A high red blood cell count is an increase in oxygen-carrying cells in your bloodstream. A high red blood cell count can result from a condition that limits your oxygen supply or a condition that directly increases red blood cell production.
Furthermore, what are the side effects of high red blood cell count?
If you have a high RBC count, you could experience symptoms such as:
- fatigue.
- shortness of breath.
- joint pain.
- tenderness in the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
- itching skin, particularly after a shower or bath.
- sleep disturbance.
Secondly, can dehydration cause high red blood cell count? Some causes of a high RBC count (polycythemia) include: Dehydration—as the volume of fluid in the blood drops, the count of RBCs per volume of fluid artificially rises. The body tries to compensate by producing more red blood cells. Kidney tumor that produces excess erythropoietin.
Similarly, how do you treat high red blood cell count?
If you have a high RBC count:
- Exercise to improve heart and lung function.
- Eat less red meat and iron-rich foods.
- Avoid iron supplements.
- Keep yourself well hydrated.
- Avoid diuretics, including coffee and caffeinated drinks.
- Stop smoking, especially if you have COPD or pulmonary fibrosis.
What causes elevated red blood cells and hemoglobin?
Medical conditions that can cause high hemoglobin levels include: Polycythemia vera (the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells) Lung diseases such as COPD, emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis (lung tissue becomes scarred) Heart disease, especially congenital heart disease (the baby is born with it)
14 Related Question Answers Found
Can exercise lower red blood cell count?
Despite stimulated erythropoiesis, exercise can decrease the red blood cell mass by intravascular hemolysis mainly of senescent red blood cells, which is caused by mechanical rupture when red blood cells pass through capillaries in contracting muscles, and by compression of red cells e.g., in foot soles during running
Is high red blood cell count bad?
A high red blood cell count may be a symptom of a disease or disorder, although it doesn’t always indicate a health problem. Heart failure, causing low blood oxygen levels. Congenital heart disease (born with it) Polycythemia vera (a blood disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells)
How can I lower my hemoglobin levels naturally?
taking iron supplements. increasing the intake of iron-rich foods (eggs, spinach, artichokes, beans, lean meats, and seafood) and foods rich in cofactors (such as vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin C) important for maintaining normal hemoglobin levels.
Does aspirin lower red blood cell count?
RESULTS: Acute or chronic doses of aspirin reduced the RBC count, hemoglobin and other red cell indices as compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Aspirin in either acute or chronic doses induces anemia associated with leucocytosis in mice; the anemia does not seem to be induced due to alterations in iron metabolism.
What increases red blood cells?
5 nutrients that increase red blood cell counts red meat, such as beef. organ meat, such as kidney and liver. dark, leafy, green vegetables, such as spinach and kale. dried fruits, such as prunes and raisins. beans. legumes. egg yolks.
Can sleep apnea cause high red blood cell count?
As obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be a possible cause of elevated red blood cell count, Ojile says primary care physicians should consider referring these patients for evaluation for OSA. A simple blood test administered by physicians can measure complete blood count.
What is the normal range for blood count?
Normal Blood Count Ranges In general, the normal range for a red blood cell count is 4.5 to 5.5 million cells/mm3 if you’re male and 4 to 5 million cells/mm3 if you’re female. For white blood cell count, the normal range is 5,000 to 10,000 cells/mm3, and for platelets, the typical range is 140,000 to 400,000/mm3.
Can kidney stones cause high red blood cell count?
But when checked under a microscope, it contains a high number of red blood cells. Some more serious causes of blood in the urine are cancer, infection, enlarged prostate (men only), kidney or bladder stones, and certain diseases (like sickle cell anemia and cystic kidney disease).
Is high hemoglobin A sign of cancer?
Polycythemia vera is a cancer of the blood in which your bone marrow overproduces red blood cells. With polycythemia, a blood test also shows that you have a high red blood cell count and high hematocrit. Common symptoms of high Hgb levels include: itchiness.
When red blood cells are high?
Polycythemia means increased red blood cell volume. Polycythemia is divided into two main categories; primary and secondary. Polycythemia can be linked to secondary causes, such as, chronic hypoxia or tumors releasing erythropoietin. Abnormally increased red cell production in the bone marrow causes polycythemia vera.
How common is polycythemia vera?
Polycythemia vera affects slightly more men than women. The disorder is estimated to affect approximately 2 people per 100,000 in the general population. It occurs most often in individuals more than 60 years old, but can affect individuals of any age. It is extremely rare in individuals under 20.
Can polycythemia go away?
You want to feel better, not worse. Remember that secondary polycythemia is caused by an underlying condition, most of which are well-known and have multiple treatment options available. Once the underlying cause is corrected, symptoms of secondary polycythemia usually go away.
Is high hemoglobin serious?
High hemoglobin levels could be indicative of the rare blood disease, polycythemia. It causes the body to make too many red blood cells, causing the blood to be thicker than usual. This can lead to clots, heart attacks, and strokes. It is a serious lifelong condition that can be fatal if it is not treated.
What is a dangerous hemoglobin level?
A normal hemoglobin level is 11 to 18 grams per deciliter (g/dL), depending on your age and gender. But 7 to 8 g/dL is a safe level. Your doctor should use just enough blood to get to this level. Often, one unit of blood is enough. One unit of blood is usually as good as two, and it may even be safer.