If you need to know which are the hematocrit reference ranges or you require more information about the role of hematocrit in the blood, you can visit normal hematocrit percentage in the blood
A low hematocrit (HCT) percentage may be a sign of anemia. A low hematocrit percentage is usually seen along a low hemoglobin level in the blood, what is called anemia. Hemoglobin and hematocrit usually decrease simultaneously.
There are many types of anemia and multiple causes of this disorder. The most common types of anemia are:
In addition to the hematocrit percentage, it is necessary to study other RBC tests such as RBC count, hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC and RDW to identify the type of anemia.
A low hematocrit percentage in the blood means:
A mild hematocrit decrease is not usually a matter for concern.
It may be due to a drug interaction or a recent bleeding for example, because of menstruation in women.
In any case, the hematocrit should be monitored along with the hemoglobin because it may be the first sign of an anemia.
A moderate hematocrit decrease is usually a sign of anemia.
A hematocrit of 30% correlates with a hemoglobin level around 10 g/dl and the symptoms of a moderate anemia, such as fatigue or headache, will be present.
You should visit your doctor and he will prescribe you the proper treatment depending on the type of anemia you may suffer.
A hematocrit level around 24% correlates with a hemoglobin level around 8 g/dl that can be considered a severe anemia.
With such a low value, the symptoms of a severe anemia are usually present and you may suffer from dyspnea (difficulty breathing), fainting and palpitations.
If hematocrit percentage is below 18%, you will not be able to do any physical activity and it may lead to cardiovascular problems (tachycardia, etc.). In this case, you may need a blood transfusion to increase the hematocrit level. Each time a blood transfusion is made, hematocrit increase around 3 or 4%.
If hematocrit falls below 15 % is considered very dangerous because it may lead to serious heart problems.
There are some health circumstances or drugs than can reduce your hematocrit percentage in the blood:
Lower than normal percentage of hematocrit in the blood can be due to:
A hematocrit percentage below the normal range may be due to multiple causes. It is necessary to know the underlying cause for a proper treatment.
However, there are some general tips that may help you:
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The following values are considered to be above the normal range:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in percentage. They are an example of a healthy woman of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
Hematocrit | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild hematocrit decrease | |||||||
| 35.9 % | 35.8 % | 35.7 % | 35.6 % | 35.5 % | 35.4 % | 35.3 % | 35.2 % |
| 35.1 % | 35 % | 34.9 % | 34.8 % | 34.7 % | 34.6 % | 34.5 % | 34.4 % |
| 34.3 % | 34.2 % | 34.1 % | 34 % | 33.9 % | 33.8 % | 33.7 % | 33.6 % |
| 33.5 % | 33.4 % | 33.3 % | 33.2 % | 33.1 % | 33 % | ||
| Moderate hematocrit decrease | |||||||
| 32.9 % | 32.8 % | 32.7 % | 32.6 % | 32.5 % | 32.4 % | 32.3 % | 32.2 % |
| 32.1 % | 32 % | 31.9 % | 31.8 % | 31.7 % | 31.6 % | 31.5 % | 31.4 % |
| 31.3 % | 31.2 % | 31.1 % | 31 % | 30.9 % | 30.8 % | 30.7 % | 30.6 % |
| 30.5 % | 30.4 % | 30.3 % | 30.2 % | 30.1 % | 30 % | 29.9 % | 29.8 % |
| 29.7 % | 29.6 % | 29.5 % | 29.4 % | 29.3 % | 29.2 % | 29.1 % | 29 % |
| 28.9 % | 28.8 % | 28.7 % | 28.6 % | 28.5 % | 28.4 % | 28.3 % | 28.2 % |
| 28.1 % | 28 % | 27.9 % | 27.8 % | 27.7 % | 27.6 % | 27.5 % | 27.4 % |
| 27.3 % | 27.2 % | 27.1 % | 27 % | 26.9 % | 26.8 % | 26.7 % | 26.6 % |
| 26.5 % | 26.4 % | 26.3 % | 26.2 % | 26.1 % | 26 % | 25.9 % | 25.8 % |
| 25.7 % | 25.6 % | 25.5 % | 25.4 % | 25.3 % | 25.2 % | 25.1 % | 25 % |
| 24.9 % | 24.8 % | 24.7 % | 24.6 % | 24.5 % | 24.4 % | 24.3 % | 24.2 % |
| 24.1 % | 24 % | ||||||
| Severe hematocrit decrease | |||||||
| 23.9 % | 23.8 % | 23.7 % | 23.6 % | 23.5 % | 23.4 % | 23.3 % | 23.2 % |
| 23.1 % | 23 % | 22.9 % | 22.8 % | 22.7 % | 22.6 % | 22.5 % | 22.4 % |
| 22.3 % | 22.2 % | 22.1 % | 22 % | 21.9 % | 21.8 % | 21.7 % | 21.6 % |
| 21.5 % | 21.4 % | 21.3 % | 21.2 % | 21.1 % | 21 % | 20.9 % | 20.8 % |
| 20.7 % | 20.6 % | 20.5 % | 20.4 % | 20.3 % | 20.2 % | 20.1 % | 20 % |
| 19.9 % | 19.8 % | 19.7 % | 19.6 % | 19.5 % | 19.4 % | 19.3 % | 19.2 % |
| 19.1 % | 19 % | 18.9 % | 18.8 % | 18.7 % | 18.6 % | 18.5 % | 18.4 % |
| 18.3 % | 18.2 % | 18.1 % | 18 % | 17.9 % | 17.8 % | 17.7 % | 17.6 % |
| 17.5 % | 17.4 % | 17.3 % | 17.2 % | 17.1 % | 17 % | 16.9 % | 16.8 % |
| 16.7 % | 16.6 % | 16.5 % | 16.4 % | 16.3 % | 16.2 % | 16.1 % | 16 % |
| 15.9 % | 15.8 % | 15.7 % | 15.6 % | 15.5 % | 15.4 % | 15.3 % | 15.2 % |
| 15.1 % | 15 % | ||||||
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