Low Levels
Your hematocrit level is considered low when it is below 35% as a woman and lower than 41% as a man. This low level of hematocrit can indicate a case of chronic anemia.
High Levels
Having a high hematocrit level can lead to various adverse effects. It may indicate serious underlying health conditions.
Result Accuracy
Hematocrit test results are usually precise and give a clear indication of a person’s red blood cell counts.
However, a person’s blood’s proportion of red blood cells can shift in response to a variety of lifestyle choices and even alterations in the environment. High altitudes are associated with an increase in red blood cell counts, according to study.
Hematocrit levels may also be impacted by exercise, particularly strength training. According to a 2018 study, levels were lower at the end of 16 weeks of strength training for women than they were at the beginning. 26 Turkish women in their middle years who were sedentary made up the study’s modest sample size. This implies that these results may not be generalizable to a larger group.
Dehydration can also cause a rise in your hematocrit levels, so your doctor will most likely recommend the test if they suspect severe dehydration is the cause of a person’s symptoms.