When you look at a blood report and see that your hemoglobin level is higher than normal, it's normal to feel a little scared. You might think, "What is this? Is it dangerous?" But don't worry. What exactly is hemoglobin? Why is it high? Let's talk about all this simply, clearly, as if we were talking to a friend.
Simply put, what is hemoglobin?
Imagine that our body is a big city. Every house and every shop in this city needs oxygen to function. Hemoglobin is like a 'delivery service' that distributes oxygen throughout this city.
To be precise, hemoglobin is a special protein found inside our red blood cells. This is what takes oxygen from the lungs and carries it to all the other parts of the body. It is also the same one that carries unwanted carbon dioxide (CO2) that builds up in the body back to the lungs. This hemoglobin is what gives our blood its red color.
So, "High Hemoglobin Count" means that you have more of this hemoglobin protein in your blood than normal. Sometimes doctors also call this polycythemia .
Difference between Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
When you look at your blood report, you may also see a value called Hematocrit. Although these two may seem similar, there is a slight difference. Hematocrit is the volume of red blood cells compared to other cells in the blood. Usually, a person with high hemoglobin will also have an elevated hematocrit value. This means that the number of red blood cells has increased abnormally.
At what level is a hemoglobin level considered 'high'?
Normal hemoglobin levels vary depending on your age and gender. Your altitude (such as altitude), time of day, and hydration can also affect this value.
Generally, hemoglobin levels are considered high in the following situations:
| Person | Value considered high (g/dL) |
|---|---|
| Adult male | If it is greater than 16.5 g/dL |
| Adult women | If greater than 16.0 g/dL |
| A child | If it is greater than 16.6 g/dL |
| A baby | If greater than 18.0 g/dL |
What are the symptoms of someone with high hemoglobin?
The only way to know for sure if your hemoglobin is high is through a blood test . However, sometimes you may experience certain symptoms due to this condition. These include:
- Dizziness: A feeling of spinning.
- Easy bruising or bleeding: Bruising quickly after a minor injury, or bleeding that takes a long time to stop even from a minor cut.
- Hyperhidrosis: Sweating more than normal.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired all the time for no reason.
- Headache: Frequent headaches.
- Joint swelling: Swelling of the joints of the limbs.
- Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without you trying.
- Jaundice: Yellowing of the eyes or skin .
Elevated hemoglobin levels are not something we should take lightly. Sometimes, it can be a sign of a serious, underlying condition.
Also, even if there is no underlying disease, abnormally high hemoglobin levels can lead to complications such as blood clots. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical attention for this.
What are the causes of increased hemoglobin?
There can be several reasons for this. Some are related to our lifestyle, while others can be caused by certain medical conditions.
Causes caused by medical conditions:
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): Long-term lung disease.
- Congenital heart disease: Heart disease that is present at birth.
- Emphysema: A disease that damages the lungs.
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Polycythemia vera: A disease in which the bone marrow produces abnormal amounts of red blood cells.
- Pulmonary fibrosis
Other external factors:
- Exposure to carbon monoxide gas.
- Dehydration: Lack of water in the body.
- Certain medications: For example, medications like anabolic steroids or erythropoietin.
- Living at high altitudes: When you live at a high altitude (like in the mountains), the body makes more red blood cells to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the air.
- Smoking.
How is it treated?
Treatment for elevated hemoglobin levels depends on the underlying cause . The treatment varies depending on the cause.
In many cases, your doctor may recommend a procedure called phlebotomy . Don't be alarmed by this. Think of it like donating blood. A doctor or trained nurse inserts a small needle into your vein and removes some of your blood, which contains extra red blood cells. This may need to be done several times until your hemoglobin level returns to normal.
Apart from that, if the reason for the increase in hemoglobin is smoking, the doctor will advise you to stop smoking. If the reason is dehydration, he will tell you to drink plenty of water. If there is an underlying disease, the treatment for that disease will begin.
What should I do?
If your blood test shows high hemoglobin, or if you have the symptoms we discussed above, the best and only thing you should do is see your doctor as soon as possible.
Don't self-medicate or be afraid of what others say. The doctor will do the necessary tests, find the real cause, and give you the most suitable treatment.
Can this situation be prevented?
Although it cannot always be prevented, making certain lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of high hemoglobin.
- Avoid taking performance-enhancing drugs that are harmful to the body.
- Eat a nutritious diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- Protect your body from dehydration by drinking plenty of water and fluids.
- If you are a smoker, quit today.
Take-Home Message
- Elevated hemoglobin means an excessive increase in the oxygen-carrying protein in the blood.
- Symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, headache, and easy bruising may occur.
- This can be caused by simple causes like smoking and dehydration, as well as serious medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, or cancer.
- Never ignore this condition. Be sure to see your doctor to find the exact cause and get proper treatment.
- Depending on the cause, treatments such as phlebotomy, which removes extra red blood cells, or other treatments may be necessary.
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