14 Common Symptoms of Low Hematocrit

What does the word “hematocrit” mean? Hematocrit (hct) pertains to the percentage of red blood cells to the total volume of blood. It is determined through collected blood samples and by the use of automated machines or by a manual method using a centrifuge wherein a tube of blood is subjected to the machine and the RBC’s will be compacted to the bottom and proportion of it to the total blood volume can then be visually measured.

The normal range for hematocrit differs between genders and is around 45% to 52 % for men and 37% to 48% for women. But what if your hematocrit level dropped to the lower limits? Having low hematocrit is referred to as being anemic that might be due to loss of blood, nutritional deficiency, bone marrow problems, and abnormal hemoglobin. In line with this, let’s tackle the common symptoms you would be experiencing from having anemia.

1. Weakness

Weakness is a typical complaint and has a wide range of meanings including tiredness, decreased energy to work or even failure to work at all.  But weakness caused by anemia refers to the depletion of strength in one or more tissues and muscles that may lead to loss of muscle function when your body does not have enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen, depriving them of energy.

This may generally affect a certain or group of muscles which can cause trouble in doing your daily routines such as writing or preparing yourself and problems with loss of balance or walking. If you experience this, you may need iron supplementation or if the anemia is severe, you might need to undergo a blood transfusion where you will be receiving blood through an IV line. But anemia often manifests quite lately that breathlessness and muscle fatigue already develops prior to the diagnosis of the condition.