Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. It is a special protein that transports oxygen in the human body. It is composed of globin and heme. The normal ranges for men and women are different, men: 120-160g/L, women: 110-150g/L, newborns: 170-200g/L. Hemoglobin is of great significance to the body. Usually if the value is lower than the normal value or higher than the normal value, you need to consult a doctor.
Let’s take a look at the specific role of hemoglobin and what its level reflects.
⑴What is hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Each hemoglobin protein can carry four molecules of oxygen, which is delivered throughout the body by red blood cells. Each of the body's billions of cells requires oxygen to repair and maintain itself. Hemoglobin also plays a role in helping red blood cells acquire their disc-like shape, which helps them move easily through blood vessels.
⑵The impact of high hemoglobin levels on human body functions
Physiologically elevated hemoglobin is seen in newborns and plateau residents; pathologically elevated hemoglobin is seen in polycythemia.
High hemoglobin levels may indicate a rare blood disorder, polycythemia. It causes the body to produce too many red blood cells, causing the blood to be thicker than usual. This can lead to clots, heart attacks and strokes. If not treated, this is a serious, lifelong condition that can be fatal.
High hemoglobin concentration can cause increased blood viscosity, resulting in slow blood flow and tissue hypoxia, which can manifest as headache, dizziness, sweating, fatigue, forgetfulness, tinnitus, vertigo, visual impairment, and limb problems. Symptoms such as numbness and tingling.
There are two main situations when hemoglobin is high. One is hypoxia, such as in plateau areas, and chronic emphysema. The other situation is dehydration, water loss, and blood concentration. Hemoglobin will be high. Excessive sweating can also cause an increase in hemoglobin, but this is temporary and will return to normal after some objective factors change.
⑶The impact of low hemoglobin levels on human body functions
Pathological hemoglobin reduction can be seen in: pulmonary heart disease, congenital heart disease; nutritional and bone marrow problems caused by insufficient hematopoiesis, such as : Iron deficiency anemia, megaloblastic anemia, thalassemia, massive blood loss (postpartum hemorrhage, surgical hemorrhage, traumatic hemorrhage, acute gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic blood loss caused by gastrointestinal ulcers), leukemia.
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type. This type of anemia occurs when a person's body does not have enough iron. Anemia is usually caused by blood loss, but it can also be due to malabsorption of iron. This may happen, for example, when someone has gastric bypass surgery.
Symptoms of low hemoglobin Typical symptoms of low hemoglobin include: weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, fast, irregular heartbeat, headache.