Bottom line: A low hematocrit on the first blood drawn during trauma resuscitation is more helpful that previously thought. Possible causes of polycythemia include. Address the cause of bleeding. Treatment for low hematocrit levels is based on the cause and varies accordingly. All aspirin does is extend bleeding time by altering clotting factors. There are many different causes of this condition, some of them potentially serious, so it is always important to have this problem evaluated by a hematologist. However, a few dietary changes can also go a long way. It is also common in those with congenital heart disease and those with a low oxygen intake due to smoking or pulmonary fibrosis, as confirmed by eMedicineHealth. Abnormal are: Low RBC, low Hemoglobin, low Hematocrit. In many cases, a simple change in your diet can be all it takes to increase your hematocrit level enough to become eligible again. A person's mental state is also often affected by having decreased hematocrit levels. Low Hematocrit Causes. According to medical reports by doctors at the Mayo Clinic, there are various types of anemia and symptoms experienced by people suffering from it. Watch how much red meat and iron you consume, try to keep it low and make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Hematocrit is the percentage by volume of red cells in your blood. Low levels of hematocrit could be dangerous if it leads to the reduction of oxygen supply to various parts of the body. 5. An abnormally low hematocrit may suggest anemia, a decrease in the total amount of red blood cells, while an abnormally high hematocrit is called polycythemia. Best way to lower hematocrit? Blood is one of the most important components of the internal environment of our body. This is because the water quantity in the blood is reduced due to the lack of water in the person's body. Decreased hematocrit levels often make sufferers feel fatigued and weak. Low Hematocrit (Hct) Author Reyus Mammadli Modified by August 9, 2016. This will help keep your hematocrit in check. How To Treat Low Hematocrit. Low hematocrit can mean that you have inflammation in your digestive tract that is affecting the volume of red blood cells. Both are potentially life-threatening disorders. Find out what you need to know about your Hematocrit. There are about one billion red blood cells in two to three drops of blood, and for every 600 red blood cells, there are about 40 platelets and one white cell. Iron Supplements. 5 comments . They may tire quickly and lose all of their energy, particularly after physical exertion. Lower hematocrit values in women during their reproductive years also may be due to excessive loss of blood during menstruation. Here are some of the factors that cause the symptoms and low levels of HCT in the blood. If your low hematocrit is as a result of A vitamin b-12 deficiency, you will need B-12 injections alongside oral supplements. But even if you’re temporarily deferred as a blood donor because of a low hematocrit level, you should still consider trying again! CBC testing for anemia and hematocrit abnormalities is the same for all patients. The International Archives of Allergy reported that ulcerative colitis (a form of inflammatory bowel disease) can affect hematocrit levels. Supplementing the body with iron can help increase the blood’s capability to carry oxygen and provide the body with oxygen. A low red blood cell count, or low hematocrit, indicates anemia. Close. Causes of low hematocrit, or anemia, include: Bleeding (ulcers, trauma, colon cancer, internal bleeding) Destruction of red blood cells (sickle cell anemia, enlarged spleen) Decreased production of red blood cells (bone marrow supression, cancer, drugs) Nutritional problems (low iron, B 12, folate and malnutrition) How can I lower my red blood cell count naturally? How to Lower Hematocrit Levels (with Pictures) - wikiHow Top www.wikihow.com. The potential risk of hematocrit elevations has been suggested by research in patients with polycythemia vera, which showed that a hematocrit target of less than 45% resulted in a significantly lower rate of thrombosis (blood clots) and cardiovascular death than a hematocrit target of 45 - 50%. Another term for low hematocrit is anemia. MD. 3. Food like eggs, red meat, fish, chicken, yoghurt, milk, and breakfast cereals like fortified cornflakes can help boost your hematocrit. In most cases, it is due to lack of proper nutrition or an iron deficiency and an enhanced diet is recommended to treat the low HCT levels. Any bleeding from the body, external or internal, has to be treated or addressed to avoid additional decrease in the hematocrit levels. Hematocrit is pretty high and getting some symptoms. A low hematocrit means the percentage of red blood cells is below the lower limits of normal (see above) for that person's age, sex, or specific condition (for example, pregnancy or high-altitude living). The best way to increase iron in the body is to eat more iron and vitamin-rich foods. A lower-than-normal hematocrit. Hematocrit (Hct) is a test that identifies the quantity of red cell in a given volume of blood, which is revealed in portion. Anything that people have tried and definitely noticed a difference? The hematocrit is calculated from the number of red blood cells in a sample of blood. A high level of hematocrit is found in people suffering from dehydration. I was previously donating blood but don't want to right now due to covid, and tbh I'm not sure if I really noticed a difference. the hematocrit is a RESULT of type two diabetes, not a cause, so no, taking aspirin will not prevent type two diabetes, and it won't lower a hematocrit either. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. Individuals may have a high hematocrit level if they are dehydrated, live in high altitudes, have erythrocytosis or suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Suspected anemia is the most common reason for hematocrit testing. To help if you do get back on, you could eat a grapefruit everyday but I would think the benefits from that are marginal at best. Logistic regression modeling determined the best set of risk factors for the identification of low postpartum hematocrit levels. A hematocrit test is part of a complete blood count (CBC). The hematocrit is a fairly quick and simple way of evaluating a person’s red blood cells and checking for conditions such as anemia. Best way to lower hematocrit? Be sure to check those lab values early, and if the hematocrit value is in the mid-30s or lower, start looking for significant sources of bleeding. Living at high altitudes . On 20 July 2017, it was 43.9. Results: From 1484 vaginal deliveries, 117 of the women (8%) had postpartum hematocrit levels of <26%. Answered by : Dr. Hardik Sanghvi ( Pathologist and Microbiologist) What does hematocrit level of 39.4 indicate? The low levels of hematocrit require treatment to replenish the red blood cells in the blood. Prior tests have always been normal.