07-11-2019, 12:26 AM
Hey Ron,
Polycythemia (elevates hemoglobin/ blood level) is generally a disease state (Polycythemia Vera which is a disorder of the bone marrow or myelodysplasia) or secondary hypoxia (low oxygen saturation) . This is most common in heavy tobacco smokers, other lung disease or those that live at high altitude ( usually above 14,000 feet) aren’t capable of keeping their oxygen up. Utah is too low of an elevation for this to occur just because of unsuitable genetics for the environment. Regardless of the cause if you truly have this you should seek care of a hematologists. Marked elevations of your hemoglobin results in blood clots and strokes at significantly elevated rates. Multiple other organs are also at risk of damage. Even if you don’t eventually stroke out the thick sludge going into cerebral arteries will likely eventually cause dementia.
Mild elevations of hemoglobin are helpful at high elevations and can even make some difference at lowe to moderate elevations like Silver Lake. However the 2 main genetic traits that allow one to adapt and perform well at high elevations are a shift in the 2,3 DPG oxygen hemoglobin dissociation curve and the ability to move larger amount of area for body size. The later is both having large lungs and the brains drive to breath that causes one to increase ventilation further at altitude. The one downside of having large lung volumes is that I chew up air tanks twice as fast as everyone else scuba diving. 97 % of Sherpas have the shift in the oxygen hemoglobin dissociation curve while relatively generally have it. Sherpas that climb Everest aren’t especially fit- and their VO2 maxes are rather ordinary. While this can help some it pales in comparison to their genetic advantage. They also don’t have more than high normal / slight elevated hemoglobin levels. One it would be deadly to have such a trait and live at significant elevation long term and 2 the maintain their oxygen levels well enough not to have this maladaptive process kick in.
Regardless of your ability at altitude or the cause of diseased state with your blood levels the risk of serious disability and death as a result is the same. If you need blood removed to lower your risk disability it shouldn’t have very much effect at moderate elevations anyways. Best of Luck to you.
https://www.medicinenet.com/polycythemia...rticle.htm
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Polycythemia (elevates hemoglobin/ blood level) is generally a disease state (Polycythemia Vera which is a disorder of the bone marrow or myelodysplasia) or secondary hypoxia (low oxygen saturation) . This is most common in heavy tobacco smokers, other lung disease or those that live at high altitude ( usually above 14,000 feet) aren’t capable of keeping their oxygen up. Utah is too low of an elevation for this to occur just because of unsuitable genetics for the environment. Regardless of the cause if you truly have this you should seek care of a hematologists. Marked elevations of your hemoglobin results in blood clots and strokes at significantly elevated rates. Multiple other organs are also at risk of damage. Even if you don’t eventually stroke out the thick sludge going into cerebral arteries will likely eventually cause dementia.
Mild elevations of hemoglobin are helpful at high elevations and can even make some difference at lowe to moderate elevations like Silver Lake. However the 2 main genetic traits that allow one to adapt and perform well at high elevations are a shift in the 2,3 DPG oxygen hemoglobin dissociation curve and the ability to move larger amount of area for body size. The later is both having large lungs and the brains drive to breath that causes one to increase ventilation further at altitude. The one downside of having large lung volumes is that I chew up air tanks twice as fast as everyone else scuba diving. 97 % of Sherpas have the shift in the oxygen hemoglobin dissociation curve while relatively generally have it. Sherpas that climb Everest aren’t especially fit- and their VO2 maxes are rather ordinary. While this can help some it pales in comparison to their genetic advantage. They also don’t have more than high normal / slight elevated hemoglobin levels. One it would be deadly to have such a trait and live at significant elevation long term and 2 the maintain their oxygen levels well enough not to have this maladaptive process kick in.
Regardless of your ability at altitude or the cause of diseased state with your blood levels the risk of serious disability and death as a result is the same. If you need blood removed to lower your risk disability it shouldn’t have very much effect at moderate elevations anyways. Best of Luck to you.
https://www.medicinenet.com/polycythemia...rticle.htm
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