Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. These symptoms also indicate anemia, a condition where hemoglobin levels are lower than normal. When a person has low hematocrit levels they tend to present with the following symptoms:
Symptoms and causes of low hematocrit levels Learn more about sickle cell anemia in African Americans here.ĭehydration can raise hematocrit levels, so this test is useful if a doctor suspects severe dehydration is the cause of a person’s symptoms.Ī doctor may request frequent hematocrit tests to monitor the effect of chemotherapy on person’s bone marrow.
It is important to note that certain blood-related conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia, affect particular demographic groups at higher rates.
#What does low hematocrit and hemoglobin mean professional#
This can make it difficult for a medical professional to diagnose these conditions. There are many conditions that can affect red blood cell production or their life cycle. This means that these findings aren’t necessarily representative of a wider population. However, the study had a small sample size of 26 middle-aged, sedentary Turkish women. A 2018 study found that females who participated in 16 weeks of strength exercise had lower levels at the end compared when they started. According to research, red blood cell counts tend to increase at high altitude.Įxercise, particularly strength training, may also affect hematocrit levels. However, the percentage of red blood cells in someone’s blood can change depending on a variety of lifestyle factors and even environmental changes. Having an adequate amount of red blood cells is essential to keep the body’s processes running smoothly. This allows red blood cells to pick up oxygen from the lungs and deliver it throughout the body. In addition to oxygen, they also contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen molecules. Red blood cells transport oxygen around the body and give blood its characteristic red color. For example: if a person has 50 milliliters (ml) of red blood cells in 100 ml of blood, their hematocrit level is 50%. Hematocrit is a measure of the percentage of red blood cells in the body. Share on Pinterest WLADIMIR BULGAR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images
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