This is an automatically translated article.
Hemoglobin is a protein molecule that transports oxygen in the blood, especially in red blood cells. A high hemoglobin count can be caused by dehydration, smoking, emphysema, a tumor, or Epogen abuse. Low hemoglobin levels can be caused by anemia, blood loss, nutritional deficiencies, bone marrow problems, chemotherapy, kidney failure, or sickle cell disease.
1. What is Hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
Hemoglobin is made up of four tightly bound protein molecules linked together (globulin chains). In adults, the Hb molecule has two alpha globulin chains and two beta globulin chains. Beta chains are uncommon in fetuses and infants where the Hb molecule is made up of two gamma chains and two alpha chains. The gamma chains are gradually replaced by beta chains as the child grows older and form the adult hemoglobin structures.
In the compound porphyrin in each chain of globulin contains very important iron and is called heme. In hemoglobin, which contains iron, this is also the reason why blood is red.
Red blood cells are round and have a narrow center, it's like round doughnuts without the hole in the middle in their natural shape. When the Hb structure is abnormal, it disrupts the shape of red blood cells and interferes with the function and flow of red blood cells through the blood vessels of the body.
Ở trong hemoglobin có chứa sắt đây cũng là lý do tạo ra máu có màu đỏ.
2. How is Hemoglobin measured?
Hemoglobin is usually measured as part of a routine complete blood count (CBC) test from a blood sample.
There are many methods to measure hemoglobin function, they are done mostly by automated machines for testing various blood parameters. When doing the mechanical method, the red blood cells are divided into small pieces to get Hemoglobin into a solution. Chemicals containing cyanide are tightly bound with Hemoglobin to form cyanmethemoglobin. This method by shining a sufficient amount of light through solutions and measuring the amount of light absorbed, the amount of hemoglobin is measured accurately.
3. Are high hemoglobin levels dangerous?
Higher than normal hemoglobin levels can be seen in people living at high altitudes and smokers. Some rare causes of higher than normal Hb levels are:
When suffering from lung diseases such as emphysema; Some tumors; Polycythemia vera as due to bone marrow dysfunction Overuse of the drug erythropoietin used by athletes to increase blood doping.
Nồng độ hemoglobin cao hơn bình thường có thể thấy ở những người người hút thuốc
4. How can a person increase his hemoglobin level?
When low Hb levels need to be increased because of 3 cases: reduced red blood cell production due to iron deficiency or altered bone marrow, secondly increased erythrocyte destruction such as liver disease, third due to blood loss such as traffic accident, stabbing, shooting. To solve these causes for low Hb concentration, it is necessary to take measures to increase Hb concentration to high
Treatment methods to increase hemoglobin concentration greatly and especially must depend on the following problems:
Red blood cell transfusion Using hormones to stimulate red blood cell production in people with reduced red blood cell production or destruction of red blood cells is receiving Erythropoietin Take iron supplements Increase food intake iron-rich foods (eggs, spinach, artichokes, beans, lean meats and seafood) and foods rich in cofactors to help keep hemoglobin levels normal. Foods such as fish, vegetables, etc. It is recommended that individuals do not take iron supplements and other treatments that lead to low hemoglobin levels without the permission of the treating physician leading to many consequences and effects on the body's health. Iron supplements should be avoided because many cases of iron poisoning in children and adults are fatal.
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