Hemoglobin is a very important substance in our blood, as it regulates the level of red blood cells and these are essential to transport oxygen through our blood. Hemoglobin contains large amounts of iron and is what produces the red color of our blood. The usual levels are 13 to 18 in men and 12 to 16 women. Normally when people talk about hemoglobin, they usually refer to the lack of it or to having very low levels, which is what produces anemia, that is, a lack of iron in our blood, something much more common among women than among men. That is why we tend to think that the best thing for our health is to have high percentages of hemoglobin. However, this is not entirely true, since the levels must be between the ranges indicated above. A very high concentration in our blood also carries dangers to our health, as it can cause blood clots, when the blood thickens, and these in turn cause cardiac arrest or heart attack. It is therefore important to keep these levels in balance. If you have had a blood test and have discovered that you have a proportion of this protein in your blood that is too high, you are probably wondering how to lower your hemoglobin. Don’t worry, throughout this article we explain how you can do it:
What do you need to lower hemoglobin? Change your lifestyle habits
Instructions for lowering hemoglobin The first change you should make in your life is to quit smoking. The action of smoking usually has an impact on an increase in this protein. In fact, studies show that the highest rates are always found among smokers. In addition, high hemoglobin is also associated with lung diseases. Also, if you are a smoker and a blood test reveals excess iron in your blood, you should have lung tests as you may have associated respiratory problems, and if you suffer from these you should stop smoking immediately. Quitting this habit will surely cost you a lot but your health will benefit greatly. After the first months without smoking, you will notice how your lung capacity increases, you have more resistance and even your skin will rejuvenate. It’s all advantages!
Another fundamental point that dramatically influences blood hemoglobin levels is altitude. In fact, if you live in a very high place, the most important thing will be that you move to a lower area, if possible, at sea level. Linked to the previous point there are other factors such as mountaineering and hiking that can also become a risk. Obviously, this only happens if these activities are carried out very often and in very high areas. Do not worry, you will not have to abandon the sport that you are passionate about, you simply have to substitute some routes for others and concentrate on places at a low altitude level. Drink a lot. Dehydration is, along with smoking, another of the most common causes that can favor the increase in iron levels in the blood. The ideal is to drink water, although you can also drink juices or drinks with mineral salts. People tend to drink less water than our bodies need. On average we are supposed to ingest about two liters of liquid (not only through what we drink, but also the liquid included in the food). Drinking such a number of fluids is something that we do not usually do naturally, so we must develop a routine to get used to it. I recommend that you set a number of glasses of water that you should drink in a certain time slot. For example: two glasses in the morning, another two at noon and another two in the afternoon. It’s just an example, but you’ll see that by doing it this way you can easily remember how much fluid you’ve taken. If you suffer from mild dehydration, something quite common, when you start performing this routine and rehydrating you will realize how your health improves. They will decrease migraines and headaches and you will notice your skin rejuvenated. Take aspirin once every two weeks. As everyone knows, aspirin causes the blood to thin. Therefore, it will be of great help so that clots do not occur in your blood. Remember that high hemoglobin levels cause your blood to become thicker and taking aspirin you can reverse the process. Do not increase the dose, this is very important. A couple of aspirins a month is more than enough. If your blood is too diluted it will also be a problem, as a slight cut can turn into uncontrolled bleeding.
Donate blood. When you draw blood, your body is forced to produce the extracted amount again. This means that your old, thick blood will be replaced by new, more liquid blood. You will feel better physically and also emotionally, since you will be helping people who need transfusions. You can also perform a phlebotomy. It is a process similar to the extraction of blood, only in these cases the only thing that is extracted are the red blood
If you suffer from glycosylated hemoglobin, a particular type associated with diabetes you can help lower its levels through a change in your diet. You should avoid carbohydrates and fats. Abandon all fast food and fried foods from your diet from the beginning and include foods rich in omega-3s such as nuts. It will also help you to take fruits and drink tea. Tips to lower hemoglobin Even if you are physically well, it is recommended that you go to your doctor every six months to perform routine tests and see if everything is going well. High hemoglobin levels initially do not show any symptoms. That is, unlike what happens when its presence is scarce, when we have anemia, when we feel tired and listless, its high presence does not show any type of ailment. Therefore, the only way to know if your percentage is too high is to go to the doctor and do the relevant tests. Although by itself this condition is not too serious if it is kept under control, it is recommended that you have a complete medical examination, since sometimes it arises associated with other diseases. The most common and already commented is that of a lung disease, usually produced by tobacco and that entails excessive scarring of lung tissue. But there are also other diseases that can cause it and among them are heart and spinal cord problems.
There are no serious risks during blood collection (feeling dizzy, bruising, excessive bleeding,) so it is advisable to perform them periodically to know the exact state of your health.