HEMATOCRIT

HEMATOCRIT

Overview and Facts

Hematocrit is the measure of blood that has red blood cells. HCT (hematocrit) uses milliliters as its unit, and it is numerically expressed through a percentage such as if there are 200,000 milliliters of blood and there is a 50% HCT, then there would be 100,000 milliliters. 

It can be measured by getting a blood sample that calculates the HCT by the calculation of hemoglobin and the average volume of red blood cells. It doesn’t count everything, but it rather accurately measures it through the blood sample. 

Another way to measure blood is through a centrifuge wherein a tube of blood is centrifuged, and the red blood cells are found in the bottom of the tube. You can see the volume of blood visually after it settles.

Types and Symptoms

TYPES

There are 3 types of hematocrit, it may include the following types:

    • Normal Hematocrit. May increase depending on various factors such as age and sex. If you have a normal hematocrit, you don’t have a problem. If your HCT corresponds here below, you’re healthy.
    • Low Hematocrit (Anemic). If you have a low HCT, you’re an anemic person. It may be the result of losing too much blood due to different reasons such as injury, surgery, iron deficiency, bone marrow cancer, accidents, etc. 
    • High Hematocrit. Having a high HCT is caused by living at high altitudes and is more common in smokers. Its other probable causes may be lung disease or another bone marrow disease.

 

SYMPTOMS 

Low Hematocrit (Anemic) may include the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue 
  • Shortness of breath because having low hematocrit levels means that you don’t get enough oxygen delivered to your organs, unlike people with normal hematocrit levels.

 

High Hematocrit (Anemic) may include the following symptoms:

  • Dehydration
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating
  • Dizziness
  • Joint pain
  • Flushed skin

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

To diagnose suspected anemic people, patients need to undergo:

  • A physical exam is done to check if the patient’s heart has an irregular heartbeat, has uneven breathing, and to check the size of the patient’s liver and spleen.
  • Blood tests to check the CBC or the complete blood count to determine if there are any abnormal measures of other blood components.
  • A check of family history is done to see if some family members have anemia as well and passed it down to you or not.

Anemia isn’t always the case; other diseases may be causing the symptoms. 

An assessment to decide whether you have high hematocrit may include:

  • Series of blood tests to compute the patient’s CBC. Through these blood tests, they can check for abnormalities and determine a patient’s hematocrit levels. 

 

TREATMENT

  • Anemia

To cure anemia, a patient should take oxygen, pain relievers, intravenous fluids, and iron vitamins to avoid further complications. Some patients with more complications may need to have a blood transfusion.

  • High Hematocrit

To lower the levels of HCT, a patient may take prescription drugs by doctors like Hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea), Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A), Ruxolitinib (Jakafi), and Busulfan (Busulflex, Myleran).

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