Hello doctor, I recently was tested for testosterone levels and in addition to a report on these levels, the lab report showed that my hemoglobin was 17.7. This has fluctuated from time to time. Last year, I was referred to a hematologist as my hemoglobin was high and my platelet count was low. With a number of tests over time, including a bone marrow, there was no indication of cancer. At that time, I smoked one cigarette a day and although my usage was light, I thought that it might have raised my hemoglobin so I stopped the smoking for a number of months. About six months later, I started smoking cigarettes that were nicotine free. Although the usage limited to one a day, I am concerned that even this light usage might be causing my hemoglobin count to rise. So, my question is do you think that this smoking of one nicotine-free cigarette a day could be causing my hemoglobin count to rise? My current medications are vitamin supplements, Apixaban 5 mg two times daily, Blast dietary Supplement, Phenylalanine 600 mg one times daily, CoQ10 300 mg one time daily, Fish Oil 1000 mg [300 mg Omega-3] two times daily, Glucosamine HCL 1500 mg with MSM 1500 mg two times daily, Latanoprost 0.005 % Ophthalmic Solution one time daily, Levothyroxine 50 mcg one time daily, Metoprolol Tartrate 25 mg one time daily, Multivitamins one time daily, Mucinex DM two times daily, Niacin 1000 mg one time daily, Palmetto Guard one time daily, Simvastatin 40 mg one time daily, Timolol Maleate 0.5 % Ophthalmic Solution one time daily, and Vitamin D3 2000IU one time daily. I have had the following lab tests and the results are as follows: Hemoglobin is 17.7 H, 13.2 - 17.1 g/dL, hematocrit 51.0 H, 38.5 - 50.0%. Please advice.
Hello. I have reviewed your complaints and your current medications. From that, I could deduce that you are on medication for hypothyroidism, hypertension, and glaucoma with additional multivitamins. Also, your testosterone levels are slightly elevated. Your elevated hemoglobin levels could be due to many factors which in your case include smoking, hypothyroidism, elevated testosterone and your increased age. All these factors can contribute to elevated hemoglobin levels. Now coming to the question of nicotine-free cigarettes: They have been found to be harmful even if they do not contain tobacco. Any cigarette-like product which requires the user to inhale smoke, the byproduct of combustion, is still subject to unsafe quantities of tar and carbon monoxide. These chemicals lead to lung cancer, mouth cancers, and esophageal cancers. The smoke causes low oxygen levels in the blood which can lead to increase in the hemoglobin level. So I suggest that you quit smoking altogether. You did it for six months and I am sure you can do it for the rest of your life. For more information consult a hematologist online -->