Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTesting LevelsHemoglobin Levels ChartHigh LevelsLow Levels
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Testing Levels
Hemoglobin Levels Chart
High Levels
Low Levels
Maintaining normalhemoglobinlevels is important, as this blood protein carries oxygen to your cells. There can be slight variations between what different healthcare providers consider “healthy,” but in general, a healthy hemoglobin level for adult males is 13.8 to 17.2 grams per deciliter (g/dL). In adult females, a hemoglobin count of between 12.1 to 15.1 g/dL is typically considered normal and healthy.
A lower-than-normal hemoglobin count means that your cells are not getting enough oxygen, leading to fatigue and other symptoms ofanemia. A higher-than-normal hemoglobin count means your body is being deprived of oxygen. This can be due to smoking, living at a high altitude, an underlying condition like obstructivesleep apnea, heart or lung disease, or abone marrow diseaseaffecting red blood cells.
How Are Hemoglobin Levels Tested?
A hemoglobin test measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. The test requires a simple blood draw.
Your hemoglobin is typically tested as a part of acomplete blood count(CBC). You don’t usually need to do anything to prepare for this test unless your healthcare provider has also ordered other tests to be done on the same blood sample. Make sure to ask your provider if you should fast before you arrive for the test.
A blood draw is done through a needle inserted into a vein in your arm. You will feel a small prick or sting and you may have bruising and soreness afterwards.
Factors That Affect Results
Several factors can affect your hemoglobin test results, including:
If your healthcare provider orders a blood test for you, ask them if there is anything you should or should not do leading up to your test. For the most accurate results, follow their directions carefully.
When hemoglobin levels are tested, the results are reported within or compared to a range (usually called the reference range) for what is normal. The reference ranges will vary based on whether the blood sample is for a child, adult, male, or female.
While there are some laboratory variations, the following ranges are common for normal hemoglobin levels.
High Hemoglobin Levels
A hemoglobin level above the normal value is considered high. That can be due to a variety of causes.
Causes and Risk Factors
Your cells need oxygen to survive. Your body may make excess hemoglobin at times when it’s struggling to get enough oxygen to your cells. More hemoglobin leads to better oxygen delivery.
You can also have a high hemoglobin level if your body makes too many red blood cells (RBCs). It may do that due to disease. Some diseases trigger the extra production themselves, while some cause low levels that your body may try to compensate for.
Your hemoglobin levels can also increase temporarily while you are in a high-altitude location. This will resolve on its own when you get back to a lower elevation or when your body adjusts to the atmospheric pressure at a high elevation.
DehydrationYou can test high for hemoglobin levels if you’redehydrated, but that’s only because your blood contains less water. Once you’re hydrated, the number should go back to normal.
Dehydration
You can test high for hemoglobin levels if you’redehydrated, but that’s only because your blood contains less water. Once you’re hydrated, the number should go back to normal.
Symptoms
Generally, a high hemoglobin level doesn’t cause any symptoms. However, it can lead to some serious, potentially life-threatening complications. These include:
Treatment
That may mean:
In some situations, you may need ablood transfusionto give your body enough red blood cells. This can be a one-time treatment in situations that cause a temporary increase in hemoglobin levels. For chronic conditions, you may need periodic transfusions.
Critical Hemoglobin LevelsHemoglobin levels below 5.0 g/dL can lead to heart failure and death. Hemoglobin levels above 20 g/dL can lead to blood clots.If a lab technician detects a critical hemoglobin level, they will notify the patient’s healthcare providers immediately.
Critical Hemoglobin Levels
Hemoglobin levels below 5.0 g/dL can lead to heart failure and death. Hemoglobin levels above 20 g/dL can lead to blood clots.If a lab technician detects a critical hemoglobin level, they will notify the patient’s healthcare providers immediately.
Low Hemoglobin Levels
A hemoglobin level below the normal value is considered low. Usually, alow hemoglobin levelis a sign of anemia. It can be due to iron deficiency but other causes may be at work.
Causes and Risk Factors
You can develop a low hemoglobin level if you don’t make enough red blood cells or if you lose them faster than your body can replenish them.
Excess Fluid
A low hemoglobin level commonly causes noticeable symptoms. They include:
Very low hemoglobin can cause:
Treatment for a low hemoglobin level depends on the cause. It may include:
If you’re being treated with chemotherapy or another medication that causes low hemoglobin levels, discuss with your healthcare provider whether a specific therapy is safe for you or whether other treatments are needed to improve this level.
What Is Anemia?Anemia is a low red blood cell count or diminished red blood cell function. Many things cause anemia, including low iron in the diet.
What Is Anemia?
Anemia is a low red blood cell count or diminished red blood cell function. Many things cause anemia, including low iron in the diet.
Summary
Your hemoglobin level reflects the number of red blood cells in your body and how efficiently they carry oxygen to your cells. This protein contains iron, which can be measured with a blood test.
