Significance Of High White Blood Cell Count – White blood cells play an important role in your body’s immune system, searching the blood for viruses, bacteria and fungi. When a foreign virus or bacteria enters your blood, white blood cells (aka leukocytes) recognize and destroy the invading particle before it can cause disease. There are several different types of white blood cells, each with its own function. Some directly destroy foreign bacteria, while others attack your own virus-infected cells. Other types of white blood cells may even play a role in allergic reactions! What happens when you have elevated white blood cells? Since white blood cells fight infection, people tend to think that elevated levels are actually beneficial. This is not necessarily the case! An elevated white blood cell count is not a specific disease in itself, but may indicate an underlying problem, such as infection, stress, inflammation, trauma, allergies, or certain diseases. That’s why a high white blood cell count usually requires further investigation. InsideTrackerblood analysis measures your white blood cell count and will tell you if it is in the optimal zone for you. If your white blood cell count is elevated, talk to your doctor. In addition to your total white blood cell count, InsideTracker also measures different types of white blood cells, which can give clues as to what may be causing the elevated white blood cell count. Types of white blood cells include: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Neutrophils, which make up about 70% of white blood cells, can increase in response to bacterial infections as well as physical or emotional stress. A high lymphocyte count can occur when there is a viral or bacterial infection. Increased monocytes may indicate chronic inflammation. Elevated levels of basophils and eosinophils may occur when there is an allergic response or in cases of parasitic infection. What are the symptoms of an elevated white blood cell count? The only way to really know if your levels are too high is to have your blood tested at your doctor’s office or through InsideTracker. People with a high (above normal) white blood cell count, a condition called leukocytosis, usually don’t have any specific symptoms, but they may have a medical condition that is responsible for raising white blood cell levels. The specific number for a high (above normal) white blood cell count varies from one laboratory to another testing facility, but as a general rule of thumb, a count of more than 10,500 white blood cells per microliter of blood in adults is generally considered high, while 4,500-10,500 is considered within the normal range. Because a high (above normal) white blood cell count can be a symptom of another underlying problem, you may experience symptoms related to the condition. However, people with leukocytosis may also have a combination of these symptoms: fever, fainting, bleeding, bruising, weight loss, and general pain. What are the causes of an elevated white blood cell count? There are several reasons why you may have a high (above normal) white blood cell count: Infection—As bacteria or viruses that cause infection multiply in the blood, your bone marrow makes more white blood cells to fight the infection. Infection can also lead to inflammation, which in turn can cause an increase in the number of white blood cells. Smoking or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – Basically, COPD means you have a lung and airway disease like emphysema or chronic bronchitis that blocks proper airflow. This is usually caused by cigarette smoking, which results in inflammation in the lungs and airways. As you get more inflammation in your lungs and airways, your body will produce more white blood cells to fight it. Leukemia—Leukemia is a type of cancer that dramatically increases the number of white blood cells. Leukemic white blood cells are often dysfunctional, which can increase the risk of infection in these cancer patients. Immune system disorders—Some autoimmune disorders such as Crohn’s or Graves’ disease can increase the level of white blood cells. If you have one of these conditions, your doctor should monitor your white blood cell levels. Stress—Finally, emotional or physical stress can also cause an elevated white blood cell count. The good news is that white blood cell levels will return to normal once the stress is gone. How does exercise affect white blood cell count? If you tested your blood immediately after exercise, you may not need to worry – your body actually increases the number of white blood cells during exercise! In fact, this increase in the activity of your white blood cells may actually allow your body to identify disease-causing organisms more quickly than under normal circumstances, another benefit of exercise. Immediately after exercise, your white blood cell levels increase in proportion to the intensity and duration of exercise. One study found that a runner’s white blood cell level tripled during a marathon. Since white blood cell counts drop to normal levels after exercise, ideally you should wait a day after a hard workout to test your blood. What types of foods will help lower your white blood cell count? What you eat also affects your white blood cell count. To keep your levels under control, avoid eating foods high in fat, calories, sugar and salt (such as fast food). Aim for foods rich in antioxidants like vitamins C and E, fiber, calcium, fish oil, monounsaturated fats, and low glycemic index. YourInsideTrackerPlan will provide you with recommendations for a variety of foods that meet your preferences and provide you with the nutrients you need. Some foods that have been shown to have an effect on reducing inflammation include garlic, grapes, herbs and spices, soy protein, nuts, olive oil, black and green tea, and vinegar. Aim to eat at least six servings of fruit and vegetables a day, which will help with much more than white blood cell levels. Other specific nutrients to increase in your diet include: Omega-3 fatty acids—Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat (or PUFA) known to increase heart health and increase the activity of phagocytes, a type of white blood cell that protects you from foreign bacteria. Omega-3 PUFAs are mainly found in fatty fish such as trout, herring and salmon, but also in walnuts and flaxseed. Studies have shown that PUFAs significantly increase white blood cell counts in women on a controlled diet. Antioxidants—Antioxidants are a type of molecule that protects our cells from harmful molecules called free radicals, which damage cells, proteins, and DNA (for example, free radicals cause peeled apples to turn brown). Consuming more phytochemicals helps protect against this type of damage. Phytochemicals with antioxidant capacity include allyl sulfides (found in onions, leeks, and garlic), carotenoids (in fruits and carrots), flavonoids (fruits and vegetables), and polyphenols (in tea and grapes). Although they do not specifically work to increase the number of white blood cells, they help maintain a healthy immune system. Vitamin C—Vitamin C helps the body produce more white blood cells, which in turn helps the body fight infections. All citrus fruits—including oranges, lemons, and limes—contain vitamin C. You can also get vitamin C from other fruits, such as berries, papaya, pineapple, and guava, and vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and peppers. In addition to these nutrients, you may also want to invest in some non-alcoholic beer! Believe it or not, one study found that drinking 1 to 1.5 liters of non-alcoholic beer 3 weeks before and 2 weeks after running a marathon helped reduce inflammation and white blood cell counts! Whether you’re an athlete or not, use InsideTracker to find out your white blood cell levels so you can optimize your performance and overall well-being by taking appropriate action if you find they’re too high! Don’t forget to check out the free InsideTracker demo here!

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Significance Of High White Blood Cell Count

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Slowing down to speed up: Olympian Tianna Bartoletta’s bedtime routine for improved performance By Tianna Bartoletta, April 5, 2021 White blood cells, or leukocytes, in the body help fight infection by identifying and killing invading organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, and other invasive pathogens. The white blood cell count is a measure of how many of these cells are in your blood. Let’s learn more about high levels of white blood cells and how they can increase the chances of cancer.

The norm is between 5,000 and 10,000 cells per milliliter (mL) of blood in men and between 4,500 and 11,000 in women. A high white blood cell count can indicate a health problem, but more often it indicates inflammation or infection.

It can also signal cancer, including leukemia

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