Hemoglobin levels in female

Overview Anemia is a problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body's tissues. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all other organs in the body. Having anemia can cause tiredness, weakness and shortness of breath. There are many forms of anemia. Each has its own cause. Anemia can be short term or long term. It can range from mild to severe. Anemia can be a warning sign of serious illness. Treatments for anemia might involve taking supplements or having medical procedures. Eating a healthy diet might prevent some forms of anemia. • • • • • Symptoms Anemia symptoms depend on the cause and how bad the anemia is. Anemia can be so mild that it causes no symptoms at first. But symptoms usually then occur and get worse as the anemia gets worse. If another disease causes the anemia, the disease can mask the anemia symptoms. Then a test for another condition might find the anemia. Certain types of anemia have symptoms that point to the cause. Possible symptoms of anemia include: • Tiredness. • Weakness. • Shortness of breath. • Pale or yellowish skin, which might be more obvious on white skin than on Black or brown skin. • Irregular heartbeat. • Dizziness or lightheadedness. • Chest pain. • Cold hands and feet. • Headaches. When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your health care provider if you're tired or short of breath and don't know why. Low levels of the protein in red blood cel...

Overview What is high hemoglobin count? High hemoglobin (Hgb) count occurs when your red blood cells have an unusually high amount of the blood protein hemoglobin. Hemoglobin gives red blood cells their red color. It helps carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and carries carbon dioxide (CO2) from the rest of your body back to your lungs. Another name for high hemoglobin is polycythemia. What is the difference between high hemoglobin and hematocrit? What are high hemoglobin levels? Both your biological sex and age affect your hemoglobin levels. Typically, hemoglobin levels are considered high if they’re: • Above 16.5 grams per deciliter (g/dL) in an adult who was assigned male at birth. • Above 16 g/dL in an adult who was assigned female at birth. • Above 16.6 g/dL in a child. • Above 18 g/dL in an infant. Environmental factors such as altitude, time of day and how hydrated you are also can affect your hemoglobin levels. How do I know if I have high hemoglobin? A blood test is the only way to know if you have high hemoglobin. Some of the side effects of high hemoglobin may include: • • Easy • Excessive sweating ( • • • Joint swelling. • • Yellowish eyes or skin ( Is high hemoglobin serious? You should take high hemoglobin levels seriously. Sometimes, high hemoglobin points to a serious underlying condition. Even if you don’t have an underlying condition, it’s important to treat a high hemoglobin count. Irregularly high hemoglobin levels can lead to complica...

Definition Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The hemoglobin test measures how much hemoglobin is in your blood. Alternative Names Hgb; Hb; Anemia - Hb; Polycythemia - Hb How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is necessary. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed The hemoglobin test is a common test and is almost always done as part of a complete blood count (CBC). Reasons or conditions for ordering the hemoglobin test include: • Symptoms such as fatigue, poor health, or unexplained weight loss • Signs of bleeding • Before and after major surgery • During pregnancy • Chronic kidney disease or many other chronic medical problems • Monitoring of anemia and its cause • Monitoring during treatment for cancer • Monitoring medicines that may cause anemia or low blood counts Normal Results Normal results for adults vary, but in general are: • Male: 13.8 to 17.2 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 138 to 172 grams per liter (g/L) • Female: 12.1 to 15.1 g/dL or 121 to 151 g/L Normal results for children vary, but in general are: • Newborn: 14 to 24 g/dL or 140 to 240 g/L • Infant: 9.5 to 13 g/dL or 95 to 130 g/L The ranges above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value range...

• Your body can’t absorb iron, which affects your body’s ability to make red blood cells. • Your diet is low in iron. You get iron from the foods you eat, and even though not all of the iron is absorbed by your body, a diet low in iron can lead to • You’re not getting enough essential nutrients like vitamins B12 and B9, which can lead to pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemia. However, most newborns have sufficient iron stored in their bodies for about the first six months of life. After six months they need an additional source because breast milk doesn't contain enough iron. Iron-rich foods, iron-fortified cereals, iron-fortified formula, or iron supplement drops can be added to the baby's diet to help prevent low hemoglobin levels in infants. Some people are at greater risk for low hemoglobin. They include: • Infants ages 6–12 months • Children with lead in their blood (which blocks the body's ability to make hemoglobin) • Teens • Adults aged 65 and older • People with cancer, • People with a genetic blood disorder • Pregnant people • People with heavy bleeding during their periods • How Are Hemoglobin Levels Tested? The symptoms of low hemoglobin are similar to the symptoms caused by many other medical problems. That's why it is important to see your healthcare provider if you have these symptoms to determine the true cause. You can find out your hemoglobin level through a blood test. The result will indicate whether your hemoglobin level is normal, low, or high: •...

Please note, there may be more current information available related to iron and blood donation. Visit our Yesterday (Wednesday, March 8) was International Women’s Day, which of course got us thinking about our stellar female donors and the topic of women and hemoglobin! Roughly half of all donors in the United States are female, which is an incredible accomplishment given that women are more likely to be Hemoglobin is a protein found in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissue throughout the body. In order to donate blood, individuals must have a certain level of hemoglobin: 13.0 g/dL for men, and 12.5 g/dL for women and nonbinary donors. Unfortunately, women have naturally lower hemoglobin count than men. However, there are some simple ways that women (or anyone) can try to increase their hemoglobin count. The most common causes of low hemoglobin count are low iron levels and menstrual blood loss. While unfortunately there isn’t anything you can do about the blood loss, there are some easy methods to try to • Beef • Chicken • Tuna • Pork • Lamb • Shrimp • Halibut If you prefer to stay away from meat and fish, no need to worry. Although non-heme iron (which is found in plant sources) is harder to absorb, it is still quite helpful in increasing hemoglobin count. Give these sources of non-heme iron a try: • Beans • Nuts • Cooked spinach, asparagus, and green beens • Potatoes • Avocado • Whole wheat bread Eating foods with high vitamin C like citrus fruits and toma...

What Is Normal Hematocrit? Normal hematocrit levels vary based on age and race.. In adults, normal levels for men range from 41%-50%. For women, the normal range is slightly lower: 36%-44%. A hematocrit level below the normal range, meaning the person has too few red blood cells, is called anemia. A hematocrit level above the normal range, meaning too many red blood cells, may indicate polycythemia or erythrocytosis. Why Should You Test Hematocrit Levels? Your doctor may test your hematocrit levels if you show signs of having anemia, polycythemia or erythrocytosis. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness. Symptoms of polycythemia include fatigue, itching, headaches, and sweating. Symptoms of erythrocytosis includes headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds. Hemoglobin is checked before each blood donation. This is to ensure that the donor has adequate red blood cell levels to donate blood. Blood donors must have a minimum of 12.5 g/dL hemoglobin but no greater than 20 g/dL. (There are separate requirements for the red cell-only donation known as Power Red.)

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