What is a hemoglobin test?
A hemoglobin test is a routine blood test that checks for the hemoglobin levels in the blood. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and organs. A healthy person should have optimal levels of hemoglobin in the blood. The hemoglobin test is usually done to test if or not an individual is anemic, meaning if or not they have low levels of hemoglobin in the body. Even higher levels of hemoglobin can be a sign of a blood disorder. Therefore, getting a hemoglobin test is very important to monitor the red blood cells and the blood’s oxygen levels.
Why is a hemoglobin test done?
The hemoglobin test is required under some conditions. Some symptoms of anemia make the hemoglobin test very important to take. The symptoms of anemia are as follows-
Dizziness and fatigue– If the hemoglobin levels are low and the body does not have the required oxygen capacity, then the oxygen supplied to different organs reduces. With the reduction of oxygen supply, dizziness and fatigue are common.
Weakness- Weakness in the limbs and feeling tired are common symptoms of low hemoglobin levels.
Shortness of breath- As the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood goes down, the person suffers from shortness of breath even with mild physical activity.
Apart from the detection of low hemoglobin from this test, the detection of high hemoglobin can also be done. High hemoglobin levels can lead to the formation of blood clots and the thickening of the blood. If you have blurred vision, dizziness, or headaches, get a hemoglobin test. The test is also done to get an overall look at the health parameters of an individual.
How is the hemoglobin test done?
There are many ways to do the hemoglobin test, but the most common you can choose a blood test at home. Usually, a medical professional will use a needle to draw blood from an arm vein and collect a small amount of blood in a tube. The blood sample is subsequently delivered to a lab for evaluation. The blood sample is mixed with a reagent in the laboratory that causes it to react in the blood and release color. With the spectrophotometer, the intensity of the color is measured. The result is reported in grams of hemoglobin per deciliter (g/dL) of blood.
What do the results mean?
If the test result for the hemoglobin test comes out as low, then the patient is suffering from anemia. The patient will be advised to eat iron-rich food and iron supplements to resolve the condition. For women, the normal levels range from 12 to 16 g/dL, whereas for men, it is 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL. A high amount of the compound in your blood shows that you might have heart defects or polycythemia vera.
The hemoglobin test is an important diagnostic tool for assessing a person’s overall health and identifying potential medical conditions such as anemia, kidney disease, or dehydration. The test is simple, non-invasive, and widely available, making it an essential component of routine blood testing.
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