High hemoglobin level. He smoke.

Mam, let's make one thing clear. Who's suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, you or your husband ? High hemoglobin levels most commonly occur in tobacco smokers. Since your husband hasn't kicked his habit, this may be the cause. Quitting smoking helps but reducing doesn't. The high hemoglobin levels doesn't mean it's good, infact the hemoglobin in the red blood cells is inefficient to carry oxygen as much as you would like it. Cigarette smoke carries 4000 different toxic chemicals including tar, carbon monoxide etc. During a drag the temperature at the tip of a cigarette rises to 1200 degree centigrade which is 12 times the temperature of boiling water, when inert substances become toxic too. The smoke also contains radioactive elements. The cigarette tar etc cause COPD lung disease, lung cancer, oral cancer, stomach, pancreatic cancers and heart attacks, especially if the patient is diabetic and cerebral stroke. Though habits die hard, the power of the human spirit is even harder ! So please tell your husband at least to try to quit smoking absolutely and kick the habit for good. Another cause of polycythemia or high hemoglobin levels chronically is Polycythemia Rubra Vera, which is a type of blood cancer. You need to consult a hematologist for tests which will exclude this condition.

In all probability your husband is suffering from polycythemia due to tobacco smoking and you need not worry about much except make him quit smoking.

Nowadays, nicotine chewing gums are available which reduces the craving for nicotine during quitting if taken properly. There are some medicines too which reduces the craving but in both cases you will require a doctor's prescription as they have side effects. There are many good effects of quitting which starts from less than 5 minutes of giving up smoking and spanning over 20 yrs. You will be astonished. Sometimes a short counselling and motivation by a doctor is all that is needed to ignite the spark of inspiration to quit. If the hemoglobin is persistently high, your husband might have to take aspirin, provided he doesn't have any contraindications, that is he is not bleeding from any site, no active peptic ulcers etc. High hemoglobin will increase blood viscosity and make the patient prone to heart attacks, ischemic brain stroke and limb vessel thrombosis. Aspirin being an antiplatelet agent will prevent clotting of blood. PLEASE CONTACT ME ON MY MOBILE NUMBER. I also desire to check your husband clinically. There is a joke : Giving up smoking is very easy, I have done it many times ! Please ensure Mam that this doesn't happen with your husband.

Hello, as per your clinical history is concerned if no symptoms and no clinical signs then nothing to be worried about it and it is normal. Hope that helps and wish you a good health

Hi . -high Hemoglobin need to take concern if there is any symptomatic changes -This can leads to blood clots,heart Attack,stroke. -this may also elevated in person who are smoking,dehydrated,person living in high altitude and some lung diseases -ur smoker please try to stop smoking -This can be treated by a procedure called phlebotomy .this to be done until ur hi level gets normal

Hello . High HB can be a cause of concern . But he need to be observed for any symptoms. I suggest that you please get a Bone Scan and also Peripheral Blood Smear. 18 HB do happen in people who stay at High altitude area for long . But you been in Mumbai ie costal region is a matter of concern

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