National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Hydroxyurea slows down the production of red blood cells in the body. There is much you can do on your own to manage your RBC count, staring with a balanced diet and regular exercise. This could be due to a disease, drug, or another cause. Hemolysis is the destruction of red blood cells. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). 6th ed. High altitude: Lower oxygen pressure in your environment makes your body require more hemoglobin to maintain your oxygen needs. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. There is a problem with Low Back Pain Caused by the Quadratus Lumborum. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 10, 2015. Cleveland Clinics Robert J. Tomsich Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute touches virtually every patient at Cleveland Clinic and thousands of patients across the world. Accessed Oct. 26, 2022. Most blood cells, including red blood cells, are produced regularly in your bone marrow a spongy material found within the cavities of many of your large bones. Also, being at high altitudes may cause reticulocyte counts to rise, to help you adjust to the lower oxygen levels at high altitudes. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. For a complete blood count, a member of the health care team takes a sample of blood by putting a needle into a vein in your arm, usually at the bend in your elbow. If you have a high red blood cell count, its important to talk to your healthcare provider. CBC with differential, blood. information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with The body might make more red blood cells as a response to conditions that result in low oxygen levels. What does a lower than normal RBC count mean? But for someone having cancer treatment, the results of a CBC outside the expected range might signal a need to change the treatment. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on However, the red blood cells are simply more tightly packed. On the other hand, when a person has values that exceed the normal limit, he or she is said to be polycythemic. Accessed Nov. 30, 2015. 2021; doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.760981. . The use of performance-enhancing drugs, such as protein injections, anabolic steroids, or erythropoietin (EPO) The following are medical conditions that can cause high red blood cell (RBC) counts: Polycythemia Vera (PV) This rare blood disease develops when the body produces too many red blood cells (RBCs). Iron deficiency anemia: The most common cause of low red blood cells is anemia due to iron deficiency. Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, 12th edition. This content does not have an Arabic version. To produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, your body needs iron, vitamin B-12, folate and other nutrients from the foods you eat. This is called phlebotomy. Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Blood Cancers & Disorders support group on Mayo Clinic Connect, a patient community. Red blood cell count: An unrecognized risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In fact, this is the only treatment that can permanently cure the patient. A high RBC count tells us that there has been an increase in oxygen-carrying cells in the blood. Red blood cells (RBCs) can be present in your urine, whether you see pink in the toilet bowl or not. Function of red blood cells. (n.d.)https://www.lls.org/managing-your-cancer/lab-and-imaging-tests/understanding-blood-counts, High Red Blood Cell Count. The objective of this health library is to engage our community and offer relevant, trusted and easy to understand health & wellness information that can be accessed anywhere, anytime, on any device for FREE. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it affects one in about 365 Black Americans. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Low oxygen levels The body might make more red blood cells as a response to conditions that result in low oxygen levels. EPO is a hormone that causes bone marrow to produce RBCs. How to treat elevated red blood cell count? For example, it prevents the regular formation of blood clots. Blood cell disorders impair the formation and function of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Red Blood Cell Count (RBC). If you have heart failure, be sure to follow your healthcare providers treatment plan diligently. They will then: After collecting your blood sample, your doctors office will send it to a laboratory for analysis. Many cancers actually cause your red blood cells to drop. The blood is measured in cells per liter (cells/L) or grams per deciliter (grams/dL). Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Understanding blood counts. