What is Hemoglobin (Hgb or Hb) in Blood Test? What is High and Low Hemoglobin (Hgb) Value? Causes & Treatment?
- Health Garden
- Feb 25, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 19, 2024
The Hemoglobin (Hgb, Hb) test in the blood is a blood test that measures the level of Hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the body.
Hemoglobin is a protein that is the main component of red blood cells. It gives blood its red color. Just as it carries oxygen to tissues and organs, it also carries carbon dioxide to the lungs.
Hemoglobin, which contains plenty of iron in its structure, can rapidly decrease due to iron deficiency.
While a low hemoglobin level usually indicates anemia, a high hemoglobin level can be a symptom of a number of serious diseases.
What is A Normal Hemoglobin (Hgb) Range in Blood Test ?
A normal Hemoglobin (Hgb) level in blood test is 13.2 to 16.6 grams per deciliter for men and 11.6 to 15 grams per deciliter for women. For children, normal hemoglobin (Hgb) level varies according to age and gender.
Although these are average values, reference values may vary slightly depending on laboratory conditions. It would be more accurate to consider the reference ranges of the center where the blood test was performed.
What is High Hemoglobin (Hgb) Level in Blood Test?
A high Hemoglobin (Hgb) value in a blood test is above the upper limit. This is defined as more than 16.6 g/dL in men and 15 g/dL in women. In children, this value varies according to age and gender.
In some cases, hemoglobin levels that are very close to the upper limit may not have medical significance. However, significantly high or persistently high Hemoglobin (HGB) requires further investigation.
What Causes High Hemoglobin (Hgb) Level in Blood Test?
Polycythemia vera, a rare genetic disease, can cause high hemoglobin. Polycythemia is a congenital problem that causes the bone marrow to produce too many red blood cells. Since the blood in polycythemia patients is much denser than normal, there is a risk of heart attack and stroke due to clotting. Therefore, lifelong follow-up and treatment is required. Apart from this, other possible causes of high hemoglobin are:
• Loss of fluid in the body (dehydration)
• Heart and lung diseases
• Living at high altitude
• Serious burns
• Excessive vomiting or diarrhea
• Very intense physical activity
• Excessive use of cigarettes or other tobacco products
• Steroids or certain drugs used to enhance performance
• Kidney tumors
• Bone marrow related diseases
• Lack of oxygen
It is extremely important to consult the nearest health institution as the hemoglobin value is higher than normal and treatment will be required.
High Hemoglobin (Hgb) Symptoms
If hemoglobin is too high, it may present with various symptoms. These may include:
Unintentional weight loss
Itching on the skin
Pain and swelling in joints
Weakness
Yellowing of eyes
Excessive sweating and hot flashes
Headache and dizziness
High hemoglobin value in humans is less common than low hemoglobin levels, so it definitely requires examination.
How to Treat High Hemoglobin (Hgb) Level?
If polycythemia disease is diagnosed, it requires repeated blood counts and additional screenings throughout life. The use of blood thinners is often a permanent part of the treatment process.
Hemoglobin elevations that occur due to fluid loss in situations such as burns, severe diarrhea or vomiting are usually acute and temporary. In these cases, replacing the lost fluid as soon as possible is the most effective way to prevent both high hemoglobin and other serious health problems that dehydration can cause.
Increased hemoglobin levels due to reasons such as kidney tumors and bone marrow diseases are evaluated within the scope of treatment protocols for these diseases.
Since mild elevations, which are considered borderline elevations, may have temporary and simple causes, a repeat blood test appointment can be made after a certain period of time without the need for any intervention.
In summary, determining the underlying problem is the basic step in determining how the treatment will be shaped.
What is Low Hemoglobin (Hgb) Level in Blood Test?
Low hemoglobin (Hgb) in the blood is a value below the lower reference value. This is defined as less than 13.2 g/dL in men and 11.6 g/dL in women.
In pregnant women, HGB value below 10 g/dL is considered low hemoglobin.
Although these are average values, reference values may vary slightly depending on laboratory conditions. It would be more accurate to consider the reference ranges of the center where the blood test was performed.
A low hemoglobin level is often an indicator of anemia.
What Causes Low Hemoglobin (Hgb) Level in Blood Test?
Low Hemoglobin level is most likely caused by anemia. Low HGB may be caused by:
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Vitamin deficiency anemias (vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency)
• Pregnancy-related anemia
• Familial Mediterranean anemia (thalassemia)
• Aplastic anemias that develop due to the autoimmune effect of the immune system
• Hemolytic anemias, which develop when red blood cells break down in the bloodstream or spleen.
• Hypothyroidism
• Chemotherapy used in cancer treatment
• Acute blood loss
• Sepsis
• Kidney diseases
• Diseases that negatively affect blood cell production, such as leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma
• Other chronic diseases
• Some drugs used
• Unbalanced and unhealthy diet
• Extensive use of tobacco products
Low Hemoglobin (Hgb)Symptoms
When hemoglobin is low, some negative symptoms may occur because the oxygen carried to tissues and organs decreases. Some of these can be listed as follows:
Tiredness
Shortness of breath
Unintentional weight loss
Dizziness
Fast and irregular heartbeats, intense feeling of pulse in the ears
Problems such as coldness and numbness in hands and feet
Yellow or pale appearance on the skin
Headache and chest pain
If you have symptoms similar to those above, it is recommended that you consult the nearest health institution.
How to Treat Low Hemoglobin (Hgb) Level?
Treatment of low hemoglobin is determined depending on the underlying cause or type of development of anemia.
In cases of anemia caused by iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, nutrition should be planned and additional vitamin or mineral supplements should be used.
If hemoglobin decreases due to different diseases, treatments for this disease will help control the hemoglobin level.
In anemias that develop due to drug use, it may be necessary to turn to alternative medications.
In some cases, such as acute blood loss or thalassemia, blood transfusion may be required when severe HGB deficiency occurs.
In some cases, such as sickle cell anemia, alternative treatment methods such as stem cell transplantation may also be considered.
Untreated anemia can lead to serious problems such as heart disease, restless legs syndrome, and even organ failure. Therefore, low hemoglobin definitely requires follow-up and treatment.