Low hemoglobin count | NCH Healthcare System

Definition

A low hemoglobin count is a commonly seen blood test result. Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

A low hemoglobin count is generally defined as less than 13.2 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter (132 grams per liter) of blood for men and less than 11.6 grams per deciliter (116 grams per liter) for women. In children, the definition varies with age and sex. These thresholds may differ slightly from one medical practice to another.

In many cases, a low hemoglobin count that’s only slightly lower than normal doesn’t affect how you feel. A low hemoglobin count that’s more severe and causes symptoms might mean you have anemia.

Causes

Normally low hemoglobin counts

A slightly low hemoglobin count isn’t always a sign of illness — it can be normal for some people. Women with menstrual periods and pregnant women commonly have low hemoglobin counts.

Low hemoglobin counts associated with diseases and conditions

A low hemoglobin count can be associated with a disease or condition that causes your body to have too few red blood cells. This can occur if:

• Your body produces fewer red blood cells than usual
• Your body destroys red blood cells faster than they can be produced
• You have blood loss

Diseases and conditions that cause your body to produce fewer red blood cells than normal include:

• Aplastic anemia
• Cancer
• Certain medications, such as antiretroviral drugs for HIV infection and chemotherapy drugs for cancer and other conditions
• Chronic kidney disease
• Cirrhosis
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Hodgkin’s disease)
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Lead poisoning
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Vitamin deficiency anemia

Diseases and conditions that cause your body to destroy red blood cells faster than they can be made include:

• Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
• Hemolysis
• Porphyria
• Sickle cell anemia
• Thalassemia

A low hemoglobin count can also be due to blood loss, which can occur because of:

• Bleeding in your digestive tract, such as from ulcers, cancers or hemorrhoids
• Frequent blood donation
• Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding) (heavy menstrual bleeding-although even normal menstrual bleeding may cause a slightly low hemoglobin count)

When to see a doctor

Some people learn that their hemoglobin is low when they try to donate blood. Being turned down for blood donation isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. You can have a hemoglobin count that’s fine for you but doesn’t meet the standards blood donation centers set.

If your hemoglobin count is only a little under the required level, particularly if you’ve been accepted for blood donation in the past, you might just need to wait a couple of months and try again. If the problem continues, make an appointment with your doctor.

Make an appointment if you have signs and symptoms

If you have signs and symptoms of a low hemoglobin count, make an appointment with your doctor. Signs and symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pale skin and gums
• Shortness of breath
• A fast or irregular heartbeat

Your doctor might recommend a complete blood count test to determine whether you have a low hemoglobin count. If your test reveals that you have a low hemoglobin count, you’ll likely need more testing to determine the cause.

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Update Date: 05-24-2022

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Imbalances, symptoms, and risk factors

Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. It 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.

Share on PinterestHemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

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 plays 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) 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 could signal 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, smoking, 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 usually indicate that a person has anemia. There are 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.

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 follows:

• 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:

• 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.

Share on PinterestShortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and chest pain may be symptoms of low hemoglobin.

Typical symptoms of low hemoglobin include:

• weakness
• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• fast, irregular heartbeat
• pounding in the ears
• headaches
• cold hands and feet
• pale or yellow skin
• chest pain

Older people or people who lack iron in their diets can be 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.

Share on PinterestEating iron-rich foods may help to prevent anemia.

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.

Anemia treatment varies 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 cure the disease in some people, but it also poses significant risks.

Learn more about how doctors can treat polycythemia vera.

The outlook 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 need 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.

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.

Read the article in Spanish.

Low hemoglobin: causes and symptoms, consequences

2020-12-17

Hemoglobin is a protein that is produced in red blood cells. It contains a lot of iron, which is necessary for the body to ensure proper metabolism. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to all cells of body tissues, taking carbon dioxide from them and directing it to the human lungs.

Diagnostic and treatment procedures are carried out by doctors of the direction “Therapy”

There are normative indicators of hemoglobin content in human blood:

• men – 135–160 g/l;
• non-pregnant women – 120-140 g / l;
• pregnant women – 110 g/l.

