Doctor insights on:
How Do They Test Your Red Blood Cell Count
I get cold and I have had my blood tested and have a low red blood cell count. What kind of problems cause this thing and what test do I need to have?
Anemia: There are many ways to become anemic. May not makeenouh blod, may be destroying blood or bloo could be getting destroyed. Need to see youbphysician. M. ...Read more
What does a high number of red blood cell count signify? My recent blood test came back and my red blood cell count is above the reference range. 7.64
Not very significant: Slight increase in RBC's may be a compensatory reaction to blood loss either external from injury or internal like a bleeding ulcer. Excessive increase in RBC count can be due to bone marrow disease. Repeat the count after a few months and if it is still high consult a hematologist ...Read more
It can,,,: CBC stands for Complete Blood Count, which includes platelet, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. These last 2 values indicate the amount of blood in your body by concentration and percent of blood volume. A more thorough report can also show the size range and number of red cells along with a differential of the white cells. ...Read more
My blood test show slightly high red blood cell count (5.78) they are smaller and carry slight less oxygen. What could this be? Told me not to worry
Beta thalassemia tra: It may due to a benign disorder of hemoglobin synthesis, common underlying defect being a carrier state for beta thalassemia, or beta thalassemia trait. The advice to not worry is correct. You are not likely to cause any problems for children either, unless your partner also carries the same defect. ...Read more
Many or none: It depends on the numbers and your general health, symptoms, and physical examination. Often a blood test that is just above or below the normal range is still normal. Talk to your medical provider about the tests. ...Read more
I'm 20 years old and doc ordered test due to feeling bad. Results say my vitiman d is 14 and my red blood cell count is 5.28. Are those oddly low/high?
Need vit D, also iron: Vit D should be over 30. You may also be low in iron ...Read more
Blood test results show lymphocytes at 46 when normal is 20-40. Everything else (white and red blood cell count normal). Should I be worried?
Lymphocytes: There is always some variation in counts, what is "normal" is what falls within the 95% confidence interval of average. So some "normals" will fall above or below the range. Would not worry if no symptoms, no atypical lymphocytes, may consider repeating in 2-3 months to get the pattern. Follow up and discuss with your doctor as well. ...Read more
Depends: It depends upon how abnormal the counts are. Laboratory normals are set at the laboratory level and do not indicate normal for everyone. Values slightly outside the range may be completely normal for you and not for another person. This is where your doctor uses their experience and personal knowledge of your case. ...Read more
Tsh 5.4, T4 7.6 plus low red blood cell count, high ldl, hdl, vldl & triglycerides r high. What other test can tell me what caused my thyroid to stop?
It doesn't matter: A test of antithyroid antibodies may suggest that thyroiditis caused your decline in thyroid level, but it doesn't matter since the appropriate therapy is brand name T4 replacement, no matter what the cause. Also, your minimal level of thyroid deficiency is insufficient to cause you lipid abnormalities. Look for other causes, such as genetics, weight, diet, inactivity, etc. ...Read more
I recently did a blood test and my White blood cell count was 3.6 and my red blood cell was 5.22 and my mch was 26.4, should I be alarmed?
All laboratory results need to be interpreted in the clinical context and the doctor who ordered the tests is usually in the best position to do that. Having said that, there is nothing to be alarmed about your results.
For good health - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Drink enough water daily, so that your urine is mostly colorless. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form.
Practice safe sex, if you have sex.
