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Is high red blood count bad?
An RBC count that is higher than normal can be a sign of many health problems, including: Dehydration. Lung diseases.
What should I do if my RBC is high?
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 does RBC mean in a blood test?
Red blood cells (RBCs), also called erythrocytes, are cells that circulate in the blood and carry oxygen throughout the body. The RBC count totals the number of red blood cells that are present in your sample of blood.
What are the symptoms 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….Symptoms of an abnormal count
- fatigue.
- shortness of breath.
- dizziness, weakness, or lightheadedness, particularly when you change positions quickly.
- increased heart rate.
- headaches.
- pale skin.
What happens if you have too many red blood cells?
Having too many red blood cells might cause stomach ulcers, gout, or kidney stones. PV can also lead to more serious blood diseases like acute leukemia or myelofibrosis. Acute leukemia is a blood cancer that gets worse quickly. Myelofibrosis is a condition in which your bone marrow fills with scar tissue.
What is a normal RBC count?
A normal RBC count would be: men – 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microlitre (cells/mcL) women – 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL.
Can dehydration cause high RBC count?
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.
Can dehydration cause high red blood cell count?
Why is having too many red blood cells bad?
What does high red blood cell ( RBC ) count mean?
Overview Red blood cells (RBCs), also called erythrocytes, are the cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. They are also one of the major components of blood. Having a high red blood cell (RBC) count means that the number of RBCs in the bloodstream is higher than normal.
What to do if your RBC count is high?
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. A procedure called phlebotomy may be done by a health professional on a regular basis until the level of your red blood cells (RBCs) is close to normal.
What does it mean when your RBC count is low?
This usually indicates that the body is compensating for some condition that is depriving the body of oxygen, including: 2 A low RBC count indicates a decrease in oxygen-carrying cells in the blood. The causes can be many, ranging from infections and deficiencies to malnutrition to malignancies, including: 2