What does it mean when your hematocrit is high?

What does it mean when your hematocrit is high?

If you’ve taken a hematocrit test and hematocrit is high, this means that you have more red blood cells than what’s considered to be healthy. High hematocrit levels could indicate underlying medical conditions like: Dehydration. Carbon monoxide poisoning.

What can raise your hematocrit?

What can I do to increase my low hematocrit? Increasing the consumption of red meat (liver in particular), fish and shellfish (oysters, clams, shrimp, and scallops), dried fruit (apricots, prunes, and peaches), green leafy vegetables, beans, iron fortified breads and cereals, all rich in iron, may help.

Is it bad if your hematocrit is high?

A hematocrit test measures how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells. Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Hematocrit levels that are too high or too low can indicate a blood disorder, dehydration, or other medical conditions.

How do I bring my hematocrit levels down?

You can reduce your hematocrit through the following dietary modifications:

  1. Avoiding iron supplements [146]
  2. Eating more bran (it interferes with iron absorption) [147]
  3. Staying hydrated [148]
  4. Avoiding alcohol [109]
  5. Eating more grapefruit [149]
  6. Getting more antioxidants [150]

What is the risk of high hematocrit?

The red blood cells are the dominant contributor to the viscosity of blood, so greater hematocrit levels significantly thicken the blood, thereby slowing its rate of flow throughout the body. This impaired flow can increase the risk of tissue infarction, especially when a person is at rest and their heart rate is low.

What are the causes of a high hematocrit level?

Causes of Elevated Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Polycythemia vera. This is a medical condition wherein the body produces too many red blood cells. Dehydration. Dehydration could also alter the hemoglobin and hematocrit values, as loss of fluids reduces the blood volume. Conditions that Cause Hypoxia. Blood Doping.

What are the dangers of low hematocrit?

A low hematocrit count may be caused by some types of cancer, blood loss including internal bleeding, vitamin deficiency, mineral deficiency, and cirrhosis of the liver. Low levels of hematocrit could be dangerous if it leads to the reduction of oxygen supply to various parts of the body.

What are symptoms of elevated hematocrit?

Most commonly, a person who has an elevated hematocrit could experience heat intolerance, sweating, weight loss, and fatigue or weakness. The effects of elevated levels could also include bloody stool, bruising or itching skin, joint discomfort, or chest pain.

What does an elevated serum creatinine indicate?

Elevated creatinine levels can be the first sign of kidney disease. High levels of creatine in the body may indicate that a person is severely dehydrated.