What should your haemoglobin levels be?

Haemoglobin is an essential protein found in red blood cells. Its main job is to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and helps return some carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled. Without enough haemoglobin, your body may struggle to get the oxygen it needs, which can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, dizziness or shortness of breath.

Monitoring haemoglobin levels through a simple blood test can provide useful insight into your general health and may help to detect a range of medical conditions early. In this article, we’ll explore what haemoglobin is, what’s considered normal and what it could mean if your levels are too low or too high.

What is haemoglobin?

Haemoglobin is a protein made up of iron and other components. It gives red blood cells their colour and plays a crucial role in transporting oxygen around the body.

As blood travels through the lungs, haemoglobin binds with oxygen and carries it to tissues and organs. It then picks up some carbon dioxide, a waste product, and takes it back to the lungs to be expelled. This constant exchange helps to keep the body functioning efficiently.

What are normal haemoglobin levels?

Haemoglobin levels are measured in grams per litre (g/L) of blood. The normal range can vary slightly between laboratories, but typical reference values are:

• Men: 130–180 g/L

• Women: 115–165 g/L

• Children: 110–130 g/L

• Pregnant women: 110 g/L or above

It’s worth noting that these levels can vary depending on factors such as age, altitude, hydration or even time of day.

What does low haemoglobin mean?

Low haemoglobin levels are usually referred to as anaemia. Anaemia occurs when there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen around the body. This can leave you feeling fatigued and weak, among other symptoms.

Common causes of low haemoglobin

• Iron deficiency: The most common cause, often due to blood loss, poor diet or difficulty absorbing iron

• Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency: These nutrients are needed to make red blood cells

• Chronic conditions: Kidney disease, cancer or inflammatory disorders can interfere with red blood cell production

• Blood loss: This may occur from injury, surgery, heavy periods or internal bleeding

• Bone marrow disorders: Some conditions affect the body’s ability to produce blood cells

Symptoms of low haemoglobin

• Tiredness or lack of energy

• Pale skin

• Breathlessness

• Dizziness or light-headedness

• Heart palpitations

• Headaches

If you’re experiencing these symptoms regularly, it’s worth discussing a haemoglobin test with your GP or booking a private blood test to investigate further.

What does high haemoglobin mean?

Although less common than low haemoglobin, high levels can also signal an underlying issue. Elevated haemoglobin means the blood is carrying more oxygen than normal, which can increase its thickness and potentially raise the risk of blood clots or stroke.

Causes of high haemoglobin

• Living at high altitude: Your body may produce more haemoglobin to compensate for lower oxygen levels

• Smoking: Can reduce oxygen levels, prompting the body to produce more haemoglobin

• Dehydration: Reduces the volume of plasma in your blood, which can make haemoglobin levels appear temporarily higher

• Lung or heart conditions: Chronic lung diseases such as COPD may cause the body to compensate by producing more red blood cells

• Bone marrow disorders: Some rare conditions, such as polycythaemia vera, cause the body to make too many red blood cells

Symptoms of high haemoglobin

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Itchy skin, especially after a hot shower

• A flushed complexion

• Blurred vision

• High blood pressure

High haemoglobin levels should be interpreted carefully and usually require further investigation to understand the cause.

How is haemoglobin tested?

Haemoglobin is measured as part of a Full Blood Count (FBC) or Complete Blood Count (CBC) test. This is a standard blood test that looks at various components of your blood, including red and white blood cells, platelets and haemoglobin concentration.

It’s a quick and simple test where a small sample of blood is taken, usually from your arm. The results are typically available within a few days and are reviewed alongside your symptoms and medical history.

What else can haemoglobin levels tell you?

While haemoglobin levels are a useful indicator on their own, they’re even more valuable when assessed as part of a wider health check. Haemoglobin can:

• Help detect anaemia and related nutritional deficiencies

• Offer insights into hydration and blood volume

• Indicate possible chronic conditions or internal bleeding

• Signal the need for further diagnostic tests

Because haemoglobin is influenced by a wide range of factors, including diet, lifestyle and existing health conditions, it’s best assessed as part of an overall picture of your wellbeing.

How to maintain healthy haemoglobin levels

There are simple steps you can take to help maintain healthy haemoglobin levels:

• Eat iron-rich foods: Include lean red meat, beans, lentils, leafy green vegetables and iron-fortified cereals

• Get enough vitamin C: It helps your body absorb iron more effectively

• Include B12 and folate in your diet: Found in eggs, dairy, leafy greens and fortified foods

• Stay hydrated: Dehydration can skew test results and make blood appear more concentrated

• Avoid smoking: Smoking can reduce oxygen levels in your blood and increase haemoglobin unnecessarily

If you’re unsure about your dietary intake, a blood test can help assess whether you’re getting the nutrients you need.

Why get your haemoglobin levels tested?

Getting your haemoglobin levels checked can help to:

• Identify signs of anaemia or other blood-related conditions

• Monitor the impact of chronic health conditions

• Detect potential nutritional deficiencies

• Provide reassurance if you’re feeling unusually tired or unwell

• Track recovery from illness, surgery or injury

Even if you’re not currently experiencing symptoms, regular testing can play a valuable role in the prevention and early detection of health issues.

Take a proactive step towards better health

Your blood reveals more than you might think. It offers vital insights into your overall wellness by analysing key markers in your red cells, white cells and platelets so you can identify issues like anaemia, infections or other blood?related concerns, early and clearly.

Our Blood Health Profile is quick, safe and non?invasive, taking just 20 to 30 minutes at any of our more than 350 venues across the UK.

When you choose us, you’ll benefit from:

• Fast, accurate results

• Detailed, personalised reports with clear green, amber or red flags

• Access to our 24/7 GP service included with all packages

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