Have you ever picked up a blood report, looked at the letters and numbers on it, and thought, 'What is this?' CBC, WBC, RBC, MCH... A lot of these words are unfamiliar to us, aren't they? Sometimes we just get scared when we see them. So today we are going to talk about one such value, that is, the MCH value. Let's see what it simply means, and what it says about our body when it increases or decreases.
Let's first see, what is MCH?
MCH is an abbreviation for the English words 'Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin'. In simple terms, this measures
how much hemoglobin is in your red blood cell . Now you may be wondering, 'What is this hemoglobin?' Hemoglobin is a special protein found in our red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. To be precise, this hemoglobin is the 'delivery service' that delivers the oxygen we take from our lungs to every cell in the body. So the MCH value is the average value of how much cargo (oxygen-carrying hemoglobin) is in the vehicles (red blood cells) of this delivery service. Usually, you will find out about this MCH value when you do a blood test called
CBC (Complete Blood Count) . This is a very common test. A doctor uses this value to help determine if you have a nutritional deficiency, liver problem, or other medical condition.
A brief introduction to the CBC (Complete Blood Count) test
This test is very important because it can provide information about several key components of your blood. Mainly:
- Red Blood Cells: These are the oxygen- carrying cells we just talked about.
- White Blood Cells : Like our body's 'army' that fights infections.
- Hemoglobin : The oxygen carrier in red blood cells.
- Platelets: Cells that help blood clot when there is an injury.
Your doctor may order this test as part of your annual checkup, or if you suspect a medical condition based on your symptoms (e.g., fatigue, paleness). This involves taking a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. It is sent to a lab for testing and a report.
What should the MCH value be normally?
The unit of measurement for MCH is
picograms (picograms or pg) . Normally, this value for a healthy adult and child is between
27 pg and 31 pg . In a newborn baby, this is a little higher, that is, it can be between
32 pg and 34 pg .
But remember, these values can vary slightly from lab to lab, so it's best to compare them to the 'Normal Range' on your report.
What if the MCH value is low?
A low MCH value means that your red blood cells have a lower than normal amount of hemoglobin. This can cause your red blood cells to appear a little 'pale' or 'drab'. There are several main reasons for this. Let's take a look at what they are and what the symptoms are.
| Reason for low MCH value | Symptoms that can be seen |
|---|
| Anemia is the most common cause. It is caused by a lack of healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body. This can be caused by a deficiency in iron, vitamin B12, or folate. | |
| Hemoglobinopathies are inherited diseases caused by defects in the shape of the hemoglobin molecule or in its production process. Examples: Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease. | In thalassemia: signs of anemia, abdominal swelling, dark urine. In sickle cell disease: signs of anemia, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes, pain and swelling in the hands and feet, and occasional severe pain in the body. |
Can the MCH value increase?
Yes, sometimes the MCH value can be higher than normal. This means that your red blood cells are larger than normal. This condition is medically called
Macrocytosis . Most of the time, this is nothing to worry about. But sometimes, it can be a symptom of a medical condition.
Reasons for an increase in MCH value:
- Vitamin B12 or Folate Deficiency: Don't be surprised, when these nutrients are low, anemia (decreased MCH) can occur, as well as enlarged red blood cells (increased MCH). This is called Macrocytic Anemia.
- Some liver diseases: Certain problems with liver function can cause MCH levels to increase.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time is also a cause of this.
- Hypothyroidism: This is when the body produces less thyroid hormone.
- This difference can also be caused by certain medications: medications such as chemotherapy, some antibiotics, and antivirals.
- Some blood-related cancers.
The important thing is that elevated MCH levels do not cause any specific symptoms. However,
the underlying disease that causes them may cause symptoms. For example, if you have Hypothyroidism, you may experience symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, numbness in your hands and fingers, and muscle pain. If you have liver disease, you may experience upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the eyes.
Take-Home Message
- MCH is just one value on your blood report. It gives a general idea of the amount of hemoglobin in your red blood cells.
- A low or high MCH value can be caused by a common condition such as anemia, or it can sometimes be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires more attention.
- Never diagnose yourself based on a blood test or search the internet for information. This will only cause unnecessary stress.
- If there is a change in your MCH value or any other value, only your doctor can give you the best and most accurate advice. He or she will conduct further tests, if necessary, to find the exact cause, and prescribe the necessary treatment.
MCH, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin, blood test, blood report, CBC, red blood cells, hemoglobin, anemia, Thalassemia, vitamin B12
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