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Mar 7, 2024 · What is hemoglobin (Hgb, Hb)? Hemoglobin (abbreviated Hgb or Hb) is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
Hemoglobin (haemoglobin, Hb or Hgb) is a protein containing iron that facilitates the transport of oxygen in red blood cells. Almost all vertebrates contain hemoglobin, [3] with the exception of the fish family Channichthyidae . [4]
- Overview
- What is hemoglobin?
- Hemoglobin blood test
- What is a normal hemoglobin level?
- Low hemoglobin levels
- What causes low hemoglobin
- Treating low hemoglobin
- High hemoglobin levels
- Takeaway
Hemoglobin helps red blood cells carry oxygen to your muscles and tissues. Abnormal hemoglobin levels can be a sign of several health problems.
Hemoglobin is a component of your blood that delivers oxygen throughout your body. If your hemoglobin levels are low, your cells might not get enough oxygen. As a result, you might frequently feel tired, weak, or dizzy.
Hemoglobin is a type of protein in your red blood cells that distributes the oxygen you breathe to muscles and tissues throughout your body. Without oxygen, your muscles would not have the energy they need to function normally.
Hemoglobin also picks up carbon dioxide and returns it to your lungs for you to exhale. This essential process helps prevent toxic levels of carbon dioxide.
A hemoglobin (Hgb) blood test measures the amount of hemoglobin in your red blood cells. To perform this test, a healthcare professional will take a sample of blood from your veins, usually from the crook of your arm or the back of your hand.
Your doctor might order a hemoglobin test to:
•Check your overall health: A complete blood count is a common part of routine medical checkups. It measures your levels of hemoglobin and other blood components.
•Screen for disorders: Symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness may indicate a condition that causes low hemoglobin, such as an infection or internal bleeding.
•Monitor your condition: If you have a health condition that causes low hemoglobin or are undergoing treatment for low hemoglobin, your doctor might check your levels regularly.
An Hgb test is no different from a standard blood test and should take only a few minutes. A healthcare professional will disinfect your skin with an alcohol-based wipe. They will place an elastic band, known as a tourniquet, around your biceps and ask you to make a fist so your veins become more visible.
Healthcare professionals measure hemoglobin in grams per deciliter of blood (g/dL).
Normal hemoglobin levels are as follows:
•In adult males: 13.5–18 g/dL
•In adult females: 12–15 g/dL
•In children: 11–16 g/dL
•During pregnancy: varied but typically greater than 10 g/dL
Symptoms
If your hemoglobin levels are too low, your muscle cells might not be getting enough oxygen. You might feel like you have no energy. This condition is called anemia. Common symptoms of anemia include: •chest pain •cold hands and feet •dizziness •fatigue •headaches •irregular heartbeat •paler-than-usual skin •shortness of breath •weakness
Low hemoglobin levels have many possible causes. Some of the most common causes are:
•Diet: A diet that is too low in iron, folate, or vitamin B12 can affect your body’s ability to produce hemoglobin.
•Blood loss: Significant bleeding can lead to low hemoglobin levels, but long-term blood loss from stomach ulcers, uterine fibroids, or heavy menstrual periods can also contribute.
•Pregnancy: During pregnancy, your blood volume increases significantly, which can lower your hemoglobin levels.
•Genetic conditions: Hereditary health conditions such as G6PD deficiency, sickle cell anemia, spherocytosis, and thalassemia can destroy red blood cells.
•Cancer: Certain types of cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma, can affect your red blood cell levels.
Your doctor will recommend treatments for low hemoglobin according to the underlying cause.
If your diet is low in iron, a nutritional supplement may help increase your hemoglobin levels. Your doctor might also recommend nutritional counseling to help you select foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals.
If you have a health condition that’s causing low hemoglobin, your doctor will treat the underlying cause.
Most of the time, addressing the cause of low hemoglobin will help improve your levels. In severe cases, you may need a blood transfusion.
It’s also possible to have overly high hemoglobin levels. If you have high hemoglobin levels, you might also have a high red blood cell count. This condition is called polycythemia.
Primary polycythemia is a genetic condition linked to a mutation in the bone marrow cells.
Hemoglobin is an essential component of your red blood cells that allows them to distribute oxygen throughout your body. When your hemoglobin levels are low, you might feel unusually weak or tired.
Doctors use a blood test to check your hemoglobin levels. They will usually order this test as part of a routine exam. Treatment for low hemoglobin levels depends on the cause but may include nutritional supplements.
Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For most people, hepatitis B is short term, also called acute, and lasts less than six months. But for others, the infection becomes chronic, meaning it lasts more than six months.
People also ask
What is hemoglobin (Hb)?
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2 days ago · Usually, the symptoms of low hemoglobin are more noticeable than symptoms of high hemoglobin and can lead to complications. Most causes of hemoglobin abnormalities can be treated with medication. Sometimes a blood transfusion is necessary to correct very low hemoglobin levels.
Nov 1, 2022 · Hemoglobin (sometimes abbreviated as Hb) is a complex protein found in red blood cells that contains an iron molecule. The main function of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues, and to exchange the oxygen for carbon dioxide, and then carry the carbon dioxide back to the lungs and where it is exchanged for oxygen.
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. The infection can be acute (short and severe) or chronic (long term). Hepatitis B can cause a chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
