Do high hemoglobin and hematocrit indicate polycythemia?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been having too many health issues for the last three weeks. I feel sleepy all the time, even though I sleep eight hours already. I am feeling weak, tired, dizzy, and having a headache on the right side of my head (pressure and dullness). My bowel habit changed to three to four times a day. I have attached my blood work.

Do you think I have any abnormality in my blood? Do you think I am having a stroke or a heart attack? Do I have too much thickness in my blood, as high hemoglobin and hematocrit? Do I have any kind of blood cancer, like polycythemia or polycythemia vera? In spite of having too much hemoglobin and platelets, why am I having weakness? Do I need to take blood thinner medicine?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to the icliniq.com.

Hereby I am giving opinion regarding your case. First, let me know do you have any stress or anxiety issues? As severe stress can lead to hyperventilation and dizziness. Stress can change bowel habits as well and it can lead to headaches as well.

If stress is present consult a psychiatrist for counseling and anti-anxiety drugs. If stress is not present, then the causes for weakness are overexertion, lack of exercise, depression, kidney problems (for that urea, creatinine investigation done), myositis, etc. As for three weeks you are not improving you can be investigated with EMG (electromyography), EKG (electrocardiography) investigation for further workup.

Answers to your questions are as follows:

I do not think this blood report is abnormal. It should be repeated as two weeks passed. In stroke vision problem, half part weakness, slurred speech like problem present. So the stroke chance is very less. But EKG investigation can be done here as dizziness present since many times.

Your Hb and HCT are not much high that needs immediate concern. I do not think it is a case of polycythemia vera. Repeat CBC to check HCT and RBC value now. For weakness rule out the above causes.

No néed of taking any blood thinner. Include green leafy vegetables and fruits more in your diet.