Get HPV vaccine, if you are under 27 years of age. ...Read more
Hemoglobin 12-16: There is more than one way to measure red cells. The most meaningful is hemogllbin level, and should be 11.5 - 15 or so in a woman, and 13.7 - 16.7 in men. The actual range varies with each lab and instrument used to measure. An older way of measuring, hematocrit is about 3 times the hemoglobin. The actual red cell count is usually 5, 000, 000, but doesn't carry as much information as hemoglobin. ...Read more
Anemia can be due to: Low red blood count is best measured as hemoglobin (hb) level. Normal hb level is over 12 grams. If yours is below 12 grams, go see your doctor as you will need to get some additional blood tests done, like checking your blood iron levels. The commonest cause of low red count is iron defiiciency (in women particulalrly). ...Read more
Your body may increase red blood cell production to compensate for any condition that results in low oxygen levels, including:
•Congenital heart disease in adults
•A condition present at birth that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells (hemoglobinopathy)
•COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and other lung diseases
•Nicotine dependence (smoking)
Certain drugs stimulate the production of red blood cells, including:
•Blood doping (transfusion)
•Injections of a protein (erythropoietin) that enhances red blood cell production
Increased red blood cell concentration
•Dehydration (If the liquid component of the blood (plasma) is decreased, as in dehydration, the red blood cell count increases. This is due to the red blood cells becoming more concentrated. The actual number of red blood cells stays the same.)
Rarely, in some kidney cancers and sometimes after kidney transplants, the kidneys might produce too much erythropoietin. This enhances red blood cell production.
Bone marrow overproduction
•Other myeloproliferative disorders ...Read more
Causes of anemia can be classified as ;
1. Impaired rbc production, such as iron or Folic Acid deficiency or aplastic anemia.
2. Increase rbc destruction, such as sickle cell anemia.
3. Blood loss, such as trauma or surgery or bleeding.
4. Fluid overload, such as pregnancy, excess sodium or fluids. ...Read more
Depends on chemo: If problem related to diet then use of iron products may help or change in diet. Effect of chemo reduces both RBC and WBC. The RBC can be increased using erythropoietin and the WBC by adding Neupogen but if chemo high the drugs may only moderate extent of fall. Otherwise they can help restore marrow replacement of WBC and RBC. ...Read more
What is it?: You need to tell us the level of your hemoglobin (hb). Then we can help youi to interpret it depending on if it is high or low. ...Read more
Depends on reason: The reason for the level is important. A therapeutic blood draw can be done but before you do anything see you medical provider. ...Read more
Many things: A low rbc count is anemia, and causes include nutritional deficiencies (iron, b12, folic acid), bleeding, chronic illnesses of various kinds, malignancies, and primary bone marrow diseases to name a few. High rbc counts (polycythemia), can occur if there is a lack of oxygen in the blood (lung disease, sleep apnea, smoking for example) or with a blood disorder that causes too many rbcs to be made. ...Read more
Anemia: Anemia is term used for low red blood cells or low hemoglobin. Acute anemia can be due to blood loss due to any cause. Chronic anemia due to slow blood loss, like menstrual loss, peptic ulcer disease, iron, b12, folate (folic acid) deficiencies, hypothyroidism, chemotherapy, drugs etc. ...Read more
Can not be high&low:
Your red blood cell can not be high and low at the same time. Normal values for males 4.7to6.1 millions/mcl and for women it is 4.2to5.7millions/mcl
causes of high rbcs1 cigarette smoking, 2dehydration3polycythemia vera4congenital heart disease5low blood oxygen level6kidney tumor7pulmonary fibrosis&corpulmonale
causes of low rbcs
1anemia2bone marrow failure3bleeding4leukemia&mm4iron, b12, and defecien. ...Read more
Increase RBC count: Can be seen a condition called polycythmia vera. Please see your doctor. ...Read more
More info needed: Without being more specific it is difficult to give you a cogent answer. Write back with more details. ...Read more
Ask your doctor: Having too many blood cells is called polycythemia - look it up. ...Read more
Low rbc: Either he is not making enough rbcs, or he is bleeding in GI track. Discuss with his Dr. If he gives you permission to talk to his Dr. Did he say it was OK to ask us here. If not you are violating medical confidentiality. Get Ok from him. ...Read more
Is this your Hemoglo: Red cell count runs into 4-5 million cell count range. If yours is 6...You probaly are talking about hemoglobin (hb) level. This is normally 12-14 grams. Anything less than 12 is called anemia. Anything below 10 grams will make you feel weak, and less than 8 grams requires a blood transfusion. So you should go see your doctor and find the cause which will require doing further tests. ...Read more