Low Haemoglobin Count: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Not having normal haemoglobin levels can produce symptoms of anaemia and other health-related complications. That is why it is important to know about low haemoglobin symptoms, causes, effects and the options for the treatment of low haemoglobin. Hence, in the sections below, we have described in detail everything you need to know about low haemoglobin levels, how to increase haemoglobin, and foods to boost haemoglobin. 

What Is Haemoglobin and Why Is It Important? 

Here is an overview of what exactly haemoglobin is and why it is important to increase haemoglobin levels if you are suffering from low haemoglobin effects:

What Is Haemoglobin?  

Haemoglobin is a red-coloured pigment that acts as a carrier of oxygen in your blood. It is an essential variety of protein that

• Resides in your red blood cells (RBCs)
• Supports your RBCs to distribute oxygen throughout your body, especially to the parts like muscles and tissues. 

Why Is It Important to Have Normal Haemoglobin Levels? 

Having normal haemoglobin levels is important because low haemoglobin causes your muscles to lose energy because of an insufficient supply of oxygen. As a result, your muscles are not able to function properly, affecting your everyday life and your long-term health. 

Along with carrying oxygen to different body parts, haemoglobin also helps transport carbon dioxide back to your lungs. Hence, normal haemoglobin levels are essential for the proper removal of carbon dioxide from your body through the process of exhalation. This process helps your body to avoid carbon dioxide toxicity due to its overaccumulation. ³

Symptoms Of Low Haemoglobin Count 

Identifying the signs of low haemoglobin early on can help you get access to timely treatment for low haemoglobin. But before we go into the details of low haemoglobin symptoms, it is important to understand the ranges for normal haemoglobin levels. 

What Is the Range for Normal Haemoglobin Levels? 

The range for normal haemoglobin levels varies according to a person’s—

• Age
• Gender
• Personal circumstances

Likewise, here are the different ranges for normal haemoglobin levels for different people— 

• Adult women: To avoid low haemoglobin in women (adult women), the ideal normal haemoglobin levels must stay between 12 g/dL and 15 g/dL. 
• Adult men:  In male adults, 13.5 g/dL to 18 g/dL are considered normal haemoglobin levels.
• Children: Children must have at least 11 g/dL to 16 g/dL of haemoglobin levels in their body to stay away from the signs of low haemoglobin. 
• Pregnant women: The normal haemoglobin levels vary for different women during the time of their pregnancy. However, haemoglobin levels should generally stay above 10 g/dL. 

[NOTE: g/dL = grams per decilitre. It is the unit used to measure haemoglobin in the healthcare sector] 

What Is a Low Haemoglobin Count? 

When your haemoglobin is lower than normal haemoglobin levels it is known as low haemoglobin count.   

In the case of children, the count for low haemoglobin levels varies depending on their age and gender.

In the case of adults, the following values are considered to be below normal haemoglobin levels (haemoglobin levels that can bring about low haemoglobin symptoms —

• For adult men: Less than 13.2 g/dL (that equals 132 grams per litre) 
• For adult women: Less than 11.6 g/dL (that equals 116 grams per litre) is considered to be low haemoglobin in women. ⁴

You can take a blood test for haemoglobin to find out if there is any chance of you developing signs of low haemoglobin. 

What Are the Primary Signs of Low Haemoglobin? 

Here is a list of the main low haemoglobin symptoms that you must watch out for—

• Weakness in the body
• Frequent headaches
• Shortness of breath (This can show up as a feeling of suffocation or finding it difficult to breathe properly and normally)
• Irregular and faster heartbeat than normal
• Dizziness 
• Pulsatile tinnitus (rhythmical beating or throbbing in your ears)
• Unusual coldness in your hands and feet
• Skin turns into a pale, yellow or yellowish colour
• Pain in the chest ⁵

What Are the Main Symptoms of Anaemia? 

As already mentioned before, low haemoglobin causes anaemia. Hence, the symptoms of anaemia are the same as low haemoglobin symptoms. However, the exact symptoms of anaemia can vary from person to person depending on the causes of low haemoglobin and the severity of the condition. ⁶

Causes Of Low Haemoglobin Count 

The primary low haemoglobin causes include—

1. Nutrient Deficient Diet

Consuming a diet that does not have the required amount of specific nutrients makes it difficult for your body to produce the right quantities of haemoglobin. As a result, it causes low haemoglobin. 

Examples of nutrients whose deficiency can lead to low haemoglobin symptoms include—

• Iron
• Vitamin B9 (Folate)
• Vitamin B12

That is why it is essential to include foods to boost haemoglobin levels in your daily diet. 

