What does it mean if your hematocrit is low?
Table of Contents
What does it mean if your hematocrit is low?
A lower than normal hematocrit can indicate: An insufficient supply of healthy red blood cells (anemia) A large number of white blood cells due to long-term illness, infection or a white blood cell disorder such as leukemia or lymphoma. Vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
What should your HCT level be?
Hematocrit is the percentage of red cells in your blood. Normal levels of hematocrit for men range from 41% to 50%. Normal level for women is 36% to 48%.
What happens if HCT count is high?
A hematocrit level that’s higher than normal may be a sign that: Your body is making too many red blood cells, which may be caused by: Lung disease. Congenital heart disease.
What level of HCT is dangerously high?
Hemoglobin levels greater than 16.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter) in women and greater than 18.5 g/dL in men suggest polycythemia. In terms of hematocrit, a value greater than 48 in women and 52 in men is indicative of polycythemia.
What does HCT mean in a blood test?
A hematocrit is a simple blood test done to measure the red blood cells in a person’s blood. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are important because they carry oxygen through your body. A low or high red blood cell count can indicate a medical condition or disease.
What hematocrit level is considered anemic?
What hematocrit level is considered anemic? For men, a hematocrit level of less than 41% is considered anemic. For women, that number is slightly lower at less than 36%. 10 The number varies for children depending on their age.
How do you lower a high hematocrit?
You can reduce your hematocrit through the following dietary modifications:
- Avoiding iron supplements [146]
- Eating more bran (it interferes with iron absorption) [147]
- Staying hydrated [148]
- Avoiding alcohol [109]
- Eating more grapefruit [149]
- Getting more antioxidants [150]
Why is my red blood count high?
A high red blood cell count can be a sign of: Dehydration. Heart disease. Polycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that causes too many red blood cells to be made.
What diseases cause high hematocrit?
High hematocrit may be due to:
- Congenital heart disease.
- Failure of the right side of the heart.
- Too little water in the body (dehydration)
- Low levels of oxygen in the blood.
- Scarring or thickening of the lungs.
- Bone marrow disease that causes abnormal increase in red blood cells.
Does exercise lower hematocrit?
Trained athletes, particularly in endurance sports, have a decreased hematocrit, which is sometimes called “sports anemia.” This is not anemia in a clinical sense, because athletes have in fact an increased total mass of red blood cells and hemoglobin in circulation relative to sedentary individuals.
