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Suggest Treatment For Low Hemoglobin Level And High Blood Pressure
Question: Presently my hemoglobin is low 11 and my blood pressure has been trending higher averaging 140/ 90 . Some times my BP is normal and have not or have never been on Blood pressure meds. 2 and 1/2 months ago I had a hematocrit level at 33 when I was trying to donate blood. . Most recently my hematocrit level been checked when I wanted to donate blood ( 2 times in the last month) at 37 and a couple days ago at 36. In the last 2 and 1/2 months I have loaded up on the iron supplements had a colonoscopy that came up negative and ate and drank iron rich foods and juice . No luck with Hemoglobin . Still around 11. I eat very little junk food an feel very healthy. I am a 58 year old male and my sport is performance cycling on the road and I work out allot at the gym but recently in the last 2 weeks have given up both with this blood thong going on . Any advice?
Brief Answer:
test reports requested. ...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am sorry for the situation you are in.
Having low hemoglobin levels should be further investigated :
- why does it persist :
1. Heredity?
2. Bleeding anywhere in your body?
3. Intestinal parasitic infection?
4. Any chronic infection / disease?
You can send your lab reports to let me give a look at them for further evaluation.
Next, it is necessary to continue taking iron supplements for at least 3 consecutive months to see improvement. That's why I need to see and compare your lab reports before and during treatment.
Thank you!
Dr.Albana
test reports requested. ...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am sorry for the situation you are in.
Having low hemoglobin levels should be further investigated :
- why does it persist :
1. Heredity?
2. Bleeding anywhere in your body?
3. Intestinal parasitic infection?
4. Any chronic infection / disease?
You can send your lab reports to let me give a look at them for further evaluation.
Next, it is necessary to continue taking iron supplements for at least 3 consecutive months to see improvement. That's why I need to see and compare your lab reports before and during treatment.
Thank you!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My first blood test was very extensive . It indicated low Hematocrit with all other things related low also : ferritin serum very low - 5 , iron serum 19 , iron saturation 4, and my MCH 21 , MCV 72, MCHC, 29 were all low but not quite as severe as the those 3 levels mentioned first , and my TIBC was high @ 406 . There was another level that was high but the copy they sent is missing the first letter or 2 and just states D and was 18% and normal level is 12.3% to 15.4% All my other levels were normal most notably B12 , folate and platelets. The Second blood test was done by the doctor who performed the colonoscopy and endoscopy and although the test indicated no bleeding The doctor told me I had acid reflux damage , ( barrets esophagus ) on my esophagus an did a biopsy to check for cancer which was negative for any cancer cells. The Second blood test o showed that my TIBC was still high and my Iron, transferrin saturation , folate and B12 were all in normal ranges . In the Second test those 5 things were the only levels tested - My father had a low iron and High blood pressure problem also but he smoked since he was 14 . His BP was of the chart . Never knew what the Iron problem was with him but I knew he was on some type of iron supplement . He also suffered from Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis . I am thinking to go to a hematologist to get a complete blood test and talk to him or her about what could be happening . With as long as I have been taking Iron supplements - 2 1/2 moths and eating iron specific foods and still getting bad hematocrit levels when I try to donate blood , it is frustrating . Would a third blood test be the way to go and would it be a prudent step to have a hematologist examine it? I feel fine . I do become fatigued a bit quicker than a few years ago . 21 inches of snow fell today and I used a shovel to clear the driveway and walkways . About 2 1/2 hours of strenuous work . Could be my age is catching up to me but there is definitely a blood thing that also might be compounding the fatigue . Thank you for your time and concern .
Brief Answer:
Yes, can consult with hematologist
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for following up and providing additional data.
1. As you have a family history of low iron levels, I advise to consult with hematologist for further evaluation.
2. I also advise to schedule an appointment with hematologist only after 3 months of taking iron supplements.
Only after finishing the 3 months therapy, I advise to :
- repeat complete blood count
- run hemoglobin hemophoresis to exclude hereditary hemoglobinopaties.
- measure your iron, transferrin levels
- examine your stool for ova/parasites as intestinal parasitic infection are often associated with anemia.
Patience is needed to overcome such situation.
It is great that you continue to be physically active. Feeling fatigued is due to anemia. Once it is resolved, you won't feel fatigued such easy.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Yes, can consult with hematologist
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for following up and providing additional data.
1. As you have a family history of low iron levels, I advise to consult with hematologist for further evaluation.
2. I also advise to schedule an appointment with hematologist only after 3 months of taking iron supplements.
Only after finishing the 3 months therapy, I advise to :
- repeat complete blood count
- run hemoglobin hemophoresis to exclude hereditary hemoglobinopaties.
- measure your iron, transferrin levels
- examine your stool for ova/parasites as intestinal parasitic infection are often associated with anemia.
Patience is needed to overcome such situation.
It is great that you continue to be physically active. Feeling fatigued is due to anemia. Once it is resolved, you won't feel fatigued such easy.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor . Yesterday I went to the hematologist and he drew quite a bit of blood for what I would think quite an array of testing . But a quick check on the numbers which they gave me before I left was hopeful that my hemoglobin / hematocrit problem is abating .
