PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Hemoglobin slightly above - unfit to fly?
Old 8th May 2021, 20:45
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Radgirl
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Polycythaemia is a form of blood cancer. The haemaglobin or blood count is raised but a lot more. Patients may be short of breath or fatigued, have nose bleeds and many other symptoms. Their spleen may be enlarged. The next test is a full blood count looking at the various cells and then a bone marrow.

You seem to have a high haemaglobin. There are several reasons including living at altitude but the commonest is dehydration which is quite common if an individual is coming for an examination. My understanding is that the UK CAA allow a maximum haemaglobin of 180 with no problem to allow for this - I would expect a healthy adult to be 130 - 145. In other words the CAA doesnt even bother until the result is well up

On the face of it 167 is nothing to worry about either for your medical or your general health. Many doctors would not call it polycythaemia You could try drinking lots of water before your next test but this advice is just so you can see your 'normal'. Obviously if you have other symptoms, see your normal doctor.
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