What Does High Hemoglobin And Hematocrit Mean – Although having a high red blood cell count is not always a sign of a health problem, it could also be a symptom of a disease or disorder in some cases.
Red blood cells (RBCs), also known as erythrocytes, are the cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. They are also one of the main components of blood. Having a high red blood cell (RBC) count means that the number of RBCs in the bloodstream is higher than normal.
Contents
What Does High Hemoglobin And Hematocrit Mean
When you have signs and symptoms of a disease that may include problems with red blood cell production, a complete blood count (CBC), which includes an RBC count, is usually ordered to help with the diagnosis. A complete blood count is usually part of the preoperative workup as well as routine physical exams.
Anemia Nursing Diagnosis And Care Plans
Changes in the RBC count also mean that there are changes in the level of hemoglobin and hematocrit in the blood. When the RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit are below the established normal range, the patient is said to be anemic. On the other hand, when a person has values that are above the normal limit, he or she is said to be polycythemic. Too many RBCs can lead to reduced blood flow and other related health problems, while too few RBCs can significantly affect the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.
Health care providers may order a CBC when patients show some of the common signs and symptoms of anemia, such as:
This blood test may also be performed regularly to help monitor patients with certain blood disorders, such as chronic anemia, bleeding problems, and polycythemia, including kidney disease.
People undergoing cancer treatment are also required to have regular CBCs as radiation therapy or chemotherapy tends to reduce the production of all blood cells in the bone marrow.
Calculating The Optimal Hematocrit Under The Constraint Of Constant Cardiac Power
The following reference ranges are a theoretical guide only and should not be used to interpret test results. There may be variations between the reference range and the numbers reported by each laboratory that performs the test. Contact your healthcare provider for an interpretation of your test results.
Although having a high red blood cell count is not always a sign of a health problem, it could also be a symptom of a disease or disorder in some cases. Lifestyle and health factors can also cause an increase in the red blood cell count. They include:
This rare blood disease develops when the body produces too many red blood cells (RBCs). When there is an overproduction of red blood cells, blood becomes abnormally thick, making people more likely to develop blood clots. The formation of blood clots can affect the normal flow of blood through the veins and arteries, and cause a heart attack or stroke.
Defective blood flow also means that the body’s organs are deprived of the oxygen they need to function normally, and can lead to serious health problems, such as angina and heart failure.
Solved Complete Blood Cell Count White Cell Count Hemoglobin
Polycythemia vera is a chronic blood disease that can be life threatening if not properly diagnosed and treated. Although the condition has no cure, there are treatments that can help manage the disease and its complications. Treatment for PV may also include more than one treatment modality to help control the disease.
The body tries to compensate and increase red blood cell production for any medical condition that can cause low oxygen levels. These conditions include:
An abnormally functioning kidney due to kidney disease, kidney transplant, and kidney cancer can cause excess production of erythropoietin, which enhances red blood cell production.
Some medicines, such as methyldopa and gentamicin can increase the red blood cell (RBC) count. Methyldopa is a drug used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and gentamicin is an antibacterial drug used to treat bacterial infections in the blood. Make sure you inform your doctor about the medicines you are taking.
Anemia Tests At Home
When a person is dehydrated, the plasma or fluid component of the blood decreases and the concentration of red blood cells increases.
Your healthcare provider may recommend certain medications or procedures to help lower your RBC count, especially if a medical condition is causing the abnormal count.
A health professional can perform a procedure called phlebotomy regularly until your red blood cell (RBC) level is close to normal. In this procedure, a needle is inserted into your vein to draw blood into a designated container or bag.
In people with bone marrow disease or polycythemia vera, healthcare providers may prescribe hydroxyurea, which is an anti-cancer medication that can help slow the body’s production of red blood cells. Regular doctor’s appointments are required while taking this medication to monitor and ensure that the number of red blood cells does not drop too far to dangerous levels.
Re Evaluation Of Hematocrit As A Determinant Of Thrombotic Risk In Erythrocytosis
An elevated RBC count is usually discovered when doctors order blood tests to help diagnose a patient’s condition. You can ask your doctor and discuss your blood test results. Having an elevated red blood cell (RBC) count and other abnormal test results are some signs that can help your doctor identify the cause of your condition.