If the level of hemoglobin in the blood is below these norms, then there is a lack of iron in the human body. Accordingly, diseases and conditions such as anemia, myocardial dystrophy, and low blood pressure may begin to develop.

Symptoms of low hemoglobin

It is easy to notice a low level of hemoglobin in a person’s blood. This is usually manifested by the following symptoms:

• pale skin color;
• skin is dry and flaky;
• lilac lips;
• nails brittle and exfoliate;
• hair dry and brittle, falling out;
• general fatigue and weakness, fatigue, drowsiness;
• frequent fainting, headaches;
• low blood pressure, palpitations;
• body temperature rises to 37. 5°C without signs of any disease;
• low appetite;
• the occurrence of constipation or diarrhea.

If the hemoglobin level is slightly reduced, then most often there are no pronounced symptoms in the body. To detect this disease, it is recommended to take regular blood tests and visit a hematologist.

If symptoms of low hemoglobin levels appear and do not go away with improved nutrition, then it is urgently necessary to make an appointment with a specialist and undergo an examination.

Causes of low hemoglobin

The level of hemoglobin in the body can be reduced due to the development of certain diseases or pathological conditions:

• external or internal bleeding;
• kidney disease;
• disruption of the endocrine system of the body;
• exhausting and prolonged diets, malnutrition;
• infectious diseases;
• avitaminosis, deficiency of trace elements and minerals;
• tumors;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• disorders of the circulatory system;
• multiple pregnancy;
• prolonged depression or severe stress;
• blood transfusion.

Consequences of a decrease in the level of hemoglobin

If a reduced level of hemoglobin is observed in the body for a long time, this can affect not only the general well-being of a person. This condition will provoke a general failure in the work of all organs, as well as the manifestation of various diseases. If the body experiences a lack of oxygen, pathological changes occur:

1. Iron deficiency anemia and its varieties.
2. Respiratory dysfunction, dyspnoea.
3. Violation of the heart muscle, the occurrence of cardiomyopathy, myocardial dystrophy.
4. Atherosclerosis.
5. Violation of the nervous system, the occurrence of depression, apathy.
6. Enlargement of the liver in size, impaired functioning.
7. Deterioration of general well-being, performance, constant drowsiness and fatigue.
8. Development of chronic forms of existing diseases.
9. For pregnant women – a complication of the course of pregnancy, the risk of premature birth, impaired development of the baby, the occurrence of fetal hypoxia.

Treatment for low hemoglobin

After diagnosing and determining a low level of hemoglobin in human blood, treatment of this disease begins, aimed primarily at eliminating the causes of its occurrence. And since there are quite a lot of them, the treatment will be different in each case:

1. Correction of the diet and composition of consumed products. With a low level of hemoglobin, the diet should contain foods rich in iron and improve the blood supply to the body, contributing to an increase in the total erythrocyte mass: red meat, vegetables and fruits.
2. Appointment for daily use of biologically active additives and vitamin-mineral complexes. This therapy is reduced to make up for the lack of iron and other substances necessary for a person. In severe cases, intravenous drugs may be prescribed.
3. Prescribing drugs that promote hematopoiesis. These drugs help eliminate the symptoms of anemia, as well as stimulate the formation of hemoglobin in the blood, increase the number of red blood cells. Hemostimulin and its analogues may be used.
4. Transfusion of blood or blood components. Such therapy can be prescribed to replenish the required blood volume. Most often it is used for large blood loss.

Any therapy or complex treatment is carried out exclusively under the supervision of highly qualified hematologists. Regular blood tests are taken to assess the dynamics of improvements.

Prevention of low hemoglobin

To prevent a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood, some rules must be observed:

• nutrition should be regular and balanced, and foods rich in iron and vitamins;
• timely treat diseases that can become chronic;
• regularly visit doctors, be examined and take tests.

Following these precautions will always keep the hemoglobin level at a normal level and prevent anemia or other diseases.

Hematologists will professionally and effectively help to get rid of this disease or prescribe measures to reduce the likelihood of its occurrence in each individual case.

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in children, women and men. What tests to take for hemoglobin

12/05/2019Updated on 01/26/2022

Such an iron-containing protein as hemoglobin, which is formed in the blood cells of our blood (in erythrocytes) at an early stage of their development, plays a rather important role.

