blood changes color

[Running Wolf]

I've smoked since I was about 15, since I was 18 I tried donating blood at least once a year (if not more often). When you smoke your blood is a purple color becuase of all the extra CO2 in your system.

While not scientific (don't have equipment to measure it) you do see the color of your blood change after quitting. While the FDA says there is no evidence of PVs effecting health for the better you be the judge.

I did a first rate klutz move and stubbed my toe about an hour ago. Instead of being the polluted purple it was the pure blood red it was supposed to be. While not a doctor (I don't even play on on TV) that's a clear sign of a higher O2 level in the blood.

 

[burns_erin]

That interesting, I'll have to take a look during my next labs.

Sent from my G2...so please excuse the spelling errors, correct gets the best of me.

 

[Tracy68]

I dunno....Blood when collected in a vial always looks a dark colour. Doesn't look 'red". When you stub your toe and bleed it's in a lesser concentration and will naturally appear as the normal red colour blood is.

 

[juicejunky]

I have had dental surgery where they have my finger hooked up to keep track of oxygen level in the blood, plus I spent a lot of time with a family member in the hospital and always checked my O2 levels. As a 1.5 pad smoker I usually ranged 94-96 at best, as a vaper I am consistently measuring 99. I also no longer suffer from cold feet whenever the temp drops below 60.

 

[Running Wolf]

I'm usually on the high end of normal for iron in the blood. Like I said have noticed a bit of difference when getting blood drawn between my smoking times and not smoking times.

 

[CES]

My hemoglobin levels were running high when before i switched to vaping. My hemoglobin levels went back down to the middle of normal range within a few months after switching to vaping.

Turns out that when you smoke, the carbon monoxide in your bloodstream highjacks the hemoglobin, so there's less hemoglobin available to carry oxygen. The body makes more hemoglobin to compensate for the carbon monoxide, but your blood still isn't very efficient at getting oxygen to where it needs to be. Without the carbon monoxide the oxygen can get to where it needs to be without competition so the hemoglobin levels decrease again.

 

[tgcrna]

It is true that when you smoke, and therefore have a lower oxygen concentration, the body perceives this lack of oxygen and compensates by increasing hemoglobin production. When I look up labs on my patients (I am a nurse anesthetist) and I see a high hemoglobin/hematocrit, I suspect smoking. There is usually a correlation. But you also have to consider hydration status. Someone who is dehydrated will have a higher H/H because the blood is more concentrated. I just had to have labs drawn for insurance at work and my levels were still at the high end of normal. But I know I don't drink enough fluids, and the blood was drawn while 'fasting'.
I checked my O2 saturation when I was smoking (about a pack/day) and it was around 97-98%. Another reason I knew I needed to quit!! Since vaping (no cigs for 17 months ) my saturations are 100%.
Of course we can't say vaping is healthier, but I can climb a couple of flights of steps without getting out of breath and I don't cough when I get up anymore. My oxygen saturations are better. I don't get those pesky little wheezes anymore. So, for me, it seems to be the healthier alternative