The level of RBC that is dangerously low is 12 gm/dL for women and a dangerously low hemoglobin level for men is 13.5 gm/dL or lower.
A critically low and dangerously low level of Hemoglobin is 12 gm/dL for women and a dangerously low hemoglobin level for men is 13.5 gm/dL or lower.
The hemoglobin level that requires a blood transfusion is a hemoglobin level below 7 to 8 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or lower.
The hemoglobin is a type of protein that is found in red blood cells and any low hemoglobin levels which are measured with a blood test suggest a person has anemia.
People with healthy hemoglobin levels are between 11 and 18 g/dL.
The lowest hemoglobin level that you can live with is 7g/dl as hemoglobin levels below 7 g/dl can require a blood transfusion that uses packed red blood cells to restore the normal hemoglobin levels.
You can raise your hemoglobin fast by eating foods that are rich in folates and iron.
Increasing your intake of iron and folates is a quick way and one of the best ways to raise your hemoglobin level.
Foods that are rich in hemoglobin include tofu, green beans, cabbage, organ meat, liver and spinach.
A critical hemoglobin level is a hemoglobin concentration of 7 g/dl and oxygen transport is needed and transfusions are needed.
A hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gm/dL for men and 12 gm/dL for women is considered severely low.
A hemoglobin level of less than 5.0 grams per deciliter (g/dl) is very dangerous and could lead to heart failure or death.
The causes of hemoglobin to drop suddenly are hemorrhage or hemolysis which results in a sudden reduction in RBCs.
When the hemoglobin drop is quick the hemoglobin of 7 to 8 g/dL is usually symptomatic since the body has inadequate time to compensate and replace the volume that is lost.
Having a low hemoglobin count can be associated with a condition or disease that causes the body to have too few red blood cells.
This can occur when your body produces fewer red blood cells than it usually does and your body destroys any red blood cells faster than they can actually be produced.
The level of hemoglobin that is dangerous high is generally defined as more than 16.6 grams (g) of hemoglobin per deciliter (dL) of blood for men and 15 g/dL for women.
Aspirin can lower your red blood cell count.
If you need more than phlebotomy and aspirin, your doctor may prescribe hydroxyurea, a pill that lowers your red blood count and relieves symptoms.
What causes red blood cells to drop?
Missing certain vitamins or minerals in the diet because of not eating enough. Low iron levels in blood.
Major organ problems (including severe heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease) Red blood cells (RBCs) being destroyed by the body before they're replaced.
Polycythemia can and does get worse overtime although it slowly progresses in most cases and without treatment polycythemia can get worse enough to cause death.
With treatment however people with polycythemia can live a long life.
Polycythemia can cause high blood pressure.
Weakness, headaches, visual disturbances, and a sense of "fullness" in the head and in the left upper abdomen may also be associated with the condition.
Some people may have high blood pressure.
Having polycythemia vera does shorten your life and the average life expectancy for a person with polycythemia vera is 77 years of age or 20 years or so after diagnoses.
The treatment for polycythemia vera is most commonly blood draws known as a phlebotomy as well as some cancer medicines.
Most often blood draws and cancer medicines are used to treat polycythemia.
The most common treatment for polychythemia vera is having frequent blood withdrawals, using a needle in a vein (phlebotomy).
It's the same procedure used for donating blood.
This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells.
In order to treat and cure polycythemia you need to have medical treatment although some things you can do naturally can help prevent polycythemia from getting worse which include.
Exercise daily. Staying active will help keep your blood flowing and prevent clots.
Take cool baths to prevent skin irritation.
Keep warm.
Drink a lot of water.
Try not to hurt your feet.
Treat itchy skin.
Shield your skin from the sun.
The difference between polycythemia and erythrocytosis is that erythrocytosis is the increase in RBCs relative to the volume of blood while polycythemia is the increase in both RBC concentration and hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body's tissues.
In some cases polycythemia can and does cause Heart Failure.
Polycythemia vera can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated.
It can cause blood clots resulting in a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism.
It is sometimes OK to take Vitamin B12 with polycythemia but you should speak with your doctor before you do as the vitamin B12 can cause overproduction of red blood cells.
Vitamin B12–deficiency anemia, also known as cobalamin deficiency, is a condition that develops when your body can't make enough healthy red blood cells because it doesn't have enough vitamin B12.
Your body needs vitamin B12 to make healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
The symptoms of secondary polycythemia include.
Fatigue.
Headache.
Dizziness.
Blurred vision.
Anorexia.
Weakness.
Reduced mental acuity.
Secondary polycythemia most often develops as a response to chronic hypoxemia, which triggers increased production of erythropoietin by the kidneys.
The most common causes of secondary polycythemia include obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Polycythemia vera is a form of chronic leukemia or blood cancer.
Polycythemia vera transforms to acute leukemia (blast phase) 10 years after diagnosis in about 10% of cases.
Polycythemia can cause weight loss which is unexplained weight loss.
Common symptoms of polycythemia include.
Lack of energy (fatigue) or weakness.
Headache.
Dizziness.
Shortness of breath and trouble breathing while lying down.
Vision problems, such as double vision, blurred vision, and blind spots.
Inability to concentrate.
Night sweats.
Face and becomes red and warm (flushed)
Polycythemia can be caused by stress.
Apparent polycythaemia is often caused by being overweight, smoking, drinking too much alcohol or taking certain medicines including diuretics (tablets for high blood pressure that make you pee more).
Polycythemia vera is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells.
These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots.