9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. A high platelet count can be identified through routine blood tests. American Association for Clinical Chemistry/Lab Tests Online. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/poly#. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. An RBC count is ordered as a part of the complete blood count (CBC), often as part of a routine physical or as part of a pre-surgical workup.A CBC may be ordered when you have signs and symptoms suggesting a disease that might affect red blood cell production. Schedule your appointment now for safe in-person care. Lifestyle and health factors can also cause an increase in the red blood cell count. Polycythemia is an increased number of red blood cells in the blood. an increase in the total red blood cell mass of the blood; called also erythrocythemia, hypercythemia, and hypererythrocythemia. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. HelloCustomer Usually stress makes your body to produce more white blood cells, thus increasing their number. 1. Usually, blood test results show elevated white blood cell count if you are fighting an infection or have an inflammatory condition. This is due to the red blood cells becoming more concentrated. Marx JA, et al., eds. High RBC Count Causes . A high red blood cell count may be a symptom of a disease or disorder, although it doesn’t always indicate a health problem. After observing an overproduction of white blood cells in residents, they performed an experiment on mice, whose white-blood-cell counts responded similarly to stress … They include: Living at higher altitudes; Cigarette smoking Diagnostic approach to the patient with polycythemia. Anemia, polycythemia, and white blood cells disorders. High RBC Count Causes . More concerning things that can cause this would be your body making too many red blood cells without a cause, a condition called polycythemia. 8th ed. However, severe stress also may lower their count, most likely if there is underlying condition for the low blood cell counts. http://www.uptodate.com/home. High stress levels also can cause depression and anxiety, again leading to higher levels of inflammation. Tefferi A, et al. In some cases, this may indicate that the body is compensating for some condition that is depriving the body of oxygen,   in others, the cause may be related to diseases or drugs that alter the production of RBCs. The polycythemias. Heart failure, causing low blood oxygen levels, Carbon monoxide exposure (usually related to smoking), Taking performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids (for example, synthetic testosterone) or erythropoietin. Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics. Another common cause of a high red blood cell count is having a health condition that makes the amount of oxygen in your blood chronically low, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Additional tests will help your doctor determine the cause of your high red blood cell count and next steps in your care. Increased white blood cell (WBC) count and red cell distribution width (RDW) are associated with negative clinical outcomes in a wide variety of pathological conditions. Polycythemia vera. Accessed Dec. 8, 2015. 2015;26:297. Medical management of cyanotic congenital heart disease in adults. A high RBC count tells us that there has been an increase in oxygen-carrying cells in blood. These unique cells are capable of becoming any kind of blood cell, from red blood cells to platelets. Lee G, et al. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Connolly HM. But EPO doping — getting injections to enhance athletic performance — can cause a high hemoglobin count. A condition present at birth that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells (hemoglobinopathy), Injections of a protein (erythropoietin) that enhances red blood cell production. Blood doping (transfusion) Injections of a protein (erythropoietin) that enhances red blood cell production; Increased red blood cell concentration. This category likewise includes polycythemia vera, and primary familial and congenital polycythemia.Polycythemia veraPolycythemia vera is a fairly unusual condition, and is typically associated with an elevated white blood cell count and platelet count. In a procedure called a phlebotomy, a health professional inserts a needle into your vein and drains blood through a tube into a bag or container. Although having a high red blood cell count doesn’t always indicate a health problem, it could also be a symptom of a disease or disorder in certain cases. If your kitty's red blood cell count is elevated, your vet will do some diagnostic testing to discover the cause. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. In some cases, this may indicate that the body is compensating for some condition that is depriving the body of oxygen,   in others, the cause may be related to diseases or drugs that alter the production of RBCs. Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center provides world-class care to patients with cancer and is at the forefront of new and emerging clinical, translational and basic cancer research. Health or lifestyle factors can cause a high red blood cell count. In most cases, the cause of the high white blood cell count is related to an on-going medical condition, such as an infection, but less frequently, high white blood cell counts may be caused by a serious disorder or disease process, such as leukemia. Being born at high altitudes or living at such altitudes causes babies to develop excess red blood cells as it does in adults who live in such locations. In: Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Mayo Clinic facts about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Our COVID-19 patient and visitor guidelines, plus trusted health information, Mayo Clinic Health System patient vaccination updates. A high platelet count can be identified through routine blood tests. In primary polycythemia, abnormalities in the production of red blood cells cause a high red blood cell count. Learn about polycythemia causes, treatment, life expectancy, types, and more. After observing an overproduction of white blood cells in residents, they performed an experiment on mice, whose white-blood-cell counts responded similarly to stress induced during the experiment. Pregnancy can also cause a high or slightly elevated white blood cell count. High White blood cell production is one of them. Severe Stress. Platelets are small blood cell fragments that assist in blood clotting. However, in the case of high stress levels, the hematopoietic stem cells developed into white blood cells that then went on to cause plaque buildup that threatened to … Stress reaction can cause a high count, and certain drugs, especially steroids, can lead to a higher number. Low blood cells may be observed after some viral infections, medications and antibiotics, bone marrow diseases autoimmune disorders. https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_multi_polycythemia Fluffy's high red blood cell count could be caused by a kidney tumor, bone marrow cancer or cardiac or lung problems. High red blood cell count may be caused by low oxygen levels, kidney disease or other problems. In a healthy person, there are usually 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. There are two distinct forms of the disease: Primary polycythemia (polycythemia vera) is a myeloproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. Hoffman R, et al. In a procedure called a phlebotomy, a health professional inserts a needle into your vein and drains blood through a tube into a … Your body may increase red blood cell production to compensate for any condition that results in low oxygen levels, including: Certain drugs stimulate the production of red blood cells, including: Rarely, in some kidney cancers and sometimes after kidney transplants, the kidneys might produce too much erythropoietin. A high number of red blood cells--more than 5.72 million red blood cells per mcL for men and 5.03 million per mcL for women--requires further evaluation, according to MayoClinic.com 1.In some cases, treatment for an elevated red blood cell count involves correcting the underlying cause, while … High stress levels also can cause depression and anxiety, again leading to higher levels of inflammation. The cause of secondary polycythemia is the result of external factors such as sleep apnea, hypoxia, and certain tumors, affecting red blood cell production. Accessed Dec. 8, 2015. This content does not have an English version. Primary polycythemias are abnormally high levels of red blood cell precursors arising from inherited or gotten hereditary mutations. Severe emotional and mental stress can cause white blood cells to elevate to abnormal levels. If your test results show an elevated white blood cell count, your first thought might be that something horrible is wrong with you. You're not likely to get a high hemoglobin count from EPO given to you for chronic kidney disease. A high red blood cell count is generally considered to be anything above 6.1 million red blood cells for men, 5.4 million for women, and 5.5 for children. Background: Depression and anxiety are two common mood disorders that are both linked to systemic inflammation. If a medical condition is causing a high red blood cell count, your doctor may recommend a procedure or medication to lower it. The cause of secondary polycythemia is the result of external factors such as sleep apnea, hypoxia, and certain tumors, affecting red blood cell production. Medical conditions that can cause an increase in red blood cells include: Polycythemia (high red blood cell count) is a condition in which the body's red blood cells are elevated. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2013. http://www.clinicalkey.com. If a medical condition is causing a high red blood cell count, your doctor may recommend a procedure or medication to lower it. You've taken drugs or hormones, most commonly erythropoietin (EPO), that stimulate red blood cell production. Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Causes of a raised red cell count Absolute erythrocytosis may be caused by an abnormality within the red blood cells (primary erythrocytosis) or by another condition (secondary erythrocytosis). Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. An RBC count is ordered as a part of the complete blood count (CBC), often as part of a routine physical or as part of a pre-surgical workup.A CBC may be ordered when you have signs and symptoms suggesting a disease that might affect red blood cell production. Some common signs and symptoms associated with anemia that generally lead to a healthcare practitioner ordering … Stress can mean post surgery distress or excessive exercise or strain due to day to day activity. After one week, the researchers found that white blood cell counts were significantly higher in on-duty workers than in those that were off-duty. How is a high red blood cell count treated? CORONAVIRUS: DELAYS FOR ROUTINE SURGERIES, VISITOR RESTRICTIONS + COVID-19 TESTING. