The Student Room Group

Abnormally High Haemoglobin Levels

To all the TSR med students out there, if someone has abnormally high haemoglobin levels like 15.3 + as opposed to the average (14.8) what does that mean in medical terms? I know, I know, it should mean that person is healthier, right? But can it be a symptom of anything? 46% of blood cells are red blood cells opposed to the average 44%.

Also high white blood cell levels might just indicate an infection at the time of the blood test, yes? If someone has more of those than average too!

Thanks. :smile:

PS. I've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, so my T4 levels are messed up, but the doctors also found this and they can't explain it. And I know it sounds silly to ask TSR dudes, but well, I was just wondering...

Reply 1

I'm taking a wild stab in the dark - the disease is Haemochromatosis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haemochromatosis

Reply 2

zhivago
To all the TSR med students out there, if someone has abnormally high haemoglobin levels like 15.3 + as opposed to the average (14.8) what does that mean in medical terms?

OMG you were abducted by aliens and given a new enhanced body!

Been to the everglades lately?

Reply 3

15.3 isn't abnormally high is it? :confused: as far as i know, the normal range for Hb levels is 11.5-16.0 in females.
or does it vary from person to person?

Reply 4

zhivago
To all the TSR med students out there, if someone has abnormally high haemoglobin levels like 15.3 + as opposed to the average (14.8) what does that mean in medical terms? I know, I know, it should mean that person is healthier, right? But can it be a symptom of anything? 46% of blood cells are red blood cells opposed to the average 44%.

Also high white blood cell levels might just indicate an infection at the time of the blood test, yes? If someone has more of those than average too!

Thanks. :smile:

PS. I've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, so my T4 levels are messed up, but the doctors also found this and they can't explain it. And I know it sounds silly to ask TSR dudes, but well, I was just wondering...

average is 12-18 I think, but anything higher needs to be looked at by a doctor. likely to be caused by lung disease (smokers) or dehydration.

Reply 5

well the most common cause of hypothyroidism is autoimmune mediated (caused by your body's own immune system); i don't know anything else

Reply 6

Talya
OMG you were abducted by aliens and given a new enhanced body!

Been to the everglades lately?


Must be one of the Tom's peoples...

Reply 7

The normal range of haemoglobin for a man is 13.5 to 17.5 g/dl and for a woman is 11.5 to 15.5 g/dl. The exact norms vary from labolatory to labolatory (on your results slip the range for your particular lab should be given next to the results). Where did you got those avrages from? Usualy the normal values are given as a range to take into account normal variation within the population and spare people like yourself worrying over nothing.

I'm taking a wild stab in the dark - the disease is Haemochromatosis.

It was a wild stab lol. Haemochromatosis is coused by problems with iron metabolism. I don't think it manifest iteself in increase haemoglobin levels, rather serum ferritinin.