What Causes Red Blood Cell Count To Be High – Although a high red blood cell count does not always indicate a health problem, it can also be a symptom of an illness or disorder in some cases.

Red blood cells (RBCs), also called erythrocytes, are the cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. They are also one of the main components of blood. A high red blood cell (RBC) count means that the number of red blood cells in the blood is higher than normal.

What Causes Red Blood Cell Count To Be High

When you have signs and symptoms of an illness that may involve problems with red blood cell production, a complete blood count (CBC), which includes an RBC count, is usually ordered to help with diagnosis. A complete blood count is usually part of a pre-surgical workup as well as routine physical exams.

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Changes in the number of red blood cells also mean that there are changes in the level of hemoglobin and hematocrit in the blood. When the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit are below the established normal range, the patient is said to be anemic. On the other hand, when a person has values ​​that exceed the normal limit, they are said to have polycythemia. Too many red blood cells can lead to decreased blood flow and other related health problems, while too few red blood cells can significantly affect the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

Healthcare providers may prescribe a CBC when patients experience some of the common signs and symptoms of anemia, such as:

This blood test may also be done regularly to help monitor patients with certain blood disorders, such as chronic anemia, bleeding problems, and polycythemia, including kidney disease.

People undergoing cancer treatment should also have regular CBC testing because radiation or chemotherapy tends to decrease the production of all blood cells in the bone marrow.

Low White Blood Cell Count In Dogs

The following reference ranges are a theoretical guideline only and should not be used to interpret test results. There may be variations between the reference range and the figures reported by each laboratory that performs the test. Please consult your healthcare professional for interpretation of your test results.

Although a high red blood cell count does not always indicate a health problem, it can also be a symptom of an illness or disorder in some cases. Lifestyle and health factors can also cause an increase in red blood cell counts. They understand:

This rare blood disease develops when the body produces too many red blood cells (RBCs). When there is an overproduction of red blood cells, the blood becomes abnormally thicker, making people more prone to developing blood clots. The formation of blood clots can affect the normal flow of blood through veins and arteries and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Impaired blood circulation also means that the body’s organs are deprived of the oxygen they need to function normally, which can lead to serious health problems, such as angina and heart failure.

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Polycythemia vera is a chronic blood disease that can be life-threatening if not properly diagnosed and treated. Although this disease has no cure, there are treatments that can help manage the disease and its complications. Treatment for PV may also involve several treatment methods to help manage the condition.

The body tries to compensate and increase red blood cell production for any medical conditions that may cause low oxygen levels. These conditions include:

An abnormally functioning kidney due to kidney disease, kidney transplant, or kidney cancer can lead to excess production of erythropoietin, which improves red blood cell production.

Some medications, such as methyldopa and gentamicin, can increase the number of red blood cells (RBCs). Methyldopa is a medicine used for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) and gentamicin is an antibacterial medicine used for the treatment of bacterial infections in the blood. Be sure to tell your doctor what medications you are taking.

Rbc Blood Test: Normal Ranges And Diagnostic Uses

When a person is dehydrated, the plasma or liquid component of blood decreases and the concentration of red blood cells increases.

Your doctor may recommend certain medications or procedures to help lower your red blood cell count, especially if a medical problem is causing the abnormal number.

A procedure called phlebotomy may be performed regularly by a healthcare professional until your red blood cell (RBC) level is close to normal. In this procedure, a needle is inserted into your vein to draw blood into a designated container or bag.

In people with bone marrow disease or polycythemia vera, doctors may prescribe hydroxyurea, an anticancer drug that can help slow the production of red blood cells in the body. Regular doctor’s appointments are necessary while taking this medication to monitor and ensure that red blood cell counts do not drop excessively to dangerous levels.

Variations In Red Blood Cell Morphology

A high red blood cell count is usually discovered when doctors order blood tests to help diagnose a patient’s condition. You can ask your doctor and discuss the results of your blood tests. A high red blood cell (RBC) count and other abnormal test results are indications that can help your doctor identify the cause of your illness.

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Is a trusted resource for patients to find the best doctors in their area. Be visible and accessible thanks to your up-to-date contact details, certified reviews from your patients and an online appointment booking functionality. Hematocrit (HCT) refers to the proportion of red blood cells (RBC) in an individual’s blood. Adults with XY chromosomes typically have an HCT between 40% and 54%, and adults with XX chromosomes have an HCT between 36% and 48%. In addition to red blood cells, blood contains three other main components: white blood cells, platelets and plasma.

Erythrocyte Definition And Examples

Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in total blood volume. A hematocrit test can be performed using a capillary tube and a centrifuge (i.e. a machine that uses centrifugal force to separate substances from blood due to their different densities). Usually, hematocrit levels are identified as part of a complete blood count (CBC), but they can also be tested on their own. However, a CBC is the most common blood test that measures HCT while also measuring red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels, and platelets.

Hematocrit is a very useful laboratory result because too few or too many red blood cells can be a clinical indication of various medical conditions, such as anemia or polycythemia, respectively. It can also be used to monitor individuals postoperatively to prevent or screen for complications, such as internal bleeding.

Low hematocrit levels, also called anemia, can be the result of decreased red blood cell production, increased blood loss, increased red blood cell destruction, or a combination of these .

The most common cause of a low hematocrit level is chronic (e.g., ulcers, colon cancer) or acute (e.g., trauma, internal bleeding) bleeding, which results in significant blood loss. Notably, people of childbearing age who are assigned female at birth may have a low hematocrit due to their menstruation. However, hematocrit may also decrease due to peripheral destruction of red blood cells, such as in conditions such as sickle cell anemia, where red blood cells have a shorter lifespan; and splenomegaly (i.e. enlarged spleen), where large numbers of healthy red blood cells are destroyed in the spleen. Another cause of a low hematocrit is decreased red blood cell production, as seen in chronic inflammatory diseases or bone marrow suppression caused by radiation therapy, malignancies, or medications like chemotherapy. Finally, malnutrition (e.g., iron, B12, and folate deficiency) as well as overhydration can also lead to decreased hematocrit levels.

What Does A High White Blood Cell Count (leukocytosis) Mean?

Dehydration, due to fluid loss from repetitive vomiting, overheating, or limited access to fluids, can cause hemoconcentration. Additionally, low oxygen availability triggers the production of new blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body and can be caused by smoking; high altitudes; congenital heart diseases; or certain lung disorders, such as pulmonary fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additionally, polycythemia vera, characterized by overproduction of red blood cells resulting from increased stimulation of the bone marrow (i.e., myeloproliferation), can result in elevated hematocrit levels. Likewise, increased production of erythropoietin, either due to androgen use or erythropoietin production from kidney, liver, and ovarian tumors, can also increase hematocrit. Finally, various pathologies of the endocrine system, such as Cushing’s syndrome, can also lead to elevated hematocrit levels.

Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in total blood volume. A wide variety of medical conditions, including blood disorders, can be detected by a hematocrit test. Low hematocrit levels, also called anemia, can be the result of decreased red blood cell production, increased blood loss, increased red blood cell destruction, or a combination of these elements. On the other hand, high hematocrit levels can be the result of hemoconcentration or overproduction of red blood cells, which can be triggered by a variety of factors.

Dixon, L.R. (1997). The complete blood count: physiological and clinical bases

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