What is considered low hematocrit?
The average healthy adult should have a normal hematocrit level that ranges between 35\% to 50\%. A normal hematocrit level for women is 36.1\% to 44.3\%. For men, a normal range is 40.7\% to 50.3\%.
What does it mean when hematocrit is high?
If your hematocrit is high, it means that you have more red blood cells than is considered healthy. High hematocrit may be caused by [4:1]: Heart disease. Dehydration.
What drugs cause low hematocrit?
Drugs that can cause this type of hemolytic anemia include:
- Cephalosporins (a class of antibiotics), most common cause.
- Dapsone.
- Levodopa.
- Levofloxacin.
- Methyldopa.
- Nitrofurantoin.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Penicillin and its derivatives.
How do you read hematocrit?
The hematocrit is a ratio of the packed cells to total volume. Example: If the column of packed red cells measures 20 mm and the whole blood column measures 50 mm, the hematocrit is 20/50 = 0.4 or (0.4 × 100\%) = 40\%.
What is true hematocrit?
The hematocrit (/hɪˈmætəkrɪt/) (Ht or HCT), also known by several other names, is the volume percentage (vol\%) of red blood cells (RBC) in blood, measured as part of a blood test. The measurement depends on the number and size of red blood cells. It is normally 40.7–50.3\% for males and 36.1–44.3\% for females.
What are the causes of a high hematocrit level?
Polycythemia vera. This is a medical condition wherein the body produces too many red blood cells.
What are normal HGB and HCT levels?
The normal range for men is 14 to 17.5 grams per deciliter (gm/dL); for women it’s 12.3 to 15.3 gm/dL. Hct (hematocrit). This value provides information about how much of your blood is comprised of red blood cells.
How to lower your hematocrit levels?
If you are a smoker,the first step to lower your hematocrit levels is to stop smoking.
What does an elevated hematocrit level mean?
Higher than normal hematocrit levels represent abnormally elevated red blood cell counts. High hematocrits can be seen in people living at high altitudes and in chronic smokers. Dehydration produces a falsely high hematocrit that disappears when proper fluid balance is restored.