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Your red blood cells (RBC) transport oxygen to cells of the body. It's also caused by blood loss, such as from heavy menstrual bleeding; an ulcer in the stomach or small bowel; cancer of the large bowel; and regular use of some pain relievers that are available without a prescription, especially aspirin, which can cause inflammation of the stomach lining resulting in blood loss. Zhong F, et al. Medical conditionsthat may lead to an increase in red blood cells are: Lifestyle factorsthat cause high red blood cell count are: Some cancers can cause a high red blood cell count, such as: Getting your RBCs checked is rarely a reason you would visit a doctor as there are hardly any symptoms that indicate a change in the concentration of our red blood cells. People with anemia might feel weak or tired. Male: 4.35 trillion to 5.65 trillion cells/L, Female: 3.92 trillion to 5.13 trillion cells/L, Male: 13.2 to 16.6 grams/dL For example: Most of the time, people dont know they have a high red blood cell count. https://labtestsonline.org/tests/red-blood-cell-count-rbc, https://www.lls.org/managing-your-cancer/lab-and-imaging-tests/understanding-blood-counts, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17810-high-red-blood-cell-count, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/polycythemia-vera#. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Your doctor may draw out around 500 milliliters of blood in one visit. Anemia has three main causes: blood loss, lack of red blood cell production, and high rates of red blood cell destruction. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The latest information about heart & vascular disorders, treatments, tests and prevention from the No. For example, your RBC count may be low if you are pregnant or menstruating, or if you aren't getting enough iron in your diet. Carbon monoxide exposure (usually related to smoking). Polycythemia is an increase of red blood cells in the blood. information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of If the polycythemia is a symptom of an underlying cause, like an infection, injury, or tumor, the treatment will be focused on it. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/25/2022. These factors place you at increased risk of anemia: Chronic conditions. Polycythemia vera ( or Primary polycythemia, is a slow-growing bloo. This content does not have an Arabic version. This content does not have an English version. But, it doesnt always mean that you have a health problem. A complete blood count is a common blood test done for many reasons: There is a problem with If you live in a high-altitude city like Denver, your blood count will be far higher than people who live in low-altitude areas like the Gulf Coast. 2nd ed. If we combine this information with your protected Accessed Oct. 26, 2022. They can also result in unusual RBC levels. Doctors can use CBCs to monitor conditions like leukemia and infections of the blood. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. The number of red blood cells stays the same. Avoid the use of steroids, erythropoietin, and other performance-enhancing drugs. They include: Iron deficiency anemia. Anemia signs and symptoms vary depending on the cause and severity of anemia. If you're told that you can't donate because of low hemoglobin, make an appointment with your doctor. High red blood cell count symptoms may include: Sometimes, people with a high red blood cell count dont develop any symptoms at all. American Association for Clinical Chemistry/Lab Tests Online. It is important to do frequent checkups so that the level does not go too low. A high red blood cell count is generally considered to be anything above 6.1 million red blood cells for males, 5.4 million for females, and 5.5 for children. Refer to your child's laboratory report for the reference ranges. Rarely, in some kidney cancers or after kidney transplant, the kidneys might produce too much of the hormone erythropoietin. CBC with differential, blood. Eosinophil Count: What It Is and What It Means, tenderness in your palms or soles of your feet, clean the puncture site with an antiseptic, wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to make your vein swell with blood, gently insert a needle into your vein and collect the blood in an attached vial or tube, remove the needle and elastic band from your arm, chloramphenicol, which treat bacterial infections, quinidine, which can treat irregular heartbeats, hydantoins, traditionally used to treat epilepsy and muscle spasms, gentamicin, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections in the blood, exercising regularly, which requires the body to use up more oxygen, reducing the amount of iron and red meat that you consume. They include low levels of certain vitamins or iron, blood loss, or another medical condition. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Hematocrit values could be affected by the size, as well as the numbers of the red blood cells. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on The red blood cell (RBC) count is a test that measures the number of oxygen-carrying blood cells in your blood. Leukocytosis: definition, causes, symptoms and treatments. Theres typically no special preparation needed for this test. A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test. Your healthcare provider may recommend certain medications or procedures to help lower your RBC count, especially if a medical condition is causing the abnormal count. Frontiers in Endocrinology. RBC ranges are measured in terms of cells per microliter (L). Accessed Oct. 26, 2022. But symptoms worsen as anemia worsens. However, there are some cancers that can result in a high red blood cell count, including: Polycythemia vera (a rare blood cancer that causes your body to make too many red blood cells). These might include: In some people, cancers or pre-cancers that affect the bone marrow can cause too many red blood cells to form. 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