Your account is completely free. Find doctors and request appointments online. Take part in Health Walks in over 100 specialist communities. Easy and safe access! Simple Facebook login.
Is a trusted resource for patients to find the best doctors in their area. Be visible and accessible with your current contact information, certified patient reviews and online appointment booking functionality. Hematocrit (HCT) refers to the proportion of red blood cells (RBCs) in an individual’s blood. Adults with XY chromosomes typically have an HCT ranging from 40% to 54%, and adults with XX chromosomes have an HCT ranging from 36% to 48%. In addition to RBCs, blood has three other main components: white blood cells, platelets and plasma.
Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the total volume of blood. A hematocrit test can be performed using a capillary tube and a centrifuge machine (ie, a machine that uses centrifugal force to separate blood substances due to their different densities). Hematocrit levels are usually noted as part of a complete blood count (CBC), but can also be tested on their own. However, a CBC is the most common blood test that measures HCT while also measuring the red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, and platelets.
What Is Hgb In Blood Test Results?
Hematocrit is a very useful laboratory finding because having too few or too many RBCs could be a clinical sign of various medical conditions, such as anemia or polycythemia, respectively. It can also be used to monitor individuals after surgery to prevent or screen for complications, such as internal bleeding.
Low hematocrit levels, also known as anemia, can be the result of reduced production of RBCs, increased blood loss, increased destruction of RBCs, or a combination of these.
The most common cause of low hematocrit levels is chronic (eg, ulcers, colon cancer) or acute (eg, trauma, internal bleeding) bleeding, which results in significant blood loss. Notably, individuals of reproductive age who are assigned female at birth may have a low hematocrit due to menstruation. However, hematocrit can also decrease due to peripheral destruction of RBCs as seen in conditions such as sickle cell anemia, where RBCs have a shorter lifespan; and splenomegaly (ie, enlargement of the spleen), in which a large number of healthy RBCs are destroyed in the spleen. Another cause of low hematocrit is reduced production of RBCs, as seen in chronic inflammatory diseases, or bone marrow suppression caused by radiation therapy, malignancies, or medications such as chemotherapy. Finally, malnutrition (eg, iron, B12, and folate deficiency) as well as overhydration can also lead to a decrease in hematocrit levels.
Dehydration, due to fluid loss from repeated vomiting, overheating, or limited access to fluids, can cause hemoconcentration. In addition, low oxygen availability triggers the production of new blood cells in order to transport oxygen throughout the body and smoking can cause this; high altitudes; congenital heart diseases; or certain pulmonary disorders, such as pulmonary fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, polycythemia vera, characterized by overproduction of RBCs as a result of increased bone marrow stimulation (ie, myeloproliferation), can cause high hematocrit levels. Similarly, increased erythropoietin production, either due to androgen use or due to erythropoietin production from tumors of the kidney, liver and ovary, can also increase hematocrit. Finally, various pathologies of the endocrine system, such as Cushing’s syndrome, can also lead to high hematocrit levels.
Mean Hematocrit (a), Red Blood Cell Count (b), Hemoglobin Levels (c),…
Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the total volume of blood. A wide variety of medical conditions and especially blood disorders can be diagnosed by a hematocrit test. Low hematocrit levels, also known as anemia, can be the result of decreased RBC production, increased blood loss, increased destruction of RBCs, or a combination of the above. On the other hand, high hematocrit levels can be the result of hemoconcentration, or RBC overproduction, which can be triggered by various factors.
Dixon, L. R. (1997). The complete blood count: physiological basis and clinical use. The Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, 11(3), 1–18. DOI: 10.1097/00005237-199712000-00003
Kragh-Hansen, U. (2018). Possible mechanisms by
What does high red blood cells hemoglobin and hematocrit mean, what does it mean when hemoglobin and hematocrit are high, what does low hemoglobin and hematocrit mean, rbc hemoglobin hematocrit high, what does a high hemoglobin and hematocrit mean, elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit, what does it mean to have high hemoglobin and hematocrit, what does elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit mean, what does high rbc hemoglobin and hematocrit mean, high rbc hemoglobin and hematocrit, what does it mean if hemoglobin and hematocrit are high, what does high hematocrit and hemoglobin mean
