the underlying causes of anxiety and depression. Up to 75 percent of people find talk therapy helpful.
Most people who engage in talk therapy do better at the end of treatment than 80% of people who don't try therapy.
Medication. If symptoms of anxiety and depression are severe and/or affect your quality of life, your doctor can recommend different medication options, including anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, to reduce symptoms of anxiety or to help improve your mood.
Ways to check your hemoglobin at home include knowing your exercise situation
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common finding in general practice. The prevalence of IDA in the general population is approximately 2%, rising to >5% in premenopausal women.The presenting symptoms of IDA vary, but mainly include fatigue, exercise intolerance, weakness, headache, and irritability. These symptoms may also be seen in iron deficiency without anemia. The main cause of IDA is age-dependent. Iron loss due to menstrual or gastrointestinal bleeding and malabsorption of iron in the small intestine are the most common causes of IDA. A lesser known and often forgotten cause of IDA is physical activity.
Go to the playground and run 800 meters or climb a high level staircase to see how you breathe and if you feel more tired than before. We all know that red blood cells can carry oxygen. If you are anemic, the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells tends to decrease, and you need to inhale more oxygen to meet your needs, so the same amount of exercise, when you are anemic, you tend to have shortness of breath.
Whether it is easy to be cold is also a way to check hemoglobin at home
If the blood is insufficient, we tend to have the performance of fear of cold and chills, and patients with anemia are prone to this performance. Especially in winter, many girls will have the performance of cold limbs, which does not necessarily mean anemia, but only that anemic patients are prone to this performance.Another way to check hemoglobin at home is to check if you have chronic bleeding
This involves many factors, and bleeding is one of them. Chronic bleeding caused by some physical diseases (such as hemorrhoids, bleeding gums, etc.) can easily lead to anemia over a long period of time. You can think about whether you have chronic bleeding.
When blood is lost, the body quickly draws water from the tissues outside the blood stream to keep the blood vessels filled. As a result, the blood is diluted and the hematocrit (the percentage of red blood cells in the body's total blood volume or blood volume) is reduced. Eventually, the increase in red blood cells produced by the bone marrow may correct the anemia. However, over time, bleeding reduces the amount of iron in the body, so the bone marrow is unable to increase the production of new red blood cells to replace the lost red blood cells.
Rapid blood loss
Initial symptoms may be severe, especially if there is a sudden loss of blood due to injury, surgery, childbirth, or a ruptured blood vessel that rapidly progresses to anemia. Two problems arise from sudden massive blood loss.
Blood pressure drops because the amount of fluid left in the blood vessels is insufficient.
The body's oxygen supply is drastically reduced because the number of red blood cells that carry oxygen decreases so quickly.
Either problem can lead to a heart attack, stroke or death.
Chronic blood loss
More common than sudden loss of blood is long-term (chronic) bleeding, which can occur in various parts of the body. While heavy bleeding such as nosebleeds and hemorrhoids is obvious, a small amount of bleeding may not be noticed. For example, a small amount of blood may not be visible in the stool. This type of blood loss is described as insidious (hidden). If a small amount of bleeding continues for a long time, a large amount of blood may be lost. This gradual bleeding may occur in common diseases such as ulcers of the stomach or small intestine, diverticulosis, colorectal polyps, or colorectal carcinomatosis. Other sources of chronic bleeding include kidney tumors or bladder tumors, which may lead to loss of blood in the urine, and heavy menstrual bleeding.
Using a hemoglobin meter to check hemoglobin at home
What is advantage of hemoglobin?
There are many advantages of using hemoglobin meter to check hemoglobin at home. Compared with going to hospital, it is more convenient to use hemoglobin meter at home. You can test your hemoglobin level anytime and anywhere without going out of home. Home hemoglobin meters are safer, and you don't have to worry about whether you'll be infected by other patients or your privacy will be compromised. Your condition is kept to yourself.
If you have a serious condition, you need to go to the hospital and get help from the doctor. Hemoglobin meter can also help you to know your condition in advance and help the doctor to know your condition more quickly.
Does the hemoglobin meter check hemoglobin at home conveniently?
The hemoglobin meter is very easy to use. No complicated coding is required for the device to start up. Simply insert the test strip, add a blood sample, and wait less than 15 seconds to see accurate results. Measuring red blood cell levels requires obtaining a small blood sample through a small prick on your finger. Easily measure your hemoglobin levels and monitor your hemoglobin levels.
Many people do not like to go to the hospital, it costs a lot of money to go to the hospital, it is not safe, cannot protect privacy. Then a hemoglobin meter will help you solve these problems. And the hemoglobin meter is very easy and fast to use, and it can also accurately check your hemoglobin at home so you know if you are anemic.
References:
1. Anemia Rash: Causes, Pictures, and Treatment - Healthline
2. Iron Deficiency Anemia: Coping, Support, and Living Well
See also:
2. What Is Blood Test For Iron Called?
3. 2022 Best Home Hemoglobin Meter Buyers Guide
4. Can I take anemia tests at home?
5. How to choose the at-home kidney test？
6. What main factors influence the hemoglobin test for results?