Table of Contents
What are the causes of high hematocrit?
Some examples of causes of a high hematocrit include:
- Dehydration.
- Lung disease.
- Congenital heart disease.
- Heart failure.
- Certain types of kidney tumors.
- Smoking.
- Living at high altitudes.
How can I lower my hematocrit levels quickly?
You can reduce your hematocrit through the following dietary modifications:
- Avoiding iron supplements [146]
- Eating more bran (it interferes with iron absorption) [147]
- Staying hydrated [148]
- Avoiding alcohol [109]
- Eating more grapefruit [149]
- Getting more antioxidants [150]
What causes high RBC and hematocrit?
Medical conditions that can cause an increase in red blood cells include: Heart failure, causing low blood oxygen levels. Congenital heart disease (born with it) Polycythemia vera (a blood disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells)
What does it mean when RBC HGB and HCT are high?
Polycythemia definition Polycythemia is a condition that results in an increased level of circulating red blood cells in the bloodstream. People with polycythemia have an increase in hematocrit, hemoglobin, or red blood cell count above the normal limits.
What is the effect 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.
Does stress increase hematocrit?
Stress is believed to increase hematocrit. Groups of patients with generalized anxiety disorders and normal volunteers matched on age and sex were compared on resting levels of state anxiety, trait anxiety, depression, pulse rate, blood pressure and hematocrit.
How do you treat high hematocrit levels?
What to do for abnormally high hematocrit levels. 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.
What symptoms do you have with high hematocrit?
Some of the important symptoms include: easy bruising; easy bleeding; blood clot formation (potentially leading to heart attacks, strokes, blood clots in the lungs [ pulmonary embolism ]); bone and joint pain ( hip pain or rib pain ); headache; ( more items )
What causes a patient to have a high hematocrit?
A common reason for high levels is dehydration. Repeating the test after re-hydration will sometimes give normal levels. Other reasons for having a high hematocrit from dehydration include burns and diarrhea. Athletes are given hematocrit tests to see if they have taken erythropoietin as a performance-enhancement drug.
What does it mean when you have a high hematocrit?
A high hematocrit is less frequent than low hematocrit and can mean that a person isn’t getting enough oxygen, suffers from dehydration, or is at risk of heart disease. This can result in a person with high Hct levels feeling weak, dizzy, and having frequent headaches.
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.