Contents:
- Medical Video: What Does A Low Albumin Level Mean?
- What is hypoalbuminemia?
- What are the dangers of lacking albumin?
- What are the signs and symptoms of albumin deficiency?
- 1. Ascites
- 2. Rheumatic muscle aches
- 3. Body swelling
- If albumin is low, what should be done?
Medical Video: What Does A Low Albumin Level Mean?
The blood flowing in your body contains various protein substances, each of which has a different function. One of these proteins is albumin. If the body lacks albumin or commonly referred to as hypoalbuminemia, the effect is bad for health. What kind of danger does it cause? Here's the review.
What is hypoalbuminemia?
Before discussing hypoalbuminemia, you should first know what albumin is. Albumin is a protein that forms a large part of blood plasma and has a very important function for the body. About 60 percent of blood plasma consists of albumin.
Albumin in the body is produced by the liver (liver). Normal levels of albumin in the blood range from 3.5 to 4.5 mg / dL. When albumin levels are lower than they should be, this condition is called hypoalbuminemia (lack of albumin). You have to undergo some treatment to restore albumin levels to normal.
What are the dangers of lacking albumin?
Beware if you experience the following things, which can indicate the body lacks albumin:
- Burns that are difficult to heal
- Vitamin deficiency
- Malnutrition or not getting enough nutrients
- Kidney dysfunction
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Heart failure
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Cirrhosis
- Lupus
What are the signs and symptoms of albumin deficiency?
Albumin has many important roles in the body, ssuch as maintaining body fluid balance and transporting various kinds of substances and essential nutrients for the body.
Hypoalbuminemia can cause:
1. Ascites
Ascites is a condition of accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. If you have previously been diagnosed with liver disease, the risk of emerging ascites will be greater. If you experience symptoms by seeing abnormal swelling in the abdominal area, you should consult a doctor.
2. Rheumatic muscle aches
Low albumin levels can adversely affect your body's muscles. Because, low levels of protein in the body will make it easier for you to experience muscle weakness and fatigue, to cramps in the muscles.
3. Body swelling
Hypoalbuminemia can cause a decrease in the body's oncotic pressure. Oncotic pressure itself is a pressure that serves to carry fluids into the circulatory system. Reporting from the Livestrong page, decreased oncotic pressure can cause swelling in all parts of the body or only in certain locations.
If albumin is low, what should be done?
Hypoalbuminemia can be detected by serum albumin testing using a blood sample. The diagnosis of albumin deficiency can also be done through blood c-reactive protein tests and urine tests.
After undergoing a series of examinations above, if you are rightly stated to have low albumin levels, treatment can be done by a doctor according to your health condition Some treatment options for low albumin problems include:
- Albumin transfusion
- Improve diet by consuming more protein such as nuts, eggs, fish, dairy products.
- Avoid / stop drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can reduce levels of protein in the blood which will worsen your condition.
- If you suffer from kidney disease, the right way to take blood pressure medication is to help reduce albumin release through urine.
