What should hematocrit levels be in women

Due to differences in age and gender, the normal hematocrit is a range. Hematocrit results are reported as a percentage. According to the Cleveland clinic, the general normal ranges for hematocrit are [4] :.

If your hematocrit is high, it means that you have more red blood cells than is considered healthy. High hematocrit may be caused by [] :. A false high hematocrit may be reported if the patient has cryoproteins, significant leukocytosis, or giant platelets. If your hematocrit is low, it means that you have fewer red blood cells than is considered healthy. Low hematocrit may be caused by [] :. A false low hematocrit may be reported if the patient has microcytosis, in vitro hemolysis, or autoagglutinins.

In some cases, hematocrit is caused because of low iron levels. You can eat iron-rich foods and take a daily vitamin supplement to help prevent low hematocrit causes.

Food sources that are rich in iron include:. What Is a Hematocrit Level? What Is Normal Hematocrit? What Is the Difference Between Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Hematocrit and hemoglobin measurements are both blood tests but they are not testing the same thing.

Hematocrit is the percentage of red cells in your blood. Hemoglobin enables red cells to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout your body. Normal hemoglobin for men ranges from Normal range for women is There are many conditions that can affect red blood cell production or their life cycle. This can make it difficult for a medical professional to diagnose these conditions.

A CBC is composed of a range of tests, and may include :. It is important to note that certain blood-related conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia, affect particular demographic groups at higher rates. Learn more about sickle cell anemia in African Americans here. Newborn babies have high hematocrit levels that gradually decrease as they get older.

If a person has recently received a blood transfusion, it may affect their results. Additionally, pregnant individuals may have lower levels than usual because the body increases its blood volume during pregnancy.

Other factors may push levels into a higher range, such as smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. When a person has low hematocrit levels they tend to present with the following symptoms:. These symptoms also indicate anemia, a condition where hemoglobin levels are lower than normal. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. Mild anemia is treatable, and it is particularly common in women.

Severe anemia could signal a more serious underlying health condition that requires more extensive treatment. Doctors associate anemia with several health conditions that include :. A person may lack B12, folate , or iron in their diet. Learn more about how nutrient deficiency anemia is diagnosed and treated. This commonly occurs due to digestive tract ulcers , which are sores caused by the bacteria H. Many women also experience excessive blood loss from heavy menstrual bleeding.

This includes aplastic anemia , which damages stem cells in bone marrow. These are cancers that spread to bone marrow, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Learn more about bone marrow cancers here. When a person has this condition, their body does not produce enough hemoglobin. Learn more about thalassemia here. This condition changes the shape of red blood cells.

High hematocrit levels could indicate underlying medical conditions like:. Treatment will be based on how abnormal the hematocrit is and its underlying cause. Certain lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking and staying hydrated, can help lower high red blood cell counts. Staying hydrated is especially important because fluids help keep the blood from getting too concentrated.

Other than lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe a medication to help with high hematocrit levels. Blood clot medications are commonly prescribed because people with too many red blood cells have a higher risk of getting a blood clot. Aspirin Aspirin coupons What is Aspirin? Phlebotomy bloodletting is a popular way to control high red blood cell counts. In phlebotomy, blood is taken from the veins to make it thinner.

Get the SingleCare prescription discount card. People with extremely low red blood cell counts may need to go to the doctor to get intravenous iron or blood transfusions. Some lifestyle changes can help increase red blood cell counts.