Anaemia /low hb???

Just wanted to know... How low can hb go before it is critical?
I know they transfuse under 8g/dl but when does it become life threatening? 3g/dl?

I cannot advise you as a professional only based on my own experience but it would be worrying under 5 and by 3 you are getting to incompatible with life. Please speak to the ppl who are looking after you as you were starting with a low tank anyhow. Keep safe.

Cracked

I know this is old, but as I have a lot of experience with anaemia/low hb, I thought I'd reply.

What I've been told (by a haematologist) is that a hb below 7 is potentially life threatening, depending on how well you tolerate a low hb, and whether the drop in hb is sudden or gradual. Anything below 5, regardless of how quickly or slowly it got there, is especially severe and usually incompatible with life if left untreated.

as an anemic I can say this:
I believe that the best answer for your question will be given by a doctor
best of luck

Please don't joke with this at all. Try and get advice from a professional as soon as possible.

I hope you just asked it out of curiosity

Normal Hb for men is 14 - 16 and women is from 12 - 14
an Hb of 8.4 is pretty low.
Haemoglobin is primarily present in R.B.C.'s or Red Blood Cells, which are normally made in the bone morrow. Treatments like Chemotherapy suppress the bone marrow thus impairing their ability to make new R.B.C.'s
R.B.C's primary function is to carry oxygen to different organs of the body, R.B.C. do it with the help of Haemoglobin. Oxygen binds to the haemoglobin which is present in the blood and is carried to various parts of the body, when the HB hear is low yout has to work extra hard to supply oxygen to the various parts of the body (most importantly Brain and the Heart).

Also when you are going through chemotherapy very few RBC are being made. and the normal life span of RBC's is 120 days.
so now you have low production of RBC and dying RBC every 120 days. your bone marrow is not able to keep up with the demand.
what is going to happen is that eventually your HB is going to drop even lower and you will have to get a transfusion.

When someone is suffering from this illness I would suggest you get the transfusoin ASAP, because you will feel worse than you are right now when the HB drops lower.
Transfusion has certain risks, like STD's and stuff. it is better if you have a person from your family who has the same blood group as you and who you know is clean gives you blood.
I Hope this makes you clear now.

Just bear in mind this is an old thread guys and hopefully the OP is now OK

Cracked