The Hematocrit was 39.5 and my hemoglobin was 12.5. The upward trend was great news . But my MCH MCHC MCV were well low and my RDW was way high. Thalassemia has never been in my family but my father did suffer from iron deficiency Anemia later in his life which indicates to me I have that trait also. He was a heavy smoker ( camel non filters ) and heavy coffee drinker ( Cream with 2 or 3 spoons of white sugar ) . He also suffered from severe Rheumatoid arthritis which lead to severe ulcers from the treatment for it.
The hematology doctor told me to keep doing what I am doing . MY question to you is with low MCV MCH MCHC and high RDW is it likely once I get my Hemoglobin and Hematocrit back to what they were before I developed anemia will the RDW MCCH MCV and MCH return to normal also ? My Hemoglobin was typically 14 - 15 and my hematocrit was around 42 - 44. I have donated blood since I was around 20 and those were the values I had when the person doing the screening got over the last 28 years or so . Thank you
The Hematocrit was 39.5 and my hemoglobin was 12.5. The upward trend was great news . But my MCH MCHC MCV were well low and my RDW was way high. Thalassemia has never been in my family but my father did suffer from iron deficiency Anemia later in his life which indicates to me I have that trait also. He was a heavy smoker ( camel non filters ) and heavy coffee drinker ( Cream with 2 or 3 spoons of white sugar ) . He also suffered from severe Rheumatoid arthritis which lead to severe ulcers from the treatment for it.
The hematology doctor told me to keep doing what I am doing . MY question to you is with low MCV MCH MCHC and high RDW is it likely once I get my Hemoglobin and Hematocrit back to what they were before I developed anemia will the RDW MCCH MCV and MCH return to normal also ? My Hemoglobin was typically 14 - 15 and my hematocrit was around 42 - 44. I have donated blood since I was around 20 and those were the values I had when the person doing the screening got over the last 28 years or so . Thank you
Brief Answer:
Following answers to your queries...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for following up.
I am very glad to know that your hemoglobin was improving from last time. However, all other parameters are indicating that anemia is still present.
Now, let me explain a few things to you:
1. MCV = mean corpuscular volume, is indicating the volume of red cells in a specimen. Your low MCV level is indicating that the average size of red blood cells is small. In other words, red blood cells are being produced, but hemoglobin is not enough to get the normal size.
2. MCH = mean corpuscular hemoglobin, the amount of hemoglobin in an average blood cell. If you use the common sense, hemoglobin your body is producing is not enough to fit the red cell.
3. MCHC = mean cell hemoglobin concentration, the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given blood volume. Again, if you still use your common sense, if the amount of hemoglobin in average blood cell is low (MCH), consequently, the average concentration of hemoglobin in that blood volume (MCHC) will be also reduced.
4. RDW = red cell distribution width, this is a parameter in determining that the cause to anemia is nutritional deficiency (such as iron, etc.)
As you may see, all the parameters are indicating that the cause to your anemia is iron deficiency and no genetic factor. If you continue following a healthy diet, you will able to reverse your complete blood count report and within a couple of months, you'll see the changes.
Donating blood is also another factor to cause anemia. If you do not eat healthy foods to help your body replace the lost blood, then, you'll end with such blood report. Plus, your age is making your bowels not working properly, thus, the absorption of nutrients won't be complete. So, supplements will help bring the numbers back to normal range.
Another thing, please do not worry about slight differences. We start worrying if there is huge deviation from the normal range.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Following answers to your queries...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for following up.
I am very glad to know that your hemoglobin was improving from last time. However, all other parameters are indicating that anemia is still present.
Now, let me explain a few things to you:
1. MCV = mean corpuscular volume, is indicating the volume of red cells in a specimen. Your low MCV level is indicating that the average size of red blood cells is small. In other words, red blood cells are being produced, but hemoglobin is not enough to get the normal size.
2. MCH = mean corpuscular hemoglobin, the amount of hemoglobin in an average blood cell. If you use the common sense, hemoglobin your body is producing is not enough to fit the red cell.
3. MCHC = mean cell hemoglobin concentration, the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given blood volume. Again, if you still use your common sense, if the amount of hemoglobin in average blood cell is low (MCH), consequently, the average concentration of hemoglobin in that blood volume (MCHC) will be also reduced.
4. RDW = red cell distribution width, this is a parameter in determining that the cause to anemia is nutritional deficiency (such as iron, etc.)
As you may see, all the parameters are indicating that the cause to your anemia is iron deficiency and no genetic factor. If you continue following a healthy diet, you will able to reverse your complete blood count report and within a couple of months, you'll see the changes.
Donating blood is also another factor to cause anemia. If you do not eat healthy foods to help your body replace the lost blood, then, you'll end with such blood report. Plus, your age is making your bowels not working properly, thus, the absorption of nutrients won't be complete. So, supplements will help bring the numbers back to normal range.
Another thing, please do not worry about slight differences. We start worrying if there is huge deviation from the normal range.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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