What Does High Hemoglobin Mean?

High hemoglobin means your blood carries more oxygen-carrying capacity than normal.

Causes

• Dehydration — most common (relative increase)
• Chronic lung disease — compensatory
• High altitude living
• Smoking — CO reduces O2, body compensates
• Polycythemia vera — bone marrow disorder
• Testosterone or EPO use
• Sleep apnea

Symptoms

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Flushing
• High blood pressure
• Blood clots (if true polycythemia)

Evaluation

• Check if dehydrated — recheck after hydration
• Pulse oximetry (lung disease?)
• EPO level
• JAK2 mutation if polycythemia suspected