Borderline Hemoglobin?

Question

My doctor said that in 2005 my hemoglobin was high and now it is borderline. What would cause that & how do you correct it. I am not a smoker & I quit 15 years ago & I am not around smokers. She told me that you find that in smokers.

Answer 1

let me just clarify your question. your hemoglobin level now is borderline what? low normal or high normal? i'm assuming you got concerned because it is lower than the level you got in 2005.

if your hemoglobin was high before and now it is low normal (or borderline, as you call it), it only means you're prone to eventually develop anemia.

anemia can develop from a variety of causes, namely 1) blood loss, either acute or chronically, 2) increased peripheral destruction of blood, 3) impaired erythropoiesis or decreased red blood cell production and finally 4) defective bone marrow function.

if you're hemoglobin is indeed low normal/borderline, i suggest you have the following test done (assuming you have no other signs or symptoms now):
1) repeat your CBC/complete blood count (check the hemoglobin level if it is really low; the previous reading may be erroneous)-->if it is still low then proceed to rest of the labs
2) peripheral blood smear
3) reticulocyte count
4) fecalysis with fecal occult blood
5) total, direct and indirect bilirubin
6) direct and direct Coomb's tests
7) serum ferritin

these are the ideal labs for a patient with anemia. other labs or procedures will be requested depending on the results of the above labs.

the most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. you may take ferrous sulfate 325 mg + folic acid 5 mg once a day for now (do not take this at least 3 days before giving the stool sample for the occult blood test).

finally, confer with your personal physician regarding the labs you had....

Answer 2

hemoglobin is the oxygen carrying component of red blood cells and can become low for a number of reasons. surgery or direct blood loss and low iron are the two most common causes. smoking would actually cause you levels to increase, because your body would have a higher oxygen demand, thus stimulating your body to produce more hemoglobin. (i'm not reccomending that you smoke though). your best bet is to take an iron supplement with vitamin C (the vitamin C ensures absortion of the iron). most doctors in this area like Nu-iron 150 mg. but it doesn't make that big of a difference. also, depending on how borderline you level is, you need to have another level drawn to make sure it's coming up. a hemoglobin level of less than 8 requires a blood transfusion.

Answer 3

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RE:
Borderline Hemoglobin?
My doctor said that in 2005 my hemoglobin was high and now it is borderline. What would cause that & how do you correct it. I am not a smoker & I quit 15 years ago & I am not around smokers. She told me that you find that in smokers.