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Why does hematocrit values rise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

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Why does hematocrit values rise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

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Oxygen is essential for life. In severe obstructive lung disease the lungs are so bad that the normal amount of oxygen cannot reach the blood stream to be delivered around the body. Oxygen in the blood is carried by Hemoglobin the amount of which is measured by the hematocrit. In severe obstructive lung disease the body adjusts to the reduced amount of oxygen reaching the blood from the lungs by producing more hemoglobin which compensates for the failure of the lungs to transfer the full amount of oxygen. This extra hemoglobin is measured in a raised hematocrit. It is a mechanism whereby the supply of oxygen to the body can be maintained even when the lungs are bady diseased. While it does help in some ways in others it can be counter productive causing for example the heart to have to work much harder and consequently be under some strain. It should be noted these events only occur with severe disease.

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