Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that enables the blood to carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body. Low hemoglobin levels often indicate anemia, but high levels can also be a sign of a serious health condition.
When someone has insufficient red blood cells or the ones they have do not work properly, the body does not have enough of the oxygen it needs to function. This condition is anemia.
Read on to learn more about how hemoglobin levels can affect people, including symptoms, treatment, and outlook for someone with low hemoglobin in their body.
What is hemoglobin?
a clinician is drawing blood from a person in hospital
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Each hemoglobin protein contains four iron atoms and can therefore carry four molecules of oxygen. Hemoglobin attaches to red blood cells and delivers oxygen throughout the body — everywhere that blood flows. Every one of the body’s billions of cells needs oxygen to repair and maintain itself.
Hemoglobin also playsTrusted Source a role in helping red blood cells obtain their disc-like shape, which helps them move easily through blood vessels.
How are hemoglobin levels tested?
A blood test can assess hemoglobin levels. This is called a hemoglobin test. Doctors may take a blood sample from the person and send it to a laboratory for testing.
Doctors may measure hemoglobin levels as part of a complete blood count (CBC) test.
A low level of hemoglobin in the blood means there is also a low level of oxygen. This can result in a condition called anemia. Tests usually express hemoglobin, or Hb, in grams per deciliter (g/dL)Trusted Source of blood.
In the United States, doctors diagnose anemia when the test finds hemoglobin levels to be less than 13.5 g/dL in males and less than 12.0 g/dL in females. The results for children can vary with age.
Learn more about the CBC test here.
High hemoglobin levels
High hemoglobin levels could signalTrusted Source a rare blood disorder called polycythemia. In polycythemia, the body makes too many red blood cells, causing the blood to be thicker than usual. This can lead to clots, heart attacks, and stroke. It is a serious lifelong condition that can be fatal without treatment.
Dehydration, smokingTrusted Source, or living at high altitudes may also cause high hemoglobin. It may also signal other conditions, such as lung or heart disease.
Low hemoglobin levels
Low hemoglobin levels usually indicate that a person has anemia. There areTrusted Source several kinds of anemia:
Iron-deficiency anemia: This is the most common type that can occur when a person does not have enough iron in their body, and it cannot make the hemoglobin the body needs. Blood loss usually causes it, but it can also happen when the body does not absorb enough iron. This can happen, for example, when someone has had gastric bypass surgery.
Pregnancy-related anemia: This is a kind of iron deficiency anemia, which occurs because pregnancy and childbirth require a significant amount of iron.
Vitamin-deficiency anemia: This happens when there are low levels of nutrients, such as vitamin B12 or folic acid — also called folate — in a person’s diet. These anemias change the shape of the red blood cells, which makes them less effective.
Aplastic anemia: This is a disorder where the immune system attacks blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow, resulting in fewer red blood cells.
Hemolytic anemia: This can be the result of another condition, or it can have a genetic cause. It occurs when the red blood cells break up in the bloodstream or the spleen.
Sickle cell anemia: This is a genetic condition where the hemoglobin protein is abnormal. It means the red blood cells are sickle-shaped and rigid, which stops them from flowing through small blood vessels.
Other conditions, such as kidney disease and chemotherapy for cancer, can cause anemia when they affect the body’s ability to make red blood cells.
Low hemoglobin in infants
Newborns can have temporary anemia when they are 6–8 weeks old. This occurs when they run out of the red blood cells they are born with, but their bodies have not made new red blood cells. This condition will not affect the baby adversely unless they are ill for some other reason.
Babies can also have anemia from breaking down cells too quickly, which results in yellowing skin, a condition known as jaundice. This often occurs if the mother and baby have incompatible blood types.
Learn more about infant jaundice here.
Results
The results of a hemoglobin test will indicate if a person’s hemoglobin levels are within the normal reference range.
