Definition - What does Hemoglobin mean?
Hemoglobin (Hb) is an iron-containing metalloprotein in red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. Hemoglobin carries the oxygen to allow the aerobic respiration, which provides energy to power functions of an organism in the process called metabolism. In occupational health and safety, hemoglobin testing provides a reference to the levels of hemoglobin in a worker. Low or high levels of hemoglobin will indicate different conditions which can lead to low work productivity or excessive tiredness.
SureHire explains Hemoglobin
Low levels of hemoglobin will lead in lack of oxygen in the tissues of an organism; making the heart and lungs to work harder in order to compensate. Low levels of hemoglobin can be indicators of conditions such as anemia, excessive bleeding, nutritional deficiencies, destruction of cells, or abnormally formed hemoglobin. High levels of hemoglobin, however, may be associated with polycythemia vera, which is a condition that results in too many red blood cells being created. In workplace health programs, testing for hemoglobin levels determine the general health of an employee and can help to determine if any condition exists that should be treated so that the worker can better perform his or her duties in the workplace.
