A highhemoglobinlevel can lead to headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and more.
A diagnosis of highhemoglobinmeans you have an above-normal amount of the protein inred blood cellsthat carries oxygen.
Treatment focuses on the cause, but stroke and other complications can arise.
Illustration by Laura Porter for Verywell Health
Illustration by Laura Porter for Verywell Health
Symptoms
High hemoglobin levels usually don’t cause any symptoms.
If symptoms are present, they may include:
Complications of high hemoglobin can be serious.
With a chronic condition, you may receive a diagnosis before getting an abnormal hemoglobin test result.
It is sometimes used to enhance athletic performance as well.Its use may lead to high hemoglobin levels.
This is a simple blood draw test.
A healthcare provider will collect blood in a syringe and send it to a laboratory for testing.
You also may need the test because:
Normal hemoglobin values vary slightly depending on the lab.
Hemoglobin is usually reported in grams per deciliter (g/dL).
Treatment
The treatment for a high hemoglobin level depends on the cause.
You may just need treatment for the underlying condition or you may need additional treatment for the high hemoglobin.
These treatments can include:
High hemoglobin, especially in polycythemia vera, is often treated withtherapeutic phlebotomy.
This involves removing a unit of blood, similar to making a blood donation.
It may need to be done several times.
Diet Changes
If you have high hemoglobin, its important to maintain a healthy diet.
No specific dietary recommendations have been established, but staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol is always beneficial.
Limit your intake of foods containing trans fats, which are in many processed foods, and saturated fats.
Getting adequate sleep is also important for optimal health.
Prevention
Sometimes you’re able to’t ward off high hemoglobin counts.
Summary
Elevated hemoglobin doesnt usually cause symptoms, but it can cause complications, including blood clots.
Smoking and high altitudes can also cause hemoglobin levels to increase.
Hemoglobin levels can be checked with a routine blood test.
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