Does anyone know if high haemomoglobin and haemocrit levels are dangerous?

Question

One of my specialist Doctors says "no" (gynae) the other says "yes" (haematologist). I asked them to consult with each other but it ended up in a screaming match between the two of them. My levels are way above lab normals for a man and info on the web suggests it is not a good situation.

Should have said that womens lab levels are lower than mens so my levels are way above lab normals for a woman.

Over last 4 years:

Hct has been 60% and above (normal 40 - 52% for male, 37 - 46% female)

Hgb 19.7 at last reading (has been increasing from 16.5 in 4 years) and lab normal is 13.2 - 16.2 male and 12.0 - 15.2 female. RBC is also slightly high but WBC and platelet count normal.

I am female and not menopausal so the levels are very high - and I am concerned.

I don't smoke (never have) and don't live at altitude and never have. I am not dehydrated - if I was there would be more variation in the results. I don't have heart disease or lung problems.

Answer 1

High hemoglobin is dangerous:
Women: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dl
Men: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dl
Children: 11 to 16 g/dl
Pregnant women: 11 to 12 g/dl

Higher than normal levels of hemoglobin may be caused by:

Congenital heart disease.
Cor pulmonale.
Pedomonary fibrosis.
Polycythemia vera.
Increased red blood cell (RBC) production caused by an excess of erythopoeitin

What does the test result mean?
Normal values in an adult are 12 to 18 grams per deciliter (100 milliliters) of blood. Above-normal hemoglobin levels may be the result of:

dehydration,
excess production of red blood cells in the bone marrow,
severe lung disease, or
several other conditions.
Is there anything else I should know?
Hemoglobin decreases slightly during normal pregnancy.

Hemoglobin levels peak around 8 a.m. and are lowest around 8 p.m. each day.

Heavy smokers have higher hemoglobin levels than nonsmokers.

Living in high altitudes increases hemoglobin values due to an increase in the number of red blood cells. Your body produces more red blood cells in response to the decreased oxygen available at these heights.

Hemoglobin levels are slightly lower in older men and women and in children.

This is what I found searching the websites. There is more you can access if you type what you look for. But I would listen to my hematologist more than to my gynecologist. But this is me.

Answer 2

Normal levels for haemaglobin for a man should be 12-14, but you sound like you are a woman,in which case the same could apply, the only reason women have a lower level is because they menstruate every month. You need not necessarily be lower. You don't say what your level is?