What Does Hemoglobin Do?

Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to your body's organs and tissues and transports carbon dioxide from your organs and tissues back to your lungs. If a hemoglobin test reveals that your hemoglobin level is lower than normal, it means you have a low red blood cell count (anemia).

What does hemoglobin do and why is it important?

Hemoglobin is essential for transferring oxygen in your blood from the lungs to the tissues. Myoglobin, in muscle cells, accepts, stores, transports and releases oxygen.

What happens when your hemoglobin goes too low?

Hemoglobin, the substance that gives color to red blood cells, is the substance that allows for the transport of oxygen throughout the body. Low hemoglobin levels lead to anemia, which causes symptoms like fatigue and trouble breathing.