When hemoglobin is too low, it can indicate certaintypes of anemia.
There are also abnormal types of hemoglobin that cause anemia as well as illnesses such assickle cell disease.
This article explains the functions of hemoglobin in your body.
Verywell / JR Bee
It also looks at some of the conditions associated with high and low hemoglobin.
It also transports carbon dioxide from tissues back to the lungs.
Nitric oxide and carbon monoxide can also bind with hemoglobin.
Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin much more strongly than oxygen.
Its presence keeps oxygen from binding to hemoglobin.
This is whycarbon monoxide poisoningis so serious.
Causes of anemia include:
Blood Loss
Any key in ofblood losscan cause anemia.
This includes:
Premenopausal females are more likely to have a low hemoglobin level than males.
Lack of Production
In some conditions, thebone marrowmay not produce enough RBCs.
These conditions include:
Hemolysis
Hemolysisis the breakdown of RBCs.
This may happen with conditions like:
Nutritional Deficiencies
Certain nutritional deficiencies can cause anemia.
These include:
Kidney Disease
Healthy kidneys releaseerythropoietin.
This is a hormone that promotes RBC production.
People withkidney diseasemay not produce enough of this hormone.
Conditions Involving Elevated Hemoglobin
Several conditions are associated withhigh hemoglobin levels.
These include:
In these cases, the body responds to low oxygen by increasing hemoglobin.
If you aredehydrated, yourhemoglobin testmay show an artificially high hemoglobin level.
This is because hemoglobin is more concentrated when the fluid in the body is low.
Hemoglobin may also be high in people living at high altitudes.
This is because of the low levels of oxygen in the air.
In people with this condition, abnormal hemoglobin causes sickle-shaped RBCs.
These cells can get “stuck” in blood vessels.
This can cause:
Thalassemia
Thalassemiais another inherited disease.
Different types are characterized by different hemoglobin abnormalities.
Alpha thalassemiaandbeta thalassemiaare the two main types.
There are also many different subtypes.
Symptoms vary from none to severe.
People with thalassemia often have lifelong anemia.
They may require frequentblood transfusions.
Thalassemia intermediais also called “non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia.”
This kind of thalassemia may not be discovered until adulthood.
Recap
Conditions like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia can cause hemoglobin to have an abnormal structure.
Hemoglobin Tests
Hemoglobin levels are usually measured as part of acomplete blood count (CBC).
The results of other lab tests may help identify the cause of hemoglobin problems.
These include:
Normal Hemoglobin Levels
Normal hemoglobin ranges vary by age and sex.
They’re measured in grams per deciliter (g/dL).
Problems with hemoglobin can cause symptoms like fatigue and rapid heart rate.
Hemoglobin levels that are too high or too low can lead to health problems.
In conditions like sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin can have an abnormal shape.
This can lead to serious problems like pain and blood clots.
Hemoglobin levels are usually checked as part of a complete blood count.
Other lab tests can help confirm the cause of hemoglobin issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fatigue is the number one sign.
This is brought on by anemia.
Anemia is a blood disorder resulting from a lack of hemoglobin.
Intense training, especially among endurance athletes, can cause a condition called sports anemia.
Sports anemia refers to well-conditioned athletes relatively low hemoglobin levels.
This is due to an increased plasma volume.
It actually has positive effects.
It lets the blood better circulate oxygen during exercise.
A blood test calledelectrophoresismeasures the types of hemoglobin in your blood.
This test identifies abnormal hemoglobin including:
MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin electrophoresis.
University of Rochester Medical Center.
Health Encyclopedia.What are red blood cells?
2013;0. doi:10.3389%2Ffphys.2013.00332