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. On the other hand, several cancers, such as leukemia, can also show many white blood cells. This content does not have an Arabic version. There are two distinct forms of the disease: Primary polycythemia (polycythemia vera) is a myeloproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. Anemia can happen with lower red blood cell count or when red blood cells don’t contain enough hemoglobin [ 36 ]. Research has been done extensively in this field. Symptoms include fatigue, headache, itching, abdominal pain, joint pain. Sleep apnea and obesity place severe stress on the right side of the heart. Medical conditions that can cause an increase in red blood cells include: Lifestyle factors that can cause a high red blood cell count include: Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/02/2018. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. A bigger spleen and low erythropoietin levels are other scientific features of polycythemi… The research examined the white blood cell counts of 29 employees at the hospital’s intensive care unit.2These particular employees were chosen because the ICU is known to be a very high-stress environment. ; Hemoglobin levels greater than 16.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter) in women and greater than 18.5 g/dL in men … This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. High platelets is a condition in which the blood contains more platelets than normal. 2015;90:1283. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. A high RBC count tells us that there has been an increase in oxygen-carrying cells in blood. A high White blood cell count causes inflammation and can denote Rheumatoid Arthritis. Having diabetic mothers can make babies susceptible. an increase in the total red blood cell mass of the blood; called also erythrocythemia, hypercythemia, and hypererythrocythemia. Accessed Dec. 7, 2015. What causes a high red blood cell (RBC) count? In primary polycythemia, abnormalities in the production of red blood cells cause a high red blood cell count. The treatment of polycythemia, which can involve phlebotomy, can alleviate the systemic hypertension, as well as the physiological consequences of having a high red blood cell count. Policy, Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. How is a high red blood cell count treated? Health or lifestyle factors can cause a high red blood cell count. The blood making cells in bone marrow work harder to create high hemoglobin levels and a high red blood cell count. Accessed Dec. 7, 2015. Tests may include a urinalysis, complete blood count and blood oxygen levels. Being born post-term after the mother crosses the 42-week mark in her pregnancy can also cause elevated red blood cell counts. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Causes of Primary Polycythemia Dehydration (If the liquid component of the blood (plasma) is decreased, as in dehydration, the red blood cell count increases. This indicates a connection between elevated stress levels and the body’s production of what are known as infla… Myleoproliferative Disorders. High platelets is a condition in which the blood contains more platelets than normal. 1. This enhances red blood cell production. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. 6th ed. It is characterized by hyperplasia of the cell-forming tissues of the bone marrow, with resultant … A high white blood cell count could be a sign of leukemia, a form of blood cancer or other medical conditions. An elevated white blood cell count is called leukocytosis and can be evidence that your body is trying to fight off something. In polycythemia, the levels of hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (), or the red blood cell (RBC) count may be elevated when measured in the complete blood count (), as compared to normal. Accessed Dec. 8, 2015. European Journal of Internal Medicine. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Chronic myleoproliferative disorders (disorders where the bone … In today’s post, we are listing down potential causes of an elevated white blood cell count: 1. Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter, New Year Special -  40% off – Mayo Clinic Diet Online. All rights reserved. Some common signs and symptoms associated with anemia that generally lead to a healthcare practitioner ordering a CBC are: Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. However, other factors like stress, smoking, or allergies can elevate your white blood cell count. Tests may include a urinalysis, complete blood count and blood oxygen levels. Having a low level of red blood cells can diminish the ability of the blood to transport oxygen, which can cause the heart to come under strain as it works to get enough oxygen to the tissues . If your kitty's red blood cell count is elevated, your vet will do some diagnostic testing to discover the cause. Platelets are small blood cell fragments that assist in blood clotting. The clinical and laboratory evaluation of the patient with erythrocytosis. Stress reaction can cause a high count, and certain drugs, especially steroids, can lead to a higher number. Stress: As you know, stress causes various health problems. Tefferi A. A high red blood cell count may be a symptom of a disease or disorder, although it doesn’t always indicate a health problem. © 1998-2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). In a healthy person, there are usually 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera: Focus on clinical practice. Causes … In most cases, the cause of the high white blood cell count is related to an on-going medical condition, such as an infection, but less frequently, high white blood cell counts may be caused by a serious disorder or disease process, such as leukemia. 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