Anemia Treatment

 - Ferrous Ascorbate Vs Ferrous Sulphate

Anemia is a simple condition of Iron deficiency in blood. To be more precise Anemia is decrease in number of red blood cells (RBCs) or less than the normal quantity of Hemoglobin in the blood. Because Hemoglobin (found inside RBCs) normally carries oxygen from the lungs to the capillaries, It's deficiency will leads to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) result in symptoms like weakness, Fatigue etc.

Recently I came across a story where doctors suggested a patient to have Ferrous Ascorbate. I went to pharmacy and found that it is quite a costly medicine. Then I started studying little bit about it, why Iron should be so costly.

Ferrous Ascorbate contains Iron salt as well as Ascorbic acid (which is Vitamin C) and Vitamin C act as catalyst in absorbing the iron. And Ferrous sulphate doesn't contain Vitamin C, which makes it little less effective. This is one of the main reason why Ferrous Ascorbate is costly though Ferrous sulphate is cheap.

So one simple thing can be done is, increase your Vitamin-C intake and take Ferrous Sulphate. To increase the Vitamin C, you can consume daily a Lemon, Aamla or Oranges, if you can't get that regularly, Ascorbic acid comes as chewable tablet also, like Limcee Chewable (500Gm) which comes only for 17-18 Rs for 10 tablets.

And usually both comes with Folic acid as a combination which is absolutely fine to take at any point of time, as Folic Acid is also a kind of Vitamin only.

During Pregnancy

It is absolutely safe to take any of the medicine.

Side Effects

Here is a little catch in this. Ferrous Ascorabate is known to have just a mild headache and chest pain, which can be considered as almost No side effect, though Ferrous sulphate can cause constipation and gastritis. So if you have constipation or gastritis related problem, do not go for Ferrous sulphate. But if you are healthy, there is no point in wasting extra money. One more thing Patients who are allergic to sulphur, should not take Ferrous sulphate as well.

Cost Comparison

Ferrous Ascorabate (Orofer Xt by Emcure) average cost 98 Rs for 10 tablets.

Ferrous Sulphate (Fesovit by GSK) average cost 40 Rs for 10 tablets + Limcee average cost 20 Rs for 10 tablets = 60 Rs for 10 table

Read More :- www.cgepn.com

HEMOGLOBIN

What to Expect After the Test

If you have abnormal hemoglobin levels, treatment will depend on the underlying disorder. Hemoglobin C disease is usually treated with folic acid supplements to help your body produce red blood cells normally. Sickle cell anemia may be treatable with a bone marrow transplant. Otherwise, your doctor will help you manage the disorder by preventing health crises.

If you have thalassemia, your doctor’s recommended treatment will depend on the nature and severity of the disorder

The Purpose of Himoglobin Testing

The Purpose of Testing

You acquire different abnormal types of hemoglobin by inheriting the genes that produce them. Your doctor may recommend a hemoglobin electrophoresis test to determine if you have a disease that causes the production of abnormal hemoglobin, such as the following.

Sickle Cell Anemia

This disorder is caused by hemoglobin S. Red blood cells become hard and crescent-shaped. They block small blood vessels and prevent blood from circulating properly.

Thalassemias

These genetic disorders can cause the production of too much abnormal hemoglobin and too little hemoglobin A.

Testing Children

Your doctor may also want to test your child if you have a family history of abnormal hemoglobin or they have anemia that’s not caused by an iron deficiency.

Part 3 of 6: Administration

Where and How the Test Is Administered

No special preparations are required for this test.

Your doctor will need to take a sample of blood from your arm or hand. They’ll clean the site with a swab of rubbing alcohol. Then they’ll insert a small needle with a tube attached to collect the blood. When enough blood has been drawn, they’ll remove the needle and cover the site with a gauze pad. They’ll send your blood sample to a laboratory for analysis.

In the laboratory, a process called electrophoresis passes an electrical current through the hemoglobin in your blood sample. This causes the different types of hemoglobin to separate into different bands. Your blood sample is then compared to a healthy sample to determine which types of hemoglobin are present.

Part 4 of 6: Results

Understanding the Results

Normal Results

The following are healthy levels of hemoglobin in infants and children.

• hemoglobin F (newborn): 50 to 80 percent
• hemoglobin F (6 months): 8 percent
• hemoglobin F (6 months+): 0.8 to 2 percent

The following are healthy levels of hemoglobin in adults.

• hemoglobin A: 95 to 98 percent
• hemoglobin A2: 2 to 3 percent
• hemoglobin F: 0.8 to 2 percent
• hemoglobin S: 0 percent
• hemoglobin C: 0 percent

Abnormal Results

If your results show abnormal hemoglobin levels, they may be caused by:

• hemoglobin C disease (a genetic disorder that leads to severe anemia)
• rare hemoglobinopathy (a group of genetic disorders causing the abnormal production or structure of red blood cells)
• sickle cell anemia
• thalassemia

Part 5 of 6: Risks

What Are the Risks of the Test?

As with any blood test, there are minimal risks of bruising, bleeding, or infection at the puncture site. In rare cases, the vein may swell after blood is drawn. This condition, known as phlebitis, can be treated with a warm compress several times a day. Ongoing bleeding could be a problem if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin.

Hemoglobin

• OverviewTestingAdministrationResultsRiskst

What Is a Hemoglobin Electrophoresis Test?

A hemoglobin electrophoresis test is a blood test used to measure and identify the different types of hemoglobin in your bloodstream. Hemoglobin is the protein inside red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen throughout your circulatory system to your tissues and organs.

If your hemoglobin is healthy, it will transport and release oxygen with maximum efficiency. If it’s abnormal in some way, it may cause too little oxygen to reach your tissues and organs.

The types of hemoglobin include the following:

• hemoglobin F: This type is found in growing fetuses and newborns. Soon after birth, it’s replaced with hemoglobin A.
• hemoglobin A: This is the most common type of hemoglobin found in healthy children and adults.
• hemoglobin C, D, E, M, and S: These (and many other, rarer variations) are types of abnormal hemoglobin.