Those who were asked to have a blood test by a doctor will be guided by them. For patients who had a blood test carried out in a private lab, as is customary in some countries, it is recommended to visit a doctor as soon as possible to determine what caused the alarmingly high hemoglobin levels and determine the adequate treatment, if needed. The normal (healthy) range described by the blood test may differ a bit from one laboratory to another.Īn increase in a person's hemoglobin levels may be indicative of dangerous conditions such as congenital heart disease, cor pulmonale, erythrocytosis, low levels of oxygen in the blood (hypoxia), pulmonary fibrosis, and other medical conditions. Men have a slightly higher normal value, ranging from 14 to 17 grams per deciliter, while women typically have 12 to 15 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter. In adults, the normal range for hemoglobin is from 12 to 17 grams per deciliter. The values for both these parameters should be stable, and any increase or decrease in these could signify an ongoing health problem. The amount of red blood cells, that is their percentage of the total volume of red blood cells, is known as hematocrit. The amount of hemoglobin a person has determines how well the red blood cells are performing their function. What are these? Red blood cells, responsible for transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide from the lungs to the cells and from the cells to the lungs contain a protein known as hemoglobin. Numerous parameters are observed in a routine blood test, among these hemoglobin level and hematocrit. Your blood has a role in transmitting information, too, as it carries hormones to target tissues and organs, and has a pivotal role in the defense of the organism from viruses, bacteria and allergens, as it carries the primary defense force of the organism - white blood cells.īlood tests will do a lot to reveal the general condition of the organism. You know that your blood carries oxygen and nutrients all over your body, removing waste products from organs and tissues along the way.

Hemoglobin and hematocrit: What are they?

Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels ati