JARGON BUSTER

Scientific terms decoded

This week: haemoglobin

THIS is the protein needed to make red blood cells and is responsible for transporting oxygen around the body — low levels can lead to tiredness and shortness of breath.

Typically this is due to a lack of iron, a mineral essential for haemoglobin production. Haemoglobin levels can also drop significantly due to loss of blood or illness.

Levels of haemoglobin naturally vary between people, but men tend to have higher levels — probably because of the differing effects of hormones on erythropoiesis, the process where the body creates red blood cells. Iron deficiency is treated by dietary changes and iron supplements from your GP. The term ‘haemoglobin’ is from the Greek ‘haemato’ meaning blood, and ‘globulin’ is from the Latin ‘globus’ for ‘ball or sphere’.