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Blood values: symptoms of low and high hematocrit
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Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in a person’s blood. A normal hematocrit value in healthy adults is between 37 and 52 percent. This number varies depending on a person’s gender and age. Low hematocrit values indicate conditions such as anemia. High levels may indicate polycythemia, a condition that increases the risk of developing a blood clot.
Also read: What is ferritin and which blood values are normal?
What is hematocrit?
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Hematocrit refers to the percentage of red blood cells in the body. For example, if someone has 50 milliliters of red blood cells in 100 ml of blood, his or her hematocrit level is 50 percent.
Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body and give blood its characteristic red color. In addition to oxygen, red blood cells also contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen molecules. This allows red blood cells to take oxygen from the lungs and deliver it throughout the body.
Normal hematocrit values are between 42 and 52 percent in men and between 37 and 47 percent in women.
Symptoms of low hematocrit
A minimum amount of red blood cells is essential for the body’s processes to run smoothly. If that amount is too low, you may experience a number of complaints:
- Weakness
- Low energy
- Fatigue
- Pale complexion
- Irregular heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
- Cold hands or feet
These symptoms indicate anemia. The hemoglobin level is then lower than normal. Mild anemia is treatable and occurs mainly in women. Severe anemia may indicate a more serious underlying health condition.
Also read: Why do women suffer more from cold hands and feet?
Low hematocrit during pregnancy
During pregnancy, your hematocrit value is usually slightly lower. It’s not that bad. The reason is that there is more fluid in your blood when you are pregnant.
If the hematocrit is too low during pregnancy, you suffer from anemia. The cause is usually too little iron. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. And when you are pregnant, your body uses a lot of iron.
Your gynecologist will investigate how much hemoglobin you have in your blood. This happens in the period before you are 13 weeks pregnant. And again when you are 30 weeks pregnant.
Also read: What is ferritin and which blood values are normal?
Also read: What are the symptoms and consequences of an iron deficiency?
Symptoms of high hematocrit
If you have a high hematocrit level, you usually have the following symptoms:
- Flushing skin
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Problems with vision
- Enlarged spleen
These symptoms indicate polycythemia, a condition in which the body produces too many red blood cells. This means that the blood is thicker and clots more easily. In some cases, the cause of polycythemia is dehydration. If you drink too little, the plasma level drops, which increases the proportion of red blood cells in the blood volume. You can reduce the number of red blood cells by rehydrating.
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Last updated: January 2024
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2024-01-10 23:05:18
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