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Is Blood Donation Advisable With Hypertension?

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Posted on Wed, 30 Jul 2014
Question: Hello doctor I am 64 yrs old .My HCT IS 48.5% ,HB 16.5GMS ,RBC 5.55 MILLION/UL ,MCV87FI,MCH29.8pg,
MCHC34.1G/DL,PLATELET216000/CMM,RDWCV 17.9%,TOTAL COUNT 9200/CUMM. Physcian here are advising me to go in for blood donation advice me XXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jyothi B L (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Blood donation not advisable

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am Dr. Jyothi BL and I would like to answer your query.

Above 60 years and with hypertension, blood donation is usually not advised.

16.5g% is not high. Literature says 14 +/- 2.5g%. Its the upper limit of normal. The cause of increased hemoglobin / rbc count could be your body trying to adjust to hypoxia secondary to smoking/pollution related lung damage (reduced gaseous exchange).

There could be increased viscosity in the blood, but risk of thrombosis is low at this percentage. If it crosses 18g%, then therapeutic phlebotomy might be necessary based on cause.

I wouldn't advise a blood donation. All are within normal limits.

Dr. Jyothi BL

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Jyothi B L

Pathologist and Microbiologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 849 Questions

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Is Blood Donation Advisable With Hypertension?

Brief Answer: Blood donation not advisable Detailed Answer: Hi, I am Dr. Jyothi BL and I would like to answer your query. Above 60 years and with hypertension, blood donation is usually not advised. 16.5g% is not high. Literature says 14 +/- 2.5g%. Its the upper limit of normal. The cause of increased hemoglobin / rbc count could be your body trying to adjust to hypoxia secondary to smoking/pollution related lung damage (reduced gaseous exchange). There could be increased viscosity in the blood, but risk of thrombosis is low at this percentage. If it crosses 18g%, then therapeutic phlebotomy might be necessary based on cause. I wouldn't advise a blood donation. All are within normal limits. Dr. Jyothi BL