59 year old with a hemoglobin level of 5. Is it dangerous?

Hi,

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It is not dangerous but a serious problem. Normal level of hemoglobin for woman is 12 - 16 g/dL. As your mother's hemoglobin level is 5, it is a very low value and an alarming sign for blood transfusion. Low hemoglobin can lead to general fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, cardiac failure and dizziness. Low hemoglobin can be caused by various conditions including:

1. Blood loss and hemolysis (breakdown of RBC - red blood cells).
2. Lack of nutrients like iron, folic acid and vitamin B12.
3. Defective production of red blood cell (myelodysplastic syndrome and anemia of chronic disease).

Normal iron level is 40 - 155 µg/dL. In your mother's case it is 7, which is low and she may be suffering from iron deficiency anemia. I would suggest you to consult a physician and get her examined and investigated. Some very basic tests include complete blood count, serum iron, serum ferritin, vitamin B12, folic acid, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, reticulocytes, urea, creatinine, urinalysis and a thorough medical history.