What is the normal hemoglobin value

Simply put, hemoglobin refers to a protein in the blood. This protein is red, contains iron, and has the function of carrying oxygen. Blood tests usually check hemoglobin. Abnormal hemoglobin can directly determine anemia. It is a must-check item in normal physical examinations. Hemoglobin is composed of several parts. Hemoglobin connects and transports oxygen. Mutations in the hemoglobin gene can lead to abnormal hemoglobin, which directly affects the oxygen content in the blood.

Hemoglobin is a type of red, iron-containing, oxygen-carrying protein in human blood. Including deoxyhemoglobin, oxygenated hemoglobin, sulfide hemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is a conjugated protein composed of heme and globin and is the colored component of vertebrate blood. Each hemoglobin molecule is composed of four heme groups and globin. Each heme is composed of four pyrrole rings with an iron atom in the center of the ring. The main function of hemoglobin is to transport oxygen, and it also plays a role in maintaining the acid-base balance of blood. Heme is a porphyrin compound containing divalent iron. When the iron in hemoglobin is in a divalent state, it can reversibly combine with oxygen (oxygenated hemoglobin); if the iron is oxidized to a trivalent state, the hemoglobin will turn into methemoglobin and lose its oxygen-carrying capacity. Iron has six coordination bonds, four of which are connected to the ring structure of hemoglobin and are in the same plane. One of the other two coordination bonds is connected to the protein part, and the other is connected to oxygen. Globin contains four subunits (α2β2), each of which is attached to a heme prosthetic group. The amino acid sequences of the α chain (containing 141 amino acid residues) and β chain (containing 146 amino acid residues) of human and many animal hemoglobins have been determined, and their quaternary structures have also been determined by X-ray diffraction structural analysis (see protein). Point mutations in the hemoglobin gene lead to the production of abnormal hemoglobin. Hundreds of abnormal hemoglobins have been discovered, but only a small number of them cause disease. The most common and best understood disease is sickle cell anemia.

Among the normal physical examination items, there is one called a routine blood test. In addition to checking the number of white blood cells and red blood cells, a routine blood test will also focus on checking the hemoglobin content. So, what is the normal hemoglobin level on the medical examination report? Is there any difference between men and women, and different age groups? Below, an expert will share the key points of normal hemoglobin values.

In the normal physical examination, there is a blood test.

Normal range of hemoglobin

Generally speaking, the normal hemoglobin value for adult males is 120-160 g/L, for adult females it is between 110-150 g/L, for newborns it is between 170 200 g/L, and the normal value for adolescents is between 110-160 g/L. As long as it is below the lower limit of normal, for example, the hemoglobin of an adult male is 110 g/L, it means that the value is relatively low and further examination is needed to determine whether there are other types of diseases.

Dangers of low hemoglobin

Generally speaking, if a pregnant woman's hemoglobin level is lower than normal, she must immediately seek medical attention to see if she may have thalassemia. You should know that if the woman has thalassemia, the man must also be checked. If both of them have thalassemia, there is an extremely high chance of 50% that the newborn will have severe thalassemia and die before the age of 5.

Possible causes of lower than normal hemoglobin levels

Generally speaking, malnutrition, excessive menstrual flow, chronic blood disease, gastrointestinal absorption disorder, etc. may cause hemoglobin to be lower than normal. Faced with such a situation, you need to eat more blood-enriching foods, such as red dates, pork liver, etc. On the other hand, you need to do targeted examinations to find out whether you have any genetic diseases.

It needs to be emphasized that the situation where hemoglobin is lower than normal is actually very common, and there is no need to worry too much. As long as you can find a professional hospital for targeted medication and dietary treatment, you can have a good recovery effect.