Recently Answered Questions
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I have excess red blood cells in my body. How to manage it?
Query: Hi doctor, I have excess red blood cells in my body. Recently, I had blood checkup, and it was 16.9% as per the report. Kindly advice to reduce it. I am 27 years old. I have little chest pain too when I squeeze my chest with a pressure through shoulders. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com.It is not very much elevated, but borderline and not a matter of worry. Do you smoke? If yes, then needs to stop it. Do you have any breathing difficulties? For reducing excess red blood cells, we need to find out the cause for it like smoking and needs to stop if any. ... Read Full »
What can be the reason for elevated RBC, Hb and Hct?
Query: Hi doctor, I am a 34-year-old female. I have been itching all over for months and constantly covered with bruises, petechiae, and livedo reticularis. I was diagnosed with erythromelalgia. I also have severe bone pain. My blood work came back with elevated RBC, Hb, Hct, low alkaline phosphate, low BU... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on your query, my opinion is as follows: The elevated hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and hematocrit signify polycythemia. Elevated vitamin B12 level is one of the markers of myeloproliferative disorder. I would strongly think of polycythemia vera. Other valu... Read Full »
I was recently diagnosed with polycythemia. Would it be due to smoking?
Query: Hello doctor, I was recently diagnosed with polycythemia due to increased red cell count of 5.28x10^6 per microliter of blood, HCT 0.466, and hemoglobin of 161 g/l. I stopped smoking two weeks ago. Six months ago, when I started to smoke, I smoke only four cigarettes per day. Would the high red cell... Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to the icliniq.com. You have polycythemia. It can be primary or secondary polycythemia. The primary polycythemia is the cancer of bone marrow, which means myeloproliferative neoplasm. However your total WBC count and platelet count within range. So the chance of primary polycythemia... Read Full »
Is it necessary to monitor for MPN in case of slightly elevated RBC with DNA mutations?
Query: Hello doctor, For three years, my RBC has been slightly elevated (~4.9). My DNA results show a homozygous GG genotype for SNP rs12340895 of the JAK2 gene indicating greatly increased odds of developing JAK2 V617F-positive MPN. I have no symptoms and I am in good health. Should I see a hematologis... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on your query, my opinion is as follows: Numerous DNA mutations are always present and it is difficult to monitor for any specific malignancy. However, speaking specifically, the mutation you have described can be seen in 50% of the normal population, which is very ... Read Full »
Can fasting lead to high RBC count?
Query: Hello doctor, I had a blood test done two months back and my RBC was 6.0, hemoglobin 17.2, and hematocrit 51, which were all high especially RBC. The blood test was in the morning and I had not eaten or drunk for eight hours before. I am an 18-year-old 130 lb male, and I was wondering if the blood ... Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Dehydration for a prolonged duration can lead to a high RBC count, high hematocrit, and high hemoglobin levels. But eight-hour fasting cannot lead to such findings. It is advisable to repeat your test after a few days. Until then, keep yourself well-hydrated with lot... Read Full »
Why are my hematocrit, RBC, Hb, and mean cell volume elevated?
Query: Hello doctor, I have been feeling unwell for a long time. These are my recent blood results. My doctor says that my hematocrit, RBC count, hemoglobin and mean cell volume have been out of the normal range for at least 10 years as that is how far back he can see. I think it should be investigated. Wh... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your hemoglobin and hematocrit values are slightly high. Your RBC count is only marginally elevated since the upper limit of normal is 5.5 million/cu.mm. With these values, there is a suspicion of you have hemochromatosis or an early stage of polycythemia vera. In he... Read Full »
Hemoglobin and RBC count are high. What is the reason?
Query: Hello doctor,I had a blood test today and the results show hemoglobin is 18.05 and the RBC is 5.8 and hematocrit is 42 %. Should I be worried? Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your hemoglobin and RBC are certainly high. So your diagnosis can be polycythemia. It can be secondary erythrocytosis for which you can investigate with EKG and chest X-ray to rule out the cardiac or respiratory cause. If you have any dehydration or prolonged fasting hi... Read Full »
I have high red blood cell count. Can a miscarriage or smoking be the cause?
Query: Hi doctor,I have just received results back from a blood test that says my red blood cell count is quite high. I am a 35-year-old female and I am a smoker (between four to seven a day). I began to get headaches, dizzy spells, nausea, fatigue, and itchiness all over the past five weeks. I do not know... Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. High RBC (red blood cell) count can be due to the smoking habit. In smoking, oxygen delivery to tissue is decreased. So RBC is elevated by increased erythropoietin. A headache and dizziness in your case also seem to be due to smoking. So, it is advisable to stop smok... Read Full »
Query: Hi doctor, My blood test findings are PCV 50.60 %, RBC count 5.70 million per millimeters, hemoglobin 17.0 g/dl, and ESR 35 millimeters. I am taking tablet Cefuroxime 500 mg twice a day. Please help. Thanks. Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Your RBC (red blood cell ) count and PCV (packed cell volume) are borderline. But that might be due to dehydration caused by less fluid intake. Kindly provide any cardiac or respiratory cause, as it can lead to secondary erythrocytosis fin... Read Full »
What causes the bilirubin level to be 1.8 persistently?
Query: Hi doctor, I am suffering from jaundice for the last two months. One month before, my bilirubin level was 1.4. Before 15 days, the level was 1.2 and today 1.8. What is the reason for this change? Read Full »
Dr. Kagathara Happy Kumar Devkaranbhai
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern for the continuous high bilirubin level. Before proving you appropriate guidance, I would like to know a few more details.I guess the reports mentioned by you are total bilirubin. What about direct, indirect bilirubin and liver enzymes (SG... Read Full »