Health & Fitness · 血红蛋白（Hemoglobin） · Updated 2026-10-25
What Is Hemoglobin?
Definition
Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein that binds oxygen in red cells; 1 g of Hb carries ~1.34 mL of oxygen. Anemia thresholds: men <120 g/L, non-pregnant women <110 g/L, pregnancy <100 g/L (plasma expansion dilutes). Mild anemia (90-110) shows as fatigue, poor exercise tolerance and pallor; iron-deficiency anemia dominates since iron is the core of heme. High-altitude residents run physiologically higher (hypoxic compensation), and smokers 5-10 points higher from carbon-monoxide-driven compensation.
Formula
Anemia: men <120 g/L; women <110 g/L; pregnancy <100 g/L
Worked Example
A woman with Hb 95 g/L, MCV 72 fL (small cells) and ferritin 8 μg/L (low) shows the classic iron-deficiency triad; reticulocytes should rise within 2 weeks of iron and Hb exceed 110 by 2 months.
Common Misconception
"Anemic? Just add iron or eat dates" — dates carry negligible, poorly absorbed iron (mostly sugar). And thalassemia patients are often iron-overloaded; blind iron supplementation harms — check red-cell indices (MCV/MCH) and ferritin first. Higher-is-better is wrong too: Hb >180 suggests polycythemia or chronic hypoxia and raises viscosity risk.
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