Red blood cells contain the protein hemoglobin, which aids in carrying oxygen throughout the body. High hemoglobin levels in your blood can result from a number of reasons, including smoking and lung conditions. This could result in signs including weariness and edema.
In the blood, hemoglobin transports oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs. Your blood and circulatory system's health may be impacted by high hemoglobin levels. Treatment, on the other hand, might successfully address the underlying cause and reduce symptoms.
This page talks about high hemoglobin, its signs, its causes, and how to test for it. It also outlines how high hemoglobin is treated and what the future holds.
Among the signs of elevated hemoglobin are:
- dizziness
- fatigue
- scratchy skin easily bruising or bleeding
- profuse perspiration
- inexplicable loss of weight
- Legs, feet, or hands that are numb Skin discolorations like yellow, purple, or puffy, flushed skin aching joints
If you have any signs of elevated hemoglobin levels or any persistent symptoms of an illness, call your doctor right away.
Treatments and causes
High hemoglobin levels can be caused by both underlying medical disorders and lifestyle variables, such as:
- erythropoietin (Epo)
- epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit)
- epoetin beta (NeoRecormon)
- epoetin zeta (Retacrit, Silapo)
Other instances of illnesses that may cause high hemoglobin levels are included below, along with information on how to treat them.
Smoking
Smoking tobacco products can harm your health in several ways, including the condition of your blood. Yet, there is conflicting evidence from studies on how smoking affects hemoglobin levels.
According to research findings from 2018, smoking has no effect on your hemoglobin levels. Yet, a 2019 study indicates that smoking cigarettes may temporarily raise your hemoglobin levels.
Treatment
Smoking can also increase your risk of developing lung and heart conditions. High hemoglobin levels may result from this in the end.
If you smoke, your doctor can assist you in creating a strategy to stop. This may consist of:
- prescription drugs advice Nicotine replacement therapies
- Get further tips for stopping smoking.
- lung and cardiovascular conditions
Conditions that alter how well oxygen reaches the body's tissues might cause high hemoglobin levels.
Due to the fact that the heart and blood vessels are in charge of distributing oxygenated blood throughout the body, this may also encompass cardiovascular diseases. Since the lungs provide oxygen to the blood that the heart pumps throughout the body, pulmonary conditions may also be included.
- Heart and lung diseases, for instance, that have been associated to elevated hemoglobin levels include:
- cardiovascular disease
- High levels of red blood cells are a symptom of polycythemia.
- persistent pulmonary obstruction (COPD)
Treatments
The type of surgery or medicine used to treat cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases can vary depending on the condition.
But, some lifestyle modifications, like the following, may also help you have better heart and lung health:
- daily exercise giving up smoking
- following a diet suggested to you by a doctor or nutritionist to lower your blood pressure
- Learn more about COPD and cardiovascular disease therapies.
- Testing and results
With a hemoglobin test, a clinician can identify elevated hemoglobin levels. This is typically carried out as part of a complete blood count blood test (CBC). A typical health examination may include a CBC. Alternatively, if you exhibit signs of excessive hemoglobin or other blood abnormalities, your doctor might prescribe this test.
Hemoglobin is measured by CBC tests using grams (g) per deciliter (dL). Adults assigned male at birth often have hemoglobin levels between 13.5 and 17.5 g/dL, whereas adult females typically have hemoglobin levels between 12.0 and 15.5 g/dL. A result over these ranges can signify elevated hemoglobin.
Your doctor may order additional tests, such as lung function tests or electrocardiograms, after identifying excessive hemoglobin in order to ascertain the cause.
Challenges and prospects
High hemoglobin levels can raise the risk of blood clots and associated diseases like stroke if they are not treated effectively.
Hence, the prognosis for high hemoglobin can vary depending on things like:
- your ability to receive quality care
- how serious your condition is
- whether you encounter any side effects, such a stroke
Depending on the underlying reason of high hemoglobin, your prognosis may also change. This is because illnesses that are connected can have a range of health implications.
For instance, a 2022 summary reveals that treating dehydration can typically result in a full recovery. Contrarily, polycythemia vera has a median survival of about 24 years and may shorten your life expectancy.
Nonetheless, the prognosis and health impacts of the majority of illnesses can be improved with good therapy.
For specific guidance on a high hemoglobin level and outlook, speak with your doctor.
Hemoglobin Meter:
https://www.yicare-medical.com/poct/hemoglobin-test-system/hemoglobin-meter.html