Wife got some blood work done recently, and three results (MCH, MCV, RDW) were slightly out of range and doctors started talking about anemia. I’ve heard the word plenty of times, but it’s never really explained or talked about. What is it, how serious is it, how common is it, etc?
In: Biology
Anemia means you have a low hemoglobin (HGb). Hemoglobin is a molecule that sits on your red blood cells and carries oxygen throughout the body. Low hemoglobin (anemia) means your ability to deliver oxygen to your body, which is a problem.
MCH, MCV, and RDW being slightly out of range does not mean she has anemia. Anemia is, by definition, low hemoglobin, so if her hemoglobin was in the normal range then she is not anemic. Whether or not those three lab values means something is wrong (besides anemia) is up to her doctors to figure out, but most likely it’s fine.
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