Normal Hemoglobin Range

Hemoglobin is the basic metalloprotein that is present in the red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen. Thus, hemoglobin is an important molecule, and often, in patients that exhibit symptoms like shortness of breath, pallor, etc., the first test that is advised. This is done to check for the possibility of anemia. Thus, testing for hemoglobin is a very important and routine test that is done in most laboratories.

Need to Check for Hemoglobin Range
Before going on to find out the normal hemoglobin levels, one needs to understand why it is necessary to carry out this test. The main function of red blood cells is to carry oxygen from one part of the body to another. So, to carry out this function, it is the hemoglobin protein molecule that actually bonds to the oxygen and carries it from one cell to another. Thus, the entire functioning of the red blood cells depends on the hemoglobin levels present. Hence, even if there is a high red blood cell count, if the hemoglobin level is below normal, the person will still show signs and symptoms of anemia.

Normal Hemoglobin Levels

Age Group	Hemoglobin Count (gm/dl)
Normal Hemoglobin Levels in Newborn Babies	17 - 22
Normal Hemoglobin Levels in Children	11 - 13
Normal Hemoglobin Levels in Adults (Male)	14 - 18
Normal Hemoglobin Levels in Adults (Female)	12 - 16
Normal Hemoglobin Levels in Elderly (Male)	12.4 - 14.9
Normal Hemoglobin Levels in Elderly (Female)	11.7 - 13.8

You must've noticed that the normal hemoglobin levels vary according to the age and the sex of the person. Babies and infants tend to have higher hemoglobin range, as their body is still trying to grow and get its organs into functioning mode. Thus, in newborns, it is seen that their respiratory rate is also very high. Furthermore, one will notice that the normal hemoglobin range for women is slightly on the lower side compared to that of men. This is so because during menstruation, women tend to lose blood, due to which their hemoglobin levels tend to be slightly lower than those seen in men. Normal hemoglobin level during pregnancy tends to rise slightly, as there is an increased need for oxygen in the body. Furthermore, as a person ages, the rate of production of red blood cells tends to decrease, and so, in elderly people, there tend to be lower hemoglobin levels.

Changes in Normal Hemoglobin Levels
Given above were the normal hemoglobin levels, but there are cases where there may be fluctuations in the levels of hemoglobin. Some people have naturally high hemoglobin levels, which is mostly seen as an adaptive change. For example, people who live at high altitudes tend to have higher levels of hemoglobin, to make up for the insufficient amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. Acute dehydration can also lead to high hemoglobin levels. Sometimes, certain bone marrow diseases can lead to the production of an abnormally large number of red blood cells, as is seen in conditions like polycythemia vera.

However, a condition that is slightly more alarming than high hemoglobin levels is when there are low hemoglobin levels. In such cases, either there is nutritional deficiency, as is seen in cases of iron deficiency anemia, or there may be problems in organs like the bone marrow and the spleen due to which the levels of red blood cells may be low. In such cases, there may be many problems due to anemia, like shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, etc. Thus, in such cases, it is best to visit a doctor so as to get proper information on how to increase hemoglobin levels.

Hemoglobin range may vary from person to person slightly, but as long as one stays within the range mentioned in the chart above, you can be sure that you're fit and fine!