Hematocrit. Does it really worth?

[bukotitanico]

There's a lot of controversy surrounding hematocrit. Some doctors and people are alarmed when it exceeds 52-54%, while others tend to say they're not too concerned.

But which side is right? According to Dr. Keith Nichols, there's a big difference between polycythemia and secondary erythrocytosis (common in test users), and people often confuse them. Many believe that a high hematocrit is linked to blood clots, but he says more risk factors are needed, such as high platelet counts. What are your thoughts, and what do you do about it?

 

[specter]

there is several things to consider among them is, particle size, hydration, clotting factor and family genetics.

 

[nothuman]

There's a lot of controversy surrounding hematocrit. Some doctors and people are alarmed when it exceeds 52-54%, while others tend to say they're not too concerned.

But which side is right? According to Dr. Keith Nichols, there's a big difference between polycythemia and secondary erythrocytosis (common in test users), and people often confuse them. Many believe that a high hematocrit is linked to blood clots, but he says more risk factors are needed, such as high platelet counts. What are your thoughts, and what do you do about it?

Listen to Dr Nichols on this one

 

[SouthernMuscle]

Personally, I think it does really worth.

 

[musclemuscle]

I usually don't get bloods this frequently but I needed a few things tested and adding a cbc is cheap on goodlabs. The only difference from my high of 53% to current 49.8% is hydration.

 

[Canuck54]

A gene test panel to test for hereditary erythrocytosis will flush out if it’s genetic or not. People living at higher altitudes have higher hematocrit levels as well, so it does depend. Mine runs 50-53 and I’m always told by the dr to go donate blood due to the trt.

 

[Crazy_jay]

Im pretty sure 95% of my problems are thick blood. Only once have I seen high rbc's on my bloodwork. My hematocrit sits 52-54. My platelets always low 200s.

Im also hyperthyroid with celiac disease and dehydrated more often than not. Doesnt matter how much water I drink.

Ive ran so much bloodwork, so many tests, always goes back to what appears to be thick blood.

 

[buck]

Seems high or low may not be optimal longer term for longevity. We all have out own comfort zones.

A U-shaped relationship between haematocrit and mortality in a large prospective cohort study - PMC

Background Only a limited number of studies have investigated the correlation between haematocrit (HCT) and mortality in the general population, and few of those studies have had data on a wide range of low and high levels of HCT. We investigated ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Fleezy]

Personally, I think it does really worth.

but how much does it worth?

 

[hogan87]

hematocrit is one piece of the whole CBC panel. Trying to judge health risk off 1 factor is simple minded stupidity. That goes along with trying to drink 2 gallons of water to look hydrated and trick the test. You are only fooling yourself. Test your body in the state it is most often in, not some over saturated state that starts depleting right after the test.

 

[musclemuscle]

but how much does it worth?

It does the whole worth

 

[SouthernMuscle]

but how much does it worth?

It just DOES

 

[Fleezy]

It just DOES

we are so screwed

 

[nothuman]

Im pretty sure 95% of my problems are thick blood. Only once have I seen high rbc's on my bloodwork. My hematocrit sits 52-54. My platelets always low 200s.

Im also hyperthyroid with celiac disease and dehydrated more often than not. Doesnt matter how much water I drink.

Ive ran so much bloodwork, so many tests, always goes back to what appears to be thick blood.

Highly doubt it. Bodybuilders love to blame hematocrit or estrogen for all their problems when other causes are more likely to blame.

 

[bukotitanico]

There is a comparison between a secondary eritrocitosis caused by living in high altitude vs produced by exogenous testosterone

Elevated Hematocrit from Testosterone Therapy vs High-Altitude Adaptation: A Comparative Analysis - ExcelMale - #1 TRT & Testosterone Forum | Expert-Moderated Men's Health Community

From this thread: WARNING: Do not believe Internet "gurus" proclaiming no need to manage hematocrit on TRT - Excel Male TRT Forum Underlying Physiological Mechanisms Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and Erythrocytosis: Exogenous testosterone stimulates red blood cell (RBC)...

www.excelmale.com

 

[alfresco]

A gene test panel to test for hereditary erythrocytosis will flush out if it’s genetic or not. People living at higher altitudes have higher hematocrit levels as well, so it does depend. Mine runs 50-53 and I’m always told by the dr to go donate blood due to the trt.

My doctor says that if you’re hematocrit is out of range than you are taking too much testosterone.

 

[SouthernMuscle]

we are so screwed

ill be ok. Mines never been out of range lol

 

[trackstar19]

In secondary causes (which trt is) hematologists only treat it with phlebotomy, etc. if you are symptomatic. Some people’s systems are fine at higher levels and some people’s aren’t.

Not from TRT but I had to go on jardiance a few months ago and it made me go from 50% and 17.1 to 62% and 21. I was incredibly symptomatic at 62/21. I was very close to stroking out. I’m now back down to 51/17 and feel great.

 

[nothuman]

In secondary causes (which trt is) hematologists only treat it with phlebotomy, etc. if you are symptomatic. Some people’s systems are fine at higher levels and some people’s aren’t.

Not from TRT but I had to go on jardiance a few months ago and it made me go from 50% and 17.1 to 62% and 21. I was incredibly symptomatic at 62/21. I was very close to stroking out. I’m now back down to 51/17 and feel great.

That is a massive jump. I mean I take it too and understand it’s contributing to elevated hematocrit alongside testosterone, but a 12% jump doesn’t match what we are supposed to see. I’m guessing some of that increase is from Jardiance and some of that is also from dehydration or some other cause. Have you retested or come off Jardiance and retested?

I have never had a symptom from a 60% hematocrit before that I can identify.

 

[Fleezy]

In secondary causes (which trt is) hematologists only treat it with phlebotomy, etc. if you are symptomatic. Some people’s systems are fine at higher levels and some people’s aren’t.

Not from TRT but I had to go on jardiance a few months ago and it made me go from 50% and 17.1 to 62% and 21. I was incredibly symptomatic at 62/21. I was very close to stroking out. I’m now back down to 51/17 and feel great.

good to see you posting again bro i thought you were dead



on a related note, anyone heard from @zacharykane lately?