Many things cause low or high hemoglobin, and they produce a variety of symptoms. Usually, the symptoms of low hemoglobin are more noticeable than symptoms of high hemoglobin and can lead to complications.
Most causes of hemoglobin abnormalities can be treated with medication. Sometimes a blood transfusion is necessary to correct very low hemoglobin levels.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin.Chin-Yee B, Matyashin M, Cheong I, Bhai P, Lazo-Langner A, Almanaseer A,et al.Secondary causes of elevated hemoglobin in patients undergoing molecular testing for suspected polycythemia vera in southwestern Ontario: a chart review.CMAJ Open. 2022 Nov 8;10(4):E988-E992. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20210322.Neufeld LM, Larson LM, Kurpad A, Mburu S, Martorell R, Brown KH.Hemoglobin concentration and anemia diagnosis in venous and capillary blood: biological basis and policy implications.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019;1450(1):172-89. doi:10.1111/nyas.14139De la Salle B.Pre- and postanalytical errors in haematology.Int J Lab Hematol. 2019;41(1):170-176. doi:10.1111/ijlh.13007Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Hemoglobin.MedlinePlus.CBC blood test.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Hemoglobin and cancer: what’s the connection?.Lee AJ, Kim SG, Nam JY, Yun J, Ryoo HM, Bae SH.Clinical features and outcomes of JAK2 V617F-positive polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia according to the JAK2 V617F allele burden.Blood Res.2021;56(4):259-265. doi:10.5045/br.2021.2021089American Academy of Family Physicians.Polycythemia Vera: Rapid Evidence Review.Tabasi S, Parkhideh S, Roshandel E, et al.The association of disease type, pre-transplant hemoglobin level and platelet count with transfusion requirement after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Caspian J Intern Med. 2021;12(4):544-550. doi:10.22088/cjim.12.4.544Hemoglobin level,Nurs Crit Care.2020;15(4):34-35. doi:10.1097/01.CCN.0000660408.76985.53Nakamori E, Shigematsu K, Higashi M, Yamaura K.Postoperative noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring is useful to prevent unnoticed postoperative anemia and inappropriate blood transfusion in patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial.Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil.2021;12:21514593211060575. doi:10.1177/21514593211060575Barcellini W, Fattizzo B.The Changing Landscape of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.Front Immunol. 2020 Jun 3;11:946. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00946Reyes JVM, Ahmad S, Majeed H, Kandoth E, Lieber JJ.Zieve Syndrome: A Clinical Triad, or Perchance a Quartet?J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2022 Jan-Dec;10:23247096221121393. doi: 10.1177/23247096221121393.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Anemia: symptoms.Phillips J, Henderson AC.Hemolytic anemia: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(6):354-361.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Your guide to anemia.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin.Chin-Yee B, Matyashin M, Cheong I, Bhai P, Lazo-Langner A, Almanaseer A,et al.Secondary causes of elevated hemoglobin in patients undergoing molecular testing for suspected polycythemia vera in southwestern Ontario: a chart review.CMAJ Open. 2022 Nov 8;10(4):E988-E992. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20210322.Neufeld LM, Larson LM, Kurpad A, Mburu S, Martorell R, Brown KH.Hemoglobin concentration and anemia diagnosis in venous and capillary blood: biological basis and policy implications.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019;1450(1):172-89. doi:10.1111/nyas.14139De la Salle B.Pre- and postanalytical errors in haematology.Int J Lab Hematol. 2019;41(1):170-176. doi:10.1111/ijlh.13007Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Hemoglobin.MedlinePlus.CBC blood test.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Hemoglobin and cancer: what’s the connection?.Lee AJ, Kim SG, Nam JY, Yun J, Ryoo HM, Bae SH.Clinical features and outcomes of JAK2 V617F-positive polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia according to the JAK2 V617F allele burden.Blood Res.2021;56(4):259-265. doi:10.5045/br.2021.2021089American Academy of Family Physicians.Polycythemia Vera: Rapid Evidence Review.Tabasi S, Parkhideh S, Roshandel E, et al.The association of disease type, pre-transplant hemoglobin level and platelet count with transfusion requirement after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Caspian J Intern Med. 2021;12(4):544-550. doi:10.22088/cjim.12.4.544Hemoglobin level,Nurs Crit Care.2020;15(4):34-35. doi:10.1097/01.CCN.0000660408.76985.53Nakamori E, Shigematsu K, Higashi M, Yamaura K.Postoperative noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring is useful to prevent unnoticed postoperative anemia and inappropriate blood transfusion in patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial.Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil.2021;12:21514593211060575. doi:10.1177/21514593211060575Barcellini W, Fattizzo B.The Changing Landscape of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.Front Immunol. 2020 Jun 3;11:946. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00946Reyes JVM, Ahmad S, Majeed H, Kandoth E, Lieber JJ.Zieve Syndrome: A Clinical Triad, or Perchance a Quartet?J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2022 Jan-Dec;10:23247096221121393. doi: 10.1177/23247096221121393.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Anemia: symptoms.Phillips J, Henderson AC.Hemolytic anemia: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(6):354-361.