Note that erythrocytes, in the process of respiration, transport hemoglobin, which saturates all our cells with oxygen. However, in addition to transferring oxygen to tissues that need it, it is also able to take carbon dioxide from the corresponding tissues, delivering it to the lungs, after which it is excreted along with the exhaled air. Simply put, the main purpose of hemoglobin in the human body is vital gas exchange.

Participation of hemoglobin in such an important process as gas exchange is not its only function. Due to its unique chemical properties, this protein is considered a key component of the blood buffer system, as well as an element for maintaining the acid-base balance in the body.

If the rate of hemoglobin in the blood is increased or decreased, this is considered a consequence of a particular pathology, but not its cause. And there are many reasons for the hemoglobin rate in the blood to be lowered or increased – these are malnutrition, anemia (iron deficiency in the body), and the presence of some serious diseases, etc.

Before taking a blood test for hemoglobin, in any case, it is worth getting a consultation with a hematologist.

What does hemoglobin show

After passing the analysis, hemoglobin is displayed in the form of certain indicators, like Hb. The results of such a study may indicate the cause of low pressure, for example, as well as dizziness, seizures, and much more, up to approaching serious pathologies.

Timely detection of violations of hemoglobin levels in the blood will prevent many pathological processes, including a significant reduction in the risk of strokes and heart attacks (especially in aged people) or avoid a deterioration in the condition of a pregnant woman.

In general, hemoglobin, after passing the analysis, shows either the norm, or its increase, or decrease. These or other fluctuations indicate different things:

• Reduced hemoglobin indicates malnutrition and lifestyle (physical inactivity), as well as hidden blood loss, possible autoimmune or infectious diseases. Also, its low rate is often observed during pregnancy.
• Elevated hemoglobin indicates possible problems with the cardiovascular system, with the intestines, and even the alleged presence of cancer. Also, an increased value of this protein in the blood may indicate diabetes, a lack of folic acid and vitamin B12.

When you need to take a hemoglobin test

Such an analysis may be necessary for signs of diabetes mellitus, as well as for complex diagnostics with a clear diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (in order to determine the body’s tolerance to glucose). Also, this analysis is prescribed for prevention – control of hemoglobin levels and during pregnancy.

Hemoglobin is an extremely important element, and its pathological decrease can cause brittle hair and nails, peeling and dry skin, vomiting and nausea, muscle cramps, dizziness. Moreover, an acute form of anemia, for example, leads to oxygen starvation of cells and, as a result, to fainting and brain hypoxia.

Blood for hemoglobin should be taken strictly on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning and in a relaxed, calm state. On the eve, it is important to avoid stress, physical exertion, saunas or baths, hot baths, fatty and spicy foods, and alcohol. A few hours before the analysis, it is important not to smoke, not to drink tea or coffee.

Hemoglobin norm for women

Hemoglobin norm for women is 120-150 g/l. However, this indicator can change and, for example, already in old age, due to corresponding changes in the body, the norm will be completely different (after the age of 70 it is 117-160 g / l).

In addition, for female smokers and professional athletes, the upper limit may be 160 g/l, and for adolescents, the upper limit varies from 112 to 153 g/l.

Decreased hemoglobin norm in women is a more common phenomenon, by the way, than an increased one. Such a pathology, we note, is diagnosed in about a third of women according to WHO.

The norm of hemoglobin in men

The norm of hemoglobin in men is 130-170 g / l, which, as you can see, is somewhat higher than that of the fairer sex. This is explained by the fact that the body of men is capable of producing testosterone, which determines the rapid growth of muscle mass. This, in turn, requires more oxygen in the body and, as a result, the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood increases.

In addition, men do not have monthly menstruation and, accordingly, there is no such blood loss, which also explains the fact that their hemoglobin norm is higher than that of women.

Hemoglobin norm for children

Hemoglobin norm for children is somewhat different from the norm for women and men, due to the fact that it is clearly demarcated by age.

So, the hemoglobin norm in children is presented in the table below:

9 0247

The norm of hemoglobin in newborn premature babies during the first month is also reduced when compared with the norm of a child who was born at term.