casues for low hematocrit and hemoglobin

bone marrow conditions, such as leukemia, that prevent your bone marrow from producing enough red blood cells.

splenomegaly, or an enlarged spleen from infection, liver conditions, or cancer.

hypothyroidism, which means that the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones.

sickle cell anemia, a genetic condition that causes red blood cells to be abnormally sickle-shaped and able to carry less Hgb.

internal bleeding from stomach ulcers, stomach or colon cancer, or internal injuries.

severe blood loss after surgery or a major injury.

lack of folate or vitamin B-12, which can lead to your body producing fewer red blood cells than are needed.

lack of iron in your diet, which makes it harder for your bone marrow to produce Hgb.

Low Hgb levels can be caused by any condition that affects your body’s ability to create red blood cells or conditions that lower red blood cells in your bloodstream. You should drink plenty of water, however. You may need to fast - avoiding food or liquids with calories for about 12 hours - if your doctor plans to test the chemistry of your blood at the same time. You don’t need to fast for the Hgb test specifically.

You have a medical condition that can affect your Hgb levels.

You’ve lost a lot of blood after surgery or a traumatic injury.

You don’t have enough iron in your diet.

You have parents or other family members who have blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia.

Here are a few other reasons your doctor may order an Hgb test: Abnormal levels of any of these cells can indicate underlying conditions or blood disorders. A CBC test also measures other important components of your blood, such as white blood cells and platelets. The Hgb test may be ordered as part of a complete blood count (CBC) test.

If you’re sensitive to getting blood drawn or the sight of blood, have someone come with you and let your provider know.

The needle may cause brief discomfort, but the insertion usually lasts less than a minute. The sample is then stored in the tube to be analyzed later at a lab. To take a sample, your healthcare provider extracts blood from a vein by pricking your finger or inserting a needle with an attached tube into the crease of your arm. The Hgb test uses a sample of your blood to determine hemoglobin levels.

Casues for low hematocrit and hemoglobin