The amount of red blood cells in a person’s blood is measured by their hematocrit. Healthy persons typically have hematocrit levels between 37 and 52%. This differs based on a person’s age and sex.
The aforementioned usual range was identified by the authors of a 2017 study.
Anemia is one disorder that is indicated by low red blood cell counts. A person may have polycythemia if their red blood cell counts are high, which raises their risk of getting a blood clot.
A doctor might wish to check a patient’s hematocrit levels to determine whether or not they fall within a normal range if they experience fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
This article will discuss with you the significance of this red blood cell volume measurement, signs of abnormal levels, and what low and high levels could mean.
What Is Hematocrit
The percentage of red blood cells in the body is determined by hematocrit. For example, a person’s hematocrit level is 50% if they have 50 ml of red blood cells in 100 ml of blood.
The red color of the blood is a result of red blood cells, which also carry oxygen throughout the body. They also include hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen molecules, in addition to oxygen. This enables red blood cells to take oxygen from the lungs and distribute it throughout the body.
The body’s systems must have enough red blood cells to function properly.