What is Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that helps blood carry oxygen throughout the body.

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.

What can cause a high hemoglobin count?

Many factors can affect the hemoglobin level. Sometimes a high hemoglobin count is the result of lifestyle or a side effect of taking medication.

Medical conditions that can cause high hemoglobin levels include:

Polycythemia vera (the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells)

Lung diseases such as COPD, emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis (lung tissue becomes scarred)

Heart disease, especially congenital heart disease (the baby is born with it)

Kidney tumors

Dehydration (from diarrhea or lack of fluids)

Hypoxia (low blood oxygen levels)

Carbon monoxide exposure (usually related to smoking)

Lifestyle factors that can cause a high hemoglobin count include:

Smoking cigarettes

Living at a high altitude

Taking performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids (for example, synthetic testosterone) or erythropoietin

How is a high hemoglobin count treated?

If a medical condition is causing high hemoglobin levels, your doctor may recommend a procedure or medication to lower it.

In a procedure called a phlebotomy, a health professional inserts a needle into your vein and drains blood through a tube into a bag or container. You might need to have this procedure on a repeated basis until your hemoglobin level is close to normal.