Hemoglobin is a protein that has an important function in the body, which is found within the erythrocytes and is responsible for gaseous transport in the blood. It has the ability to transfer O2 to the tissues and CO2 to the lungs, specifically at the level of the alveoli for the process of hematosis (gas exchange) to occur. For every gram of hemoglobin, 1.34 ml of O2 is transported, and each erythrocyte should normally contain a value of 27 to 32 picograms of hemoglobin.
What is hemoglobin
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It is a blood hemeprotein, which is high in iron and is found in red blood cells. Its main function is to transport the oxygen that enters the lungs, since it adheres to the hemoglobin in the blood, and carries it to the different tissues and organs that make up the body; and, in turn, return carbon dioxide to the lungs. Likewise, it is involved in the regulation of pH in the blood.
To measure the levels of what hemoglobin is in the blood, a routine test is performed to determine or rule out anemia. This may be suggested by a doctor when the patient presents signs such as weakness, dizziness, paleness, loss of appetite; but also if you have a family history of inherited blood disorders; if you have an infection for a long time; or you have lost a significant amount of blood.
Within these tests, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin parameter is found, which is the measure of the concentration of this hemoprotein in a specific volume of red blood cells, which is part of the complete blood count. This measures the color and size of the protein in the blood cell, which is also called mean globular hemoglobin. This parameter is requested to know what kind of anemia a person has.
How Hemoglobin Works in the Human Body
To understand the functionality of this albumin in the human body, it is necessary to know what hemoglobin is for, and it is that it achieves oxygenation of the tissues thanks to its ability to associate and dissociate with oxygen, this process is called the Bohr effect.
This effect consists of an increase in the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen when there is a decrease in temperature and an increase in pH, which occurs at the lung level, generating oxygen uptake. At the same time, the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen decreases when the temperature increases and the pH decreases as it happens in tissues.
This protein takes place in the membrane of red blood cells or erythrocytes, which gives them their vivid color. During the transport of oxygen molecules from the lungs to the tissues, it is in its form of oxyhemoglobin, having an intense red like the blood that runs through the arteries. On its way back through the veins, it is converted to deoxyhemoglobin.
Normal hemoglobin values
Having normal values of this albumin is very important, since it is essential in the transport of oxygen through the blood, and this is used in cellular respiration.
These values can vary according to the gender and age of a person. They are comprised as follows:
- Normal hemoglobin in adult women: between 12.1 and 15.1 g / dL.
- Normal hemoglobin in adult men: between 13.8 and 17.2 g / dL.
- Normal hemoglobin in adolescents: 12.0 g / dL.
- Normal hemoglobin in children: 11.5 g / dL.
- Normal hemoglobin in pregnant women: 11.0 g / dL or more.
Hemoglobin levels often depend on good nutrition and regular exercise, but they are not the only causes of their unevenness. Hemoglobin helps the body to stay active, by receiving the oxygen it needs to be and discharges carbon dioxide.
A person can help himself maintain these values by:
- Do not consume excessively red and white meats, as they contain a high degree of iron that increases the levels of this hemoprotein.
- Include in your daily diet in a moderate way fruits, green vegetables, beets, pumpkin, various grains.
- Avoid tobacco and cigarettes.
- Drink plenty of water.
High hemoglobin
High levels of this protein are not considered a disease, but they can be a risk factor for health and must be treated in time to avoid complications such as: pulmonary infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, venous thrombosis, nosebleeds, thrombotic complications, hematuria, kidney colic or some type of chronic lung disease.
High values may indicate that the person has polycythemia, which is a blood disease that causes excess production of red blood cells, causing blood thicker than normal, causing clotting, heart attacks and strokes.
Low hemoglobin
The hemoglobin low is a sign that the bloodstream is not producing red blood cells that the body needs. This can cause diseases due to lack of vitamin B12, iron and oxygen in the blood, the best known being anemia.
Low protein production can be caused by low food consumption and not having a balanced diet, which produces low iron and vitamin B12, and with low red blood cells, it causes malnutrition.
Inadequate or insufficient nutrition can be the cause not only of anemia, but also of a decrease in the body's defenses. But, these low values in this protein will not only appear when there is a disease, since natural processes such as heavy menstruation can cause a drop in red blood cells.
Types of hemoglobin
There are several types of this hemoprotein, which can be normal and abnormal. There is a variety of more than 350 types with abnormal values, among which are:
- Hemoglobin S, which is present when there is sickle cell disease, causes cells to die prematurely, causing a decrease in healthy red blood cells, obstructing the blood supply and causing pain.
- Hemoglobin C, which is one that is characterized when the hemoprotein does not transport oxygen correctly.
- Hemoglobin E, which is found in people from Southeast Asia.
- Hemoglobin D, which, like hemoglobin S, is present in several sickle cell disorders.
For the detection of abnormal hemoglobin, it is performed one test called electrophoresis, which is the use of an electric current that separates the normal and abnormal types of hemoprotein in the blood. This is because each type has a different electrical charge, so its speed is different and thanks to these results, a person can be detected a disease. This type of examination is also performed in couples who wish to have children to rule out an inherited anemic disease.
the best known types of normal hemoglobins are the following:
Hemoglobin A
Also known as that of the adult or normal and represents 97% of the hemoglobin synthesized in an adult. It is composed of two α (alpha) chains and two β (beta) chains, this is the most important and is produced in 97% in adults. The synthesis of this type of protein begins in the ninth week of gestation and increases its production exponentially.
Its values may be low in the presence of some diseases, such as thalassemia, which cause fatigue, paleness, and growth retardation.
Hemoglobin A2
This represents only 2.5% of the hemoglobin of a human being after birth, and is made up of two α (alpha) chains and two δ (delta) chains. This type is found to a lesser extent at the adult level, with a presence of between 2 to 3% in adults, reaching these values from the first year of life.
Hemoglobin F
Also known as fetal hemoglobin, it is made up of two α (alpha) chains and two γ (gamma) chains. After the birth of the individual, gamma globins decrease and beta globins increase, so that in adult life, it barely represents 1% of their hemoglobin.
What is glycated hemoglobin
Also called glycosylated or glycated, it is the value of the percentage of red blood cells that have glucose attached to them. This phenomenon occurs when food is digested, since the level of free glucose that circulates in the blood rises, so that the glucose comes into contact with the red blood cells, being able to agglutinate permanently.
In patients with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, this phenomenon occurs constantly, since their blood glucose level is permanently higher than normal.
Here are the values in what is glycosylated hemoglobin:
- Normal result, non-diabetic person: 4.0 to 5.6%.
- Result that indicates prediabetes, high risk of developing the disease: 5.7 to 6.4%.
- Result indicating diabetes, adequate glycemic control: 6.5 to 7.0%.
- Normal results among diabetic patients, with adequate glycemic control: 7.0 and 7.9%.
- Results above 8% indicate that the patient has poorly controlled diabetes.
How to perform the exam
For patients who have problems or conditions with glucose levels, they should be tested to determine the values. Its procedure consists of performing blood tests on prediabetic and type 2 diabetic patients and determining the amount of sugar in their blood in a period of three months. In this way diabetes is diagnosed and controlled.
