What is Hemoglobin (Hb)?

What is Hemoglobin? Hemoglobin is abbreviated as 'Hb' and is a protein in the blood. It ensures that oxygen is transported from the lungs to the rest of the body. It then takes the waste carbon dioxide back to the lungs. There it is exhaled again. Hemoglobin is found in the red blood cells. It contains millions of hemoglobin molecules. The iron in hemoglobin gives blood its distinctive red color.

 

How is hemoglobin measured?

The amount of hemoglobin in the blood is easy to measure. A drop of blood can be taken via a prick in the finger. This drop is then transferred to a measuring device that can measure the hemoglobin level in the red blood cell. It is recommended to consult your doctor for a complete blood test. Right away oximeter oxygen saturation can be measured. If there is a low amount of hemoglobin in the blood that is the saturation also lower.

 

Normal hemoglobin values ​​(Hb level)

There is a difference between the normal value of hemoglobin in men and women. The normal level is higher in men with normal values ​​between 8.5 and 11 millimoles per liter. In women this is between 7.5 and 10 millimoles per liter. At the beginning of a pregnancy, the value is lower. Pregnant women have a level of about 6.5 millimoles per liter around thirty weeks of pregnancy.

Low hemoglobin level

When the blood contains too low a quantity of hemoglobin, we speak of anemia. The blood then carries too little oxygen to the brain. Common symptoms include dizziness, palpitations, headache, feeling faint, tiredness, and shortness of breath on exertion. Low hemoglobin can be due to iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, prolonged blood loss, or underlying conditions such as gastrointestinal and kidney disease.

A low Hb value is often also hereditary. There are often several people in a family who have it.

 

Hemoglobin level too high

A too high hemoglobin level is less common. In chronic smokers and people who live at high altitudes, an increase is noticeable because they absorb more carbon dioxide and therefore signal the brain to make more red blood cells. A problematically elevated level of hemoglobin can be caused by a rare gene mutation in which the bone marrow makes too many red blood cells. Another cause is lung diseases that make it more difficult to pass oxygen to the red blood cells, so that more red blood cells are produced again. The danger of too high a hemoglobin level is that it causes the blood to thicken. As a result, blood clots can form.

Raising hemoglobin is possible but not recommended for health reasons. You can then unconsciously produce too many red blood cells, which makes it even less healthy.

 

The relationship between donating blood and hemoglobin levels

When donating blood, the level of hemoglobin drops. It is therefore recommended to wait a period of 2 months between each donation and to check the hemoglobin level in the blood before each donation. This is easy to measure with a finger prick. In order to be allowed to donate blood, a lower limit of 8.4 millimoles per liter for men and 7.8 millimoles per liter for women is taken into account.

 

Personal and expert advice on saturation meters

We have a wide range of saturation meters in our range. This allows you to measure the saturation of the oxygen properly and reliably. Would you like personal and expert advice? Please contact us without obligation 0182 – 239393 or by email at info@bloodpressuremonitor.shop

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2 comments on “What is Hemoglobin (Hb)?"

  1. Kidney says:

    What can be the result of a blood hemoglobin level of 5.8 and a urine hemoglobin level of +3?
    My doctor is somewhat hesitant about this and egt dab just wait and after 3 months we prick again and then we see if it has improved.
    I am a man / 60 years old and under treatment by an oncologist, now that does not mean everything, of course, but I am slightly concerned. The oncologist is on vacation until September 19.
    There are also other results, but I have not verified them yet.
    Just the hemoglobin level.
    To worry, or not to?

    • bloodpressuremonitor.shop says:

      Hello, we recommend that you always follow the doctor's advice. They have the knowledge about it. Especially with regard to hemoglobinuria (hemogloblin in the urine).

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