High Red Blood Cell Count, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit

[RadioJay]

Has anyone else experienced this? Just got my labs back after my physical and my Red Blood Cell count (6.45), Hemoglobin (18.5) and Hematocrit (54.8%) were all high. My first thought was, of course they are high - I do a lot of high altitude training and return to lower elevations at night. Then the doctor listed all the bad things that could cause it, some which did not make sense for me (e.g., congestive heart failure). Others might make sense like kidney tumors creating excessive natural EPO. I did a little reading on it and it seems that readings this high are not unheard of for people who train at altitude and also those who live permanently at altitude. Cyclists who sleep in altitude simulation tents fall into a different category, btw. Searched the forum but did not see a topic with similar subject. Supposedly, high hematocrit means thicker blood which is bad, but if it occurs naturally through high altitude training or living at altitude, the body may adapt in some unknown way so no harm occurs. I'm inclined to blow it off and not do any of the doctor's recommended tests and scans, but could use some backup to put his mind at ease. Any thoughts or similar experiences would be welcome.

[BendExile]

Would repeat test. If still elevated consider screening for P Vera. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4639938/

[Matt]

Were any other labs abnormally high (besides from the CBC)?

[RadioJay]

Just creatinine 1.4.

[RadioJay]

Would repeat test. If still elevated consider screening for P Vera. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4639938/

Doc mentioned that, come to think of it. White blood cells and platelets normal which helps but does not rule it out completely. Re-testing in 30 days. Thanks.

[JamesK]

I'm getting most of these test in a few weeks, i'll be interested to see the results now....Thanks for your info, I portably wouldn't have paid any attention without your post

[Bale]

If I were you I’d sign up for Le Tour next year

[RadioJay]

If I were you I’d sign up for Le Tour next year

I wish.

[OrngChocD]

Has anyone else experienced this? Just got my labs back after my physical and my Red Blood Cell count (6.45), Hemoglobin (18.5) and Hematocrit (54.8%) were all high.

Yes, my RBC count was slightly above normal when I last did blood work 2 yrs ago. My concern was different from yours and I had posted about it here last year. This may be of no help to you but FWIW, other tests that you've mentioned came out as follows for me -

Creatinine ----- 0.79 (0.60-1.3 MG/DL)
Hematocrit ---- 44.1 (34-45%)
Hemoglobin --- 15.1 (11.5-15.5 G/DL)
RBC ---------- 5.17 (3.8-5.1 M/UL)

Everything else in my blood profile was very good (middle of the normal range). I haven't been to any doctor since, nor experienced any health problems. I have not learnt anything more after that thread about the whys or anything different about my health/fitness/ability, so I'm just letting it be for now, whatever it is.

[RadioJay]

Has anyone else experienced this? Just got my labs back after my physical and my Red Blood Cell count (6.45), Hemoglobin (18.5) and Hematocrit (54.8%) were all high.

Yes, my RBC count was slightly above normal when I last did blood work 2 yrs ago. My concern was different from yours and I had posted about it here last year.

Thanks, there was some good information for me in that thread. Sleep apnea was mentioned in your thread and also by my doc but fortunately not a problem for me. Hopefully, others will get something out of this current thread. I’ve learned a lot already.

[KYMark]

Mine runs about 19. I give blood every 8 weeks and that keeps it in check. All other blood results are normal.

[nunns]

Mine runs about 19. I give blood every 8 weeks and that keeps it in check. All other blood results are normal.

+1, although mine isn't 19. I read somewhere that high levels of iron in the body are correlated with a higher risk of heart attack, independent of other factors, but I can't cite a source on that.

Why not just give blood a few times a year? That is what I do. Saves lives, and may reduce my risk of heart attack. I would recommend scheduling that around major hiking trips. My personal experience is that it takes 1-2 weeks to regain full endurance performance after giving blood. (Scientific literature says up to 6 weeks but my guess is those studies were done on sedentary people who are not putting a stimulus on their kidneys & liver to release more EPO).

You are right to check out other possibilities like kidney tumors, etc. Never hurts to be safe.

Also not to derail the post, but I think the same thing may be true of enlarged hearts and low resting pulse: if they are caused by physical training, I doubt they would be problematic, but you would want to rule out other conditions that might be causing them. Personally every doctor I ever go to freaks out when they take my pulse and find it to be in the 40's.

Sean Nunn