What do hematocrit levels tell you?

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Overview. A hematocrit (he-MAT-uh-krit) test measures the proportion of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. Having too few or too many red blood cells can be a sign of certain diseases.

What does it mean if hematocrit is high?

If your hematocrit is high, it means that you have more red blood cells than is considered healthy. High hematocrit may be caused by [4:1]: Heart disease. Dehydration.

What are the symptoms of high hematocrit?

When a person has high hematocrit levels they tend to present with these symptoms:

flushed skin.
dizziness.
vision problems.
headaches.
enlarged spleen.

What does it mean if your hemoglobin and hematocrit are high?

High Hgb is known as polycythemia. This means you have too many red blood cells. Polycythemia vera is a cancer of the blood in which your bone marrow overproduces red blood cells. With polycythemia, a blood test also shows that you have a high red blood cell count and high hematocrit.

What does a hematocrit of 33 mean?

The hematocrit value may be given as a percentage of red blood cells in a volume of blood. For example, a hematocrit of 33 means that 33% of the blood’s volume is composed of red cells. It may also be measured in millilitres per decilitre (mL/dL) of blood.

What does a hematocrit of 45 mean?

Hematocrit results are reported as a percentage. The average hematocrit measurement for human beings is 45%, which means that the red cell volume contains 45 mL per 100 mL of blood.

How can I lower my hematocrit levels quickly?

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]

What is the normal range for lab values?

– Normal range = 1200 to 2000 mL – Average = 1400 mL – Extreme range = 600 to 3600 mL

What are the normal values for hematocrit?

The hematocrit measures the volume of red blood cells compared to the total blood volume (red blood cells and plasma). The normal hematocrit for men is 40 to 54%; for women it is 36 to 48%. This value can be determined directly by microhematocrit centrifugation or calculated indirectly.

What does the hematocrit value tell you?

The hematocrit test indicates the percentage of blood by volume that is composed of red blood cells. The hematocrit blood test determines the percentage of red blood cells (RBC’s) in the blood. Blood is composed mainly of red blood cells and white blood cells suspended in an almost clear fluid called serum.

How high is too high hematocrit?

When the hemoglobin count is higher than normal, it may be a sign of a health problem. Normal hemoglobin counts are 14 to 17 gm/dL (grams per deciliter) for men and 12 to 15 gm/dL for women. Hemoglobin levels depend on many factors, including age, race, gender and the general health of the person.