2. Use of Certain Medicines

Some medicines destroy your bone marrow. This ultimately reduces the production of red blood cells in your body, resulting in low haemoglobin symptoms. Examples include—

• Antiretroviral medications 
• Chemotherapy drugs

3. Blood Loss From the Body

Losing blood suddenly from your body due to any reason (for example: accidents, surgery, etc) is one of the common low haemoglobin causes. However, the signs of low haemoglobin can also develop due to long-term loss of blood that can result from conditions like—

• Stomach ulcers
• Uterine fibroids
• Heavy blood flow during menstrual periods

4. Hereditary (Genetic) Disorder

The genetic conditions which can cause low haemoglobin levels in your body include—

• G6PD deficiency
• Sickle cell anaemia
• Spherocytosis
• Thalassemia

5. Other Medical Conditions

Other medical conditions that can also cause low haemoglobin levels include—

• Pregnancy
• Cancer (leukaemia and lymphoma)
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Diagnosing Low Haemoglobin Levels 

The Hgb (haemoglobin) blood test is the blood test for haemoglobin. This test provides the count of haemoglobin present in your red blood cells to help you know if there is a need to increase haemoglobin in your body. 

How Does the Blood Test for Haemoglobin Help in Diagnosing Low Haemoglobin Levels? 

The blood test for haemoglobin helps in the detection of low haemoglobin effects by—

• Providing a comprehensive overview of your overall health: A CBC (complete blood count test) measures the number of different components and haemoglobin in your blood by taking your blood sample. 
• Identifying low haemoglobin causes:  The blood test for haemoglobin helps your healthcare provider to analyse your signs of low haemoglobin and find out the main causes of low haemoglobin in your body. 

Treatment Options for Low Haemoglobin Count: How to Increase Haemoglobin? 

There are many different ways to increase haemoglobin. However, your treatment for haemoglobin depends on factors such as—

• Underlying low haemoglobin causes
• The severity of your low haemoglobin symptoms
• If there is a presence of the symptoms of anaemia as well
• The results of your blood test for haemoglobin

After analysing these and the low haemoglobin effects shown on your body, the treatment for low haemoglobin can include—

• Nutritional counselling to help you choose the correct type of foods to increase haemoglobin based on your specific needs
• Recommendations for the foods to boost haemoglobin
• Addition of supplements for low haemoglobin in your diet

Apart from this, your healthcare provider will also work on the underlying causes of low haemoglobin as part of the treatment for low haemoglobin. In extreme cases, a blood transfusion might be required. 

Iron-Rich Foods to Increase Haemoglobin

The best home-based treatment for low haemoglobin includes consuming iron-rich foods to boost haemoglobin. This is because iron helps in the formation of new red blood cells, which ultimately increases haemoglobin production. 

Some iron-rich foods that can help to reduce the symptoms of anaemia and minimise low haemoglobin effects on your body include—

• Meat
• Fish
• Poultry
• Organ meats
• Beans
• Legumes
• Eggs
• Leafy green vegetables
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Nuts
• Seeds

Vitamin B9-Rich Foods to Boost Haemoglobin

The production of red blood cells is not enough. To become fully capable of carrying oxygen and distributing it to different body parts, the red blood cells must develop completely and reach the state of maturation. For this, they need folate or vitamin B9 in their diet. 

So, here are some great folate or vitamin B9-rich foods that can help you to increase haemoglobin naturally—

• Spinach
• Beans (for example, kidney beans)
• Peanuts
• Fruits
• Whole grains
• Sunflower seeds
• Eggs

Foods To Boost Haemoglobin (By Maximising the Absorption of Iron) 

Apart from the above-mentioned, there are other food items that help to boost haemoglobin by making your body more capable of absorbing iron. These foods help to increase haemoglobin because they contain some nutritional components. 

Hence, the vitamins and minerals which are great for the treatment of low haemoglobin because they increase iron absorption significantly include— 

• Vitamin C: It is present in oranges, strawberries, papaya, guava, sweet red pepper, grapefruit, etc.
• Vitamin A: It is present in fish, sweet potatoes, collards, etc.
• Beta-carotene: It is present in carrots, turnips, mangoes, squash, cantaloupes etc.

Supplements For Low Haemoglobin Levels 

If your low haemoglobin symptoms are too severe, you might be advised to take supplements for low haemoglobin along with foods to boost haemoglobin.  

Examples of such supplements that can help to increase haemoglobin include—

• Iron supplements
• Vitamin C supplements
• Vitamin A supplements
• Beta-carotene supplements ⁷

Preventing Low Haemoglobin Levels 

To increase haemoglobin and prevent the symptoms of anaemia, it is important to— 

• Have a nutritious and well-balanced diet that contains enough iron and folic acid. 
• Quit smoking
• Drink plenty of water every day if you smoke 

When To See a Doctor to Treat Low Haemoglobin Effects? 

If you have any of the following low haemoglobin symptoms, you should make no delay in visiting a doctor—

• Feeling too tired (fatigue)
• More than usual body weakness
• Skin is turning into a pale colour
• Noticing pale gums
• Finding it difficult to breathe normally (shortness of breath)
• The heartbeats become either very irregular or extremely fast ⁸

Conclusion 

All in all, low haemoglobin effects are seen in people of all ages and genders. However, especially for women and children, it is important to have normal haemoglobin levels to avoid the symptoms of anaemia and other long-term complications. 

Hence, the treatment for low haemoglobin involves foods to boost haemoglobin. These foods include foods rich in iron, such as spinach, nuts, seeds, fish, etc. Apart from this, you can also consider a medical professional to get recommendations for supplements of low haemoglobin to increase haemoglobin in your blood.