Author: Jiang Zhuangliang, Jiangxi Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital
Source｜Medical World Obstetrics and Gynecology Channel
In recent years, a term has become popular on the internet: "Bai Fumei" (白富美).
Speaking of beautiful, rich, and successful women, let's talk about some gossip about the internet celebrity Li Bai and his wife, Zong.
Li Bai once drank wine in Liang Garden and wrote the famous poem "Liang Garden Ballad." His wife, Zong (who later became his wife), and her servants came to the wall and read the poem, their hearts fluttering with excitement. Just then, the people of Liang Garden saw it and immediately tried to erase it. Zong then spent a thousand pieces of gold to buy the wall. This is the famous story of "buying a wall for a thousand pieces of gold."
Who is Lady Zong? She was the granddaughter of Zong Chuke, the prime minister during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, and a talented and beautiful lady from a prominent family.
In today's popular street slang, she's a total rich, beautiful, and successful woman!
"Fair-skinned, rich, and beautiful, it's not easy to be rich and beautiful, so let's start by working on fair skin! After all, there's a saying that fair skin can cover up three flaws."
However, from a medical perspective, there is a limit to how pale one's complexion can be. In particular, an excessively pale complexion may not be a good thing, as it could indicate moderate or even severe anemia.
What could be the reason for an overly "white" color?
ovaries
Abnormal uterine bleeding in women can be caused by ovarian endocrine dysfunction, primarily including anovulatory bleeding or ovulatory bleeding. In young girls, it may be due to dysfunctional uterine bleeding during puberty, while in middle-aged and older women, it may be due to menopausal dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Abnormal uterine bleeding can lead to acute or chronic blood loss. Sex hormone tests and diagnostic curettage are often important diagnostic tools.
pregnancy
Pregnancy-related uterine bleeding: Common causes include miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole, retained placenta after childbirth, placental polyps, and poor uterine involution, all of which can cause abnormal uterine bleeding. As the poem says, "The road ahead is long and arduous, but we start anew." Young lady, you've already passed the difficult period of ten months of pregnancy and childbirth; please don't take bleeding from retained placenta or poor uterine involution lightly or ignore it.
Genital inflammation
Genital inflammation: such as vaginitis, acute cervicitis, cervical polyps, and endometritis. Various inflammations of the gynecological reproductive system invariably present with redness, swelling, heat, and pain, followed by bleeding. "How can the canal be so clear? Because it has a source of living water." Similarly, gynecological examinations often help in diagnosis and treatment.
Genital tumors
Genital tumors: Uterine fibroids are a common benign tumor that causes vaginal bleeding. Ovarian tumors that secrete estrogen can also cause vaginal bleeding. The others are all malignant tumors, such as vaginal cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, uterine sarcoma, etc.
Trauma and hormones
Injury, foreign bodies, and exogenous hormones: such as reproductive tract trauma like vaginal straddle injuries, insertion of intrauterine devices, insertion of foreign bodies into the vagina of young girls, and indiscriminate use of health supplements containing hormones, which can cause breakthrough bleeding. These factors can be determined by taking a medical history.
Factors of systemic diseases
Vaginal bleeding related to systemic diseases: Blood-related diseases such as thrombocytopenic purpura, aplastic anemia, leukemia, and abnormal liver function. This is indeed a difficult case to determine; a consultation with a hematologist may be necessary.
The above six situations may all be the culprits behind anemia. So what are the dangers of acute and chronic blood loss caused by them?
What are the dangers of anemia?
Depending on the severity of anemia, its harmful effects on the human body vary.
Skin and mucous membranes: Symptoms include pale and dry skin and mucous membranes, dry and brittle hair, and even skin ulcers. Patients with severe iron deficiency anemia may experience nail breakage, while patients with long-term chronic anemia may develop clubbing of the fingers.
Heart: Long-term insufficient blood supply leads to anemic heart disease. Mild cases may experience brief episodes of chest tightness, shortness of breath, and angina-like symptoms, while severe cases may develop unstable angina or even myocardial infarction.
Cerebrovascular system: Cerebral infarction of varying degrees occurs, and large-area cerebral infarction in important locations can also be life-threatening.
Reproductive system: It can cause maturation disorders of male and female reproductive cells, leading to infertility. If a pregnant woman is anemic, it can cause fetal growth restriction, potentially resulting in premature birth, miscarriage, or even stillbirth.
What to do about anemia?
If you experience dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, paleness, or other symptoms recently, and suspect anemia, you should have relevant examinations at the hospital before taking any medication to determine the cause and type of anemia, as well as the specific substances and degree of deficiency, before proceeding with dietary and medication treatments.
Anemia caused by gynecological diseases needs to be addressed at its source, requiring treatment of the disease followed by blood-tonifying therapy.
For common iron deficiency anemia, oral iron supplements are the first-line treatment.
Iron supplements should be taken after or during meals. Rinse your mouth after taking them to prevent teeth from turning black. During oral iron supplementation, stool may turn black, which should be distinguished from upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Foods rich in vitamin C can promote the absorption of iron supplements.
The editor reminded
It's important to note that even after iron supplementation reaches normal hemoglobin levels, continued supplementation for 3-6 months is necessary to replenish iron stores. However, everything should be done in moderation, and iron supplementation should not be undertaken blindly. Furthermore, during iron supplementation, regular monitoring of hemoglobin levels, reticulocyte counts, serum ferritin, and serum iron levels is required.
Ladies, it's fine to want to be fair-skinned, but you also need to understand your own body! If your complexion is too pale and you feel dizzy, you should be alert to the possibility of anemia!
