Hemoglobin Test
Overview
A hemoglobin take a look at measures the quantity of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in your pink blood cells that carries oxygen to your physique’s organs and tissues and transports carbon dioxide out of your organs and tissues again to your lungs.
If a hemoglobin take a look at reveals that your hemoglobin stage is decrease than regular, it means you have got a low pink blood cell depend (anemia). Anemia can have many alternative causes, together with vitamin deficiencies, bleeding and power ailments.
If a hemoglobin take a look at reveals a better than regular stage, there are a number of potential causes — the blood dysfunction polycythemia vera, dwelling at a excessive altitude, smoking and dehydration.
Anemia Signs
Anemia is a medical situation by which the pink blood cell depend or hemoglobin is lower than regular. Symtoms of anemia embrace
- Fatigue
- Feeling of unwellness
- Coronary heart palpitations
- Hair loss
- Shortness of breath
Hemoglobin Check
A hemoglobin take a look at measures the degrees of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in your pink blood cells that carries oxygen out of your lungs to the remainder of your physique. In case your hemoglobin ranges are irregular, it might be an indication that you’ve a blood dysfunction.
Different names: Hb, Hgb
What’s it used for?
A hemoglobin take a look at is commonly used to examine for anemia, a situation by which your physique has fewer pink blood cells than regular. If in case you have anemia, your cells do not get all of the oxygen they want. Hemoglobin exams are additionally often carried out with different exams, akin to:
- Hematocrit, which measures the proportion of pink blood cells in your blood
- Full blood depend, which measures the quantity and sort of cells in your blood
Why do I want a hemoglobin take a look at?
Your well being care supplier might have ordered the take a look at as a part of a routine examination, or in case you have:
- Signs of anemia, which embrace weak point, dizziness, pale pores and skin, and chilly palms and ft
- A household historical past of thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, or different inherited blood dysfunction
- A weight-reduction plan low in iron and minerals
- An extended-term an infection
- Extreme blood loss from an damage or surgical process
What occurs throughout a hemoglobin take a look at?
A well being care skilled will take a blood pattern from a vein in your arm, utilizing a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small quantity of blood shall be collected right into a take a look at tube or vial. It’s possible you’ll really feel just a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This normally takes lower than 5 minutes.
Will I have to do something to arrange for the take a look at?
You do not want any particular preparations for a hemoglobin take a look at. In case your well being care supplier has additionally ordered different blood exams, it’s possible you’ll have to quick (not eat or drink) for a number of hours earlier than the take a look at. Your well being care supplier will let you realize if there are any particular directions to observe.
Are there any dangers to the take a look at?
There’s little or no danger to having a blood take a look at. You will have slight ache or bruising on the spot the place the needle was put in, however most signs normally go away rapidly.
What do the outcomes imply?
There are lots of causes your hemoglobin ranges could also be outdoors the traditional vary.
Low hemoglobin ranges could also be an indication of:
- Various kinds of anemia
- Thalassemia
- Iron deficiency
- Liver illness
- Most cancers and different ailments
Excessive hemoglobin ranges could also be an indication of:
- Lung illness
- Coronary heart illness
- Polycythemia vera, a dysfunction by which your physique makes too many pink blood cells. It could trigger complications, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
If any of your ranges are irregular, it doesn’t essentially point out a medical downside needing remedy. Weight-reduction plan, exercise stage, drugs, a ladies’s menstrual cycle, and different concerns can have an effect on the outcomes. As well as, you’ll have increased than regular hemoglobin when you stay in a excessive altitude space. Speak to your well being care supplier to study what your outcomes imply.
Be taught extra about laboratory exams, reference ranges, and understanding outcomes.
Is there anything I have to find out about a hemoglobin take a look at?
Some types of anemia are delicate, whereas different varieties of anemia will be critical and even life-threatening if not handled. If you’re identified with anemia, make sure you discuss to your well being care supplier to seek out out one of the best remedy plan for you.
