Does smoking cigarettes increase hemoglobin count?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have a hemoglobin count of 17.8 gm/dl in my last blood test and I had 17.2, 15, and 14.4 gm/dl in my previous test results. I smoked two cigarettes per day for the last three months but I stopped smoking a month before. What condition is mine? I do not have any symptoms. Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your question. I presume you are referring to hemoglobin by Hb. Your blood hemoglobin is mildly elevated at 17.2 mg/dl. This most likely occurred because of your recent history of cigarette smoking for three months. I must commend you for stopping as it is not a healthy habit. hemoglobin (Hb) is found is a red pigment found in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen which gives blood its red color. It increases when red blood cells increase and red blood cells are produced according to demand. Cigarette smoking causes a reduction in the oxygen-carrying potential of the blood causing the body to produce more red blood cells to compensate. This leads to an increase in hemoglobin. I do hope I have been of help.

Thank you.