What is high hemoglobin? What disease is it

Elevated hemoglobin levels may be caused by physiological dehydration, high-altitude adaptation, bone marrow proliferative diseases, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, kidney disease, and other reasons. Specific causes should be taken into account, including fluid replacement, oxygen therapy, medication intervention, or specialized treatment.

1. Physiological dehydration:

Fluid loss leading to blood concentration is a common cause of elevated hemoglobin levels. Under conditions such as intense exercise, high-temperature work, diarrhea, and vomiting, a decrease in body water can increase the relative concentration of red blood cells. This situation can be alleviated by timely supplementation of electrolyte solution or increasing water intake, and hemoglobin levels can usually return to normal within 24 hours.

2. High altitude adaptation reaction:

Long term exposure to low oxygen environment can stimulate the secretion of erythropoietin, leading to compensatory erythrocytosis. This phenomenon is common among residents living in areas above 3000 meters above sea level, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness and chest tightness. During the adaptation period, it is necessary to gradually increase the amount of activity, and if necessary, symptoms can be improved by intermittent low flow oxygen therapy.

3. Bone marrow proliferative diseases:

Hematopoietic system diseases such as polycythemia vera can lead to abnormal increase in hemoglobin, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as skin itching and thrombosis. These patients need regular monitoring of blood routine, and commonly use drugs such as hydroxyurea and interferon to control red blood cell proliferation in clinical practice. In severe cases, bloodletting therapy may be necessary. 4. Chronic heart and lung diseases: Long term hypoxia caused by diseases such as emphysema and congenital heart disease can stimulate the secretion of erythropoietin by the kidneys. The elevated hemoglobin in these patients belongs to a compensatory mechanism and requires targeted treatment for the primary disease, while also being alert to the risk of embolism caused by increased blood viscosity.

5. Kidney related factors:

Kidney cysts, kidney tumors, and other kidney lesions may secrete erythropoietin abnormally. This type of patient often presents with symptoms such as elevated blood pressure and lower back pain, and requires a clear diagnosis through ultrasound or CT examination. The focus of treatment is on treating the primary kidney disease.

If elevated hemoglobin is found, test errors should be ruled out first. It is recommended to recheck blood routine and improve iron metabolism and erythropoietin testing. In daily life, it is necessary to maintain a daily water intake of 1500-2000 milliliters, avoid smoking and high-fat diet. Residents in high-altitude areas can consume moderate amounts of foods such as hawthorn and celery that have the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Those with long-term abnormal elevation need to monitor their hemorheological indicators every 3 months. When engaging in aerobic exercise, the intensity should be controlled. If symptoms of blood viscosity such as headache and blurred vision occur, seek medical attention immediately.

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment
Comments are moderated and may take time to appear. HTML tags are automatically removed for security.
No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts!

About the Author
Senior Expert

Contributing Writer

Stay Updated

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest articles and updates.