Is a hemoglobin level of 5 g/dL in a 59-year-old dangerous?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother is 59 years old. She has hemoglobin of 5 g/dL and iron of 7. Is it dangerous?

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

It is not dangerous, but it is a serious problem. The normal level of hemoglobin for a woman is 12 to 16 g/dL. As your mother's hemoglobin level is 5 g/dL, 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:

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

Normal iron level is 40 to 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 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.

I hope that this answers your query.

Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.