Hematocrit Blood Test Topic Guide

Altitude sickness (mountain sickness) is caused when a person's body is not able to adjust to a higher altitude. Acute altitude sickness symptoms fatigue, headache, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, decreased appetite, edema, and social withdrawal. Most cases of altitude sickness are resolved by going to a lower altitude. Altitude sickness can be severe and life-threatening if it progresses to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).

Anemia can be caused by many conditions and diseases such as iron deficiency, poor diet and nutrition, cancers, bone marrow problems, and more. Symptoms of anemia depend upon the cause, and progression of the disease. Treatment depends upon the cause of anemia.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung condition in which there is a long-lasting obstruction of the airways, and occurs with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and/or asthma. Causes of COPD include cigarette smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke and environmental tobacco smoke, Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, airway hyper-responsiveness, and air pollution. Symptoms of COPD include a productive cough and acute chest illness, shortness of breath, wheezing, heart failure, cyanosis, and weight loss. Treatment of COPD includes medications, oxygen therapy, surgery, and lung transplant.

Dehydration occurs when the loss of body fluids (mostly water), exceeds the amount that is taken in. Causes of dehydration include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, diseases (diabetes), impaired ability to drink, lack of access to safe drinking water, and injuries to the skin. Common symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, dry skin, headache, low urine output, tiredness, sleepiness, dry mouth, and increased thirst. Treatment of dehydration depends upon the severity of the condition.

Dehydration in children can result from not drinking enough liquids, vomiting, diarrhea, or combination of these conditions. Causes of dehydration in children include viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, diabetes, and increased sweating, and others. Symptoms include sunken eyes, decrease in urination, no tears when crying, dry mouth, lethargy, and irritability. Treatment at home includes proper fluid replacement. Some cases of dehydration are so severe they may require hospitalization.

Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) is generally caused by another condition such as cancers, bacterial or viral infections, immune disorders, and blood disorders. The most common symptom of an enlarged spleen is abdominal pain and bloating. Treatment for an enarged spleen is targeted toward the cause.

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding either comes from the upper GI or lower GI tract. Upper GI bleeding can be caused by ulcers, gastritis, varices, cancer, or inflammation. Lower GI bleeding is caused by diverticulitis, cancers, IBD, infection, polyps, hemorrhoid's, and anal fissures. Symptoms of GI bleeding include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, vomiting blood, rectal bleeding, anemia, or a pale appearance. Treatment of GI bleeding depends on the cause.

Polycythemia (high red blood cell count) is a condition in which there is an increased number of red blood cells in the blood. There are two types of polycythemia; 1) primary polycythemia and 2) secondary polycythemia. The two main conditions of primary polycythemia are polycythemia vera (PV) and primary familial and congenital polycythemia (PFCP). Causes of secondary polycythemia include conditions as a result of chronic hypoxia such as COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, obstructive sleep apnea, and certain cancers. Examples of symptoms of polycythemia include easy bruising or bleeding, blood clot formation, headache, itching, and fatigue. Treatment for polycythemia depends on the cause. Untreated polycythemia generally has a poor outcome for the patient.

Internal bleeding may be caused by trauma, medications, or insufficient clotting factors. Symptoms of internal bleeding may be: pain, referred pain, change in stool color, blood in the urine, or change in vision, or change in mental function. Treatment of internal bleeding depends on the cause.

Pernicious anemia (vitamin B-12 deficiency) is a type of anemia that is a result of the body's inability to absorb vitamin B-12 into the gastrointestinal tract. Common symptoms are fatigue and shortness of breath. Causes of pernicious anemia can be attributed to autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorders, vitiligo, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and infection and poor nutrition. Treatment for pernicious anemia is generally with life-long vitamin B-12 injections.

The symptoms of early pregnancy a pregnant woman may experience include missed periods, abdominal bloating, nausea and vomiting, breast tenderness and pain, food cravings, fatigue, frequent urination, elevated body temperature, changes in nipple color, darkening of the skin (melasma), mood swings, stress, headaches, and other symptoms.

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot in the lung. The clot typically comes from other areas of the body and travels to the lung, where it becomes lodged. Pulmonary embolism can cause serious problems, from shortness of breath to instantaneous death, depending on the nature of the clot.

Sickle cell disease is a form of anemia and is the most common hereditary blood disorders with symptoms of dehydration, fever, and cold exposure. In sickle cell disease, the red blood cells are shaped abnormally, and have a "sickle" shape.

There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (the most common type) and central sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be caused by many factors such as strokes, heart failure, medications, or physical structures in the throat and mouth. Treatment range from medical devices to surgery.

Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of death and illness among Americans. Effects of smoking can cause cancers, emphysema, bronchitis, COPD, chronic cough, and more. Smoking cessation includes nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral therapy.