Hemoglobin (cont.)

What does a high hemoglobin level mean?

Higher than normal hemoglobin levels can be seen in people living at high altitudes and in people who smoke. Dehydration produces a falsely high hemoglobin measurement which disappears when proper fluid balance is restored.

Some other infrequent causes are:

• advanced lung disease (for example, emphysema),
• certain tumors,
• a disorder of the bone marrow known as polycythemia rubra vera, and
• abuse of the drug erythropoietin (Epogen) by athletes for blood doping purposes.

What is sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition in which the quality of hemoglobin is defective. This condition can cause abnormal hemoglobin which, in turn, can result in abnormally shaped (sickled) red blood cells. These abnormal red blood cells cannot easily pass through small blood vessels and, therefore, could deprive the body organs of adequate oxygen.

Sickle cells also have a shorter life span than normal red blood cells (10 to 20 days compared to 120 days). This rapid turnover may result in inadequate time to replace the red blood cells and may result in anemia.

In order for a person to have sickle cell anemia, one defective hemoglobin gene must be inherited from each parent. If only one gene is inherited from one parent, then the condition is much milder and it is referred to as sickle cell trait.

Symptoms of sickle cell anemia vary depending on its severity. Patients with sickle cell trait may experience mild, if any, symptoms at all. In sickle cell disease, symptoms are more significant, especially in episodes of acute crisis. These symptoms can include:

• generalized body aches and pain,
• chest pain,
• bone pain,
• shortness of breath,
• ulceration of skin,
• fatigue,
• strokes,
• blindness, and
• delayed growth and puberty.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/hemoglobin/article.htm