A haemoglobin test is a simple blood test administered to check the levels of hemoglobin in the body. Haemoglobin is an essential protein that runs in our blood carrying oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to and from different parts of the body.
Haemoglobin blood cells are a form of protein red blood checks that help carry oxygenated blood throughout the body. In this article, we will look at the hemoglobin blood test, its purpose, procedure, and results.
What is a haemoglobin blood test?
A haemoglobin test is a test that comes under the CBC or Complete Blood Count test, which is conducted regularly over some time even if there are no watchful symptoms or problems.
The amount of healthy Haemoglobin (Hgb) Blood cells that we have in our body helps determine the healthy functioning of our body. The hemoglobin blood test to check the levels of this component in our body also helps identify whether our body suffers from any type of blood disorder or anaemia.
Signs You Need a Haemoglobin Test Done
Although the haemoglobin test is part of regular tests that are done and should be done regularly, there also exist a few symptoms that one should look out for and get the test done if they appear. The symptoms are as follows.
- Fatigues, lack of energy, and dizziness
- Weight loss
- Blood in urine or stool
- Jaundice, yellow skin, or eyes
- Bruising
- Vomiting
Apart from these few symptoms, it is also important to keep in mind any family history of blood disorders or anaemia or consumption of diet while checking the results of the hemoglobin blood test. If the diet is low on iron, it can lead to haemoglobin deficiency and other issues.
Purpose of the test
The haemoglobin test is a part of comprehensive testing and screening for Red blood cells. It is done to check the overall health of the body as well as to detect any disorders such as anaemia.
It is also administered due to symptoms one might feel, to figure out the cause for the symptoms, and lastly, it is done to monitor a problem within the body. For instance, if one has anaemia, regular testing can help monitor as well as provide a path for appropriate treatment for it.
Procedure of Haemoglobin Test
The process of a haemoglobin test is a simple one. It does not require any kind of fasting before its conduction. The test can be conducted in any local blood test lab or a hospital.
All it requires is a small sample of one’s blood which is taken through the insertion of a needle. This sample is then tested and evaluated thoroughly, and the result comes back in a few days.
Result and Interpretation
The haemoglobin test results can show if a patient has low haemoglobin leading to anaemia or too high. The normal range of hemoglobin is 12 g/dl to 17.4 g/dl for adults, the ranges may vary with sex, age, and body structure.
Lower than normal level means that the body has anaemia or a condition wherein it indicates that our body is producing fewer red blood cells than that are needed. It also indicates an iron deficiency in the patient.
This situation could also be a sign of thalassemia or kidney or liver diseases, so the patient must boost up his or her diet and work towards getting a healthy body. This situation requires further treatment as well as an investigation of other body parts that might be affected, the patient must also start to consume iron-rich food such as meat, fish, or eggs.
Higher than normal levels in the haemoglobin test is also not good for one’s health. It indicates that haemoglobin is produced in a higher quantity than is needed in the body. This situation may be a sign of lung or heart disease.
It also points toward polycythemia, a situation that is marked by fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath. This situation could also be possible due to dehydration or substance abuse.
Haemoglobin by itself does not tell what the complete problem is. If the haemoglobin blood test levels of a patient are too high or lower than normal, the doctor would conduct other tests to check if there is any other abnormality or problem with the body.
Conclusion
In this article, we learned what a haemoglobin test is. It is important that one understands the seriousness of getting this test done routinely, to keep the haemoglobin levels in check. If neglected for long, haemoglobin deficiency could lead to problems such as anaemia.
Thus, the levels are to be maintained, and the haemoglobin blood test should be taken as a precautionary method. We also looked at the various symptoms that one should watch out for as well as the result and its interpretation. Hopefully, this article taught you more about Haemoglobin tests, their purpose, procedure, and results.