Dear Smoker,
You may have heard that “high hemoglobin” is a good thing. But in reality, when it is related to smoking, it is a sign that your body is suffering and trying to compensate for the damage.
❗ Why does hemoglobin increase in smokers?
Cigarettes contain carbon monoxide – a gas that binds to the blood more easily than oxygen. Your body, to cope with the lack of pure oxygen, produces more hemoglobin.
This is not “strength”. It is a danger signal.
⚠ What does this mean for your health?
🔸 Thicker and “stickier” blood
🔸 Increased risk of thrombosis, heart attack, stroke
🔸 Possible polycythemia – a pathological condition that requires medical monitoring
✅ What can you do?
✔ By quitting smoking, hemoglobin returns to normal levels
✔ You immediately reduce your cardiovascular risk
✔ You breathe better – you live better
“High hemoglobin” is not a badge. It’s a bell.
Listen to it.
With care,
Dr. Kaiti Konstantinou