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Your guide to anemia.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin.Chin-Yee B, Matyashin M, Cheong I, Bhai P, Lazo-Langner A, Almanaseer A,et al.Secondary causes of elevated hemoglobin in patients undergoing molecular testing for suspected polycythemia vera in southwestern Ontario: a chart review.CMAJ Open. 2022 Nov 8;10(4):E988-E992. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20210322.Neufeld LM, Larson LM, Kurpad A, Mburu S, Martorell R, Brown KH.Hemoglobin concentration and anemia diagnosis in venous and capillary blood: biological basis and policy implications.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019;1450(1):172-89. doi:10.1111/nyas.14139De la Salle B.Pre- and postanalytical errors in haematology.Int J Lab Hematol. 2019;41(1):170-176. doi:10.1111/ijlh.13007Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Hemoglobin.MedlinePlus.CBC blood test.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Hemoglobin and cancer: what’s the connection?.Lee AJ, Kim SG, Nam JY, Yun J, Ryoo HM, Bae SH.Clinical features and outcomes of JAK2 V617F-positive polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia according to the JAK2 V617F allele burden.Blood Res.2021;56(4):259-265. doi:10.5045/br.2021.2021089American Academy of Family Physicians.Polycythemia Vera: Rapid Evidence Review.Tabasi S, Parkhideh S, Roshandel E, et al.The association of disease type, pre-transplant hemoglobin level and platelet count with transfusion requirement after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Caspian J Intern Med. 2021;12(4):544-550. doi:10.22088/cjim.12.4.544Hemoglobin level,Nurs Crit Care.2020;15(4):34-35. doi:10.1097/01.CCN.0000660408.76985.53Nakamori E, Shigematsu K, Higashi M, Yamaura K.Postoperative noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring is useful to prevent unnoticed postoperative anemia and inappropriate blood transfusion in patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial.Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil.2021;12:21514593211060575. doi:10.1177/21514593211060575Barcellini W, Fattizzo B.The Changing Landscape of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.Front Immunol. 2020 Jun 3;11:946. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00946Reyes JVM, Ahmad S, Majeed H, Kandoth E, Lieber JJ.Zieve Syndrome: A Clinical Triad, or Perchance a Quartet?J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2022 Jan-Dec;10:23247096221121393. doi: 10.1177/23247096221121393.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Anemia: symptoms.Phillips J, Henderson AC.Hemolytic anemia: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(6):354-361.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Your guide to anemia.
MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin.
Chin-Yee B, Matyashin M, Cheong I, Bhai P, Lazo-Langner A, Almanaseer A,et al.Secondary causes of elevated hemoglobin in patients undergoing molecular testing for suspected polycythemia vera in southwestern Ontario: a chart review.CMAJ Open. 2022 Nov 8;10(4):E988-E992. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20210322.
Neufeld LM, Larson LM, Kurpad A, Mburu S, Martorell R, Brown KH.Hemoglobin concentration and anemia diagnosis in venous and capillary blood: biological basis and policy implications.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019;1450(1):172-89. doi:10.1111/nyas.14139
De la Salle B.Pre- and postanalytical errors in haematology.Int J Lab Hematol. 2019;41(1):170-176. doi:10.1111/ijlh.13007
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Hemoglobin.
MedlinePlus.CBC blood test.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Hemoglobin and cancer: what’s the connection?.
Lee AJ, Kim SG, Nam JY, Yun J, Ryoo HM, Bae SH.Clinical features and outcomes of JAK2 V617F-positive polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia according to the JAK2 V617F allele burden.Blood Res.2021;56(4):259-265. doi:10.5045/br.2021.2021089
American Academy of Family Physicians.Polycythemia Vera: Rapid Evidence Review.
Tabasi S, Parkhideh S, Roshandel E, et al.The association of disease type, pre-transplant hemoglobin level and platelet count with transfusion requirement after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Caspian J Intern Med. 2021;12(4):544-550. doi:10.22088/cjim.12.4.544
Hemoglobin level,Nurs Crit Care.2020;15(4):34-35. doi:10.1097/01.CCN.0000660408.76985.53
Nakamori E, Shigematsu K, Higashi M, Yamaura K.Postoperative noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring is useful to prevent unnoticed postoperative anemia and inappropriate blood transfusion in patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial.Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil.2021;12:21514593211060575. doi:10.1177/21514593211060575
Barcellini W, Fattizzo B.The Changing Landscape of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.Front Immunol. 2020 Jun 3;11:946. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00946
Reyes JVM, Ahmad S, Majeed H, Kandoth E, Lieber JJ.Zieve Syndrome: A Clinical Triad, or Perchance a Quartet?J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2022 Jan-Dec;10:23247096221121393. doi: 10.1177/23247096221121393.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Anemia: symptoms.
Phillips J, Henderson AC.Hemolytic anemia: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(6):354-361.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Your guide to anemia.
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