Different labs have slightly different guidelines, but in general, normal hemoglobin levels are as followsTrusted Source:
13.5 to 18.0 g/dL in males
12.0 to 15.0 g/dL in non-pregnant females
11.0 to 16.0 g/dL in children — this range can vary with age
greater than 10.0 g/dL during pregnancy
If a person’s levels fall below these thresholds, they have anemia. However, low hemoglobin alone does not always diagnose the cause of anemia.
Some potential causes of anemia include:Trusted Source
iron deficiency
chronic disease
thalassemia, a blood disorder that affects red blood cell production
lead poisoning
hypothyroidism
liver disease
some medications
Some factors, such as diet, activity level, certain medications, or menstrual periods, may affect the results of this test.
A doctor may ask questions about a person’s health history, medications, and symptoms to interpret the results. People may require further testing to rule out certain diseases or determine the underlying cause of any abnormal results.
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Symptoms of low hemoglobin
Typical symptoms of low hemoglobin includeTrusted Source:
weakness
shortness of breath
dizziness
fast, irregular heartbeat
pounding in the ears
headaches
cold hands and feet
pale or yellow skin
chest pain
Risk factors
Older people or people who lack iron in their diets can beTrusted Source at risk of developing anemia.
People who perform vigorous exercise are also at greater risk, as exertion can lead to a breakdown of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Someone who is menstruating or pregnant may also be at increased risk of developing anemia.
People who have chronic health conditions, including autoimmune conditions, liver disease, thyroid disease, and inflammatory bowel disease, may have lower hemoglobin levels, which increases the chances of developing anemia.
Hemoglobin levels increase when a person needs more oxygen in their body. Consequently, someone who has lung or kidney disease, smokes, or is dehydrated, may be at risk of increased hemoglobin levels.
Prevention
While many types of anemia are not preventable, eating iron-rich foods, such as beef, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, and nuts can prevent anemias caused by iron or vitamin deficiencies.
Meat and dairy are good sources of vitamin B12. Citrus juices, legumes, and fortified cereals contain folic acid.
The American Society of Hematology recommends against taking an iron supplement unless a doctor advises doing so.
Also, smoking cessation — for those who smoke — and drinking plenty of water can help avoid high hemoglobin levels.
Find out about good sources of iron here.
Treatment
Anemia treatment variesTrusted Source depending on the cause of the condition. Changes in diet or dietary supplements can help people who have iron- or vitamin-deficiency anemias.
If another condition is the cause of anemia, treating the underlying disease will often alleviate the issue.
Medications and blood transfusions are treatment options for aplastic anemia, and antibiotics may help with hemolytic anemia.
Polycythemia is a lifelong condition with no cure, but medication can help manage symptoms.
Similarly, sickle cell disease requires ongoing management of symptoms. A stem cell transplant may cureTrusted Source the disease in some people, but it also poses significant risks.
Learn more about how doctors can treat polycythemia vera.
Outlook
The outlookTrusted Source for anemia depends on its cause.
Iron-deficiency anemia, vitamin-deficiency anemia, and anemia from blood loss have a good outlook with treatment. People with iron deficiency typically needTrusted Source treatment for at least 3 months to rebuild their iron stores.
Sickle cell disease, polycythemia, and some other chronic diseases that can cause anemia, such as kidney disease, will require ongoing management and treatment.
Untreated anemia can cause:
preterm labor, birth complications, and anemia in the baby if a person is pregnant
heart disease, including heart attack
restless leg syndrome
multiorgan failure and, eventually, death
Older people and people with comorbidities are more vulnerable to serious complications.
Summary
Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that helps to transport oxygen throughout the body.
High hemoglobin levels could be due to polycythemia. This is where the body makes excess red blood cells and can lead to clots, heart attacks, and stroke without treatment.
Anemia is a group of medical conditions that undermine the body’s ability to get oxygen. This is because people with anemia do not have enough hemoglobin or red blood cells to distribute oxygen throughout the body.
It is important to diagnose the cause of anemia and treat it. Dietary changes, nutritional supplements, blood transfusions, symptom management, and treatment for underlying medical conditions may help. People with symptoms of anemia, a history of anemia, or at high risk of anemia should consult a doctor for regular anemia testing.
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