What does a high hemoglobin level mean?
Higher than normal hemoglobin levels can be seen in people living at high altitudes and in people who smoker. Dehydration produces a falsely high hemoglobin which disappears when proper fluid balance is restored. Some other infrequent causes are: • advanced lung disease (for example, emphysema), • certain tumors, • a disorder of the bone marrow known as polycythemia rubra vera, and • abuse of the drug erythropoietin (Epogen) by athletes for blood doping purposes.
