Hemoglobin values rise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. One explaination?
It is a physiological response to the chronically prolonged periods of low oxygen intake. The body’s compensatory mechanisms are acting. There are acute and chronic respritory acidosis conditions. COPD would be chronic. More red blood cells mean more oxygen in the system to go around, that would also mean that you would not need those deep long breaths to load up, you would load more O2 in less time, and carry it further into the tissues that need it. The more exercise you do the more O2 you need, and the more demand you have the more your body will seek to compensate, extreme exercise could be an acute example for now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_acidosis would tell you more about the other forms and mechanisms of action. Good luck, don’t fret, the body takes care of it. I’ve had asthma for my entire life and I think it’s a good thing that there has been some compensation. Well, that is until I donate blood. lol. Talk about light headed!
