Carboxyhemoglobin Levels in Smokers

Hemoglobin

• Hemoglobin is a protein molecule found in red blood cells. It transports oxygen from the lungs to body tissue as well as ridding the tissue of carbon dioxide by carrying it to the lungs to be exhaled. A hemoglobin level is one of the measurements included in a complete blood count (CBC). When carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, it reduces the efficacy of the hemoglobin and the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen.

Carboxyhemoglobin Blood Levels

• Nonsmokers have a carboxyhemoglobin level of less than 1.5 percent. Smokers, on the other hand, have levels ranging from 3 to 15 percent. A level of 10 percent is the point at which the average person will begin to experience mild signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Dangers of Increased Carboxyhemoglobin

• Increased carboxyhemoglobin blood levels caused by smoking results in a compensating increase in overall hemoglobin, which can mask conditions such as anemia. Other conditions diagnosed on the basis of hemoglobin threshold levels can be missed and go untreated as well, including nutritional deficiencies, malignancies and inflammatory conditions. Lower exercise tolerance and increased risk for heart attack during exercise is also observed in individuals with elevated levels of carboxyhemoglobin.

Reducing Carboxyhemoglobin Levels

• The cessation of a smoking habit reduces smoking-related blood carboxyhemoglobin levels to near normal levels after as little as 12 hours after the last cigarette. Regular aerobic exercise such as jogging also reduces carbon monoxide in smokers, but because of the increased risk for heart attack associated with smoking, check with your physician before commencing a new exercise regime.