Why is my RBC high?

A high red blood cell count can be a sign of: Dehydration. Heart disease. Polycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that causes too many red blood cells to be made.

Should I worry if my red blood cell count is high?

Should I worry if my red blood cell count is high? Not necessarily. While a high red blood cell count can indicate a disease or disorder, it doesn't always mean you have a health condition. Other factors — like living at a high altitude — can also have an impact on your red blood cell count.

What is the most common cause of high red blood cell count?

Low oxygen levels, misuse of certain drugs and blood cancers can cause a high red blood cell count.

What level of RBC is concerning?

A low RBC may be caused by an infection or a medical condition related to anemia. Low RBC counts are those below 4.7 for men, 4.2 for women, and 4.1 for children. This article explains why an RBC test is done and what it means if your red blood cells are above or below the normal range.

How do you fix high red blood cell count?

Treatment for High Red Blood Cell Count

Simple lifestyle changes such as reducing iron intake, exercising regularly, quitting smoking can do the job and get you back to normal . Hydroxyurea is the most common medicine recommended by doctors when polycythemia is the result of a bone marrow disease [polycythemia vera].

High Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytosis) | Causes, Signs and Symptoms, and Treatment

What foods to avoid if you have high red blood cells?

Fat: With polycythemia vera, it is important that you avoid consuming too much high-fat foods because they can increase your risk of blood clots and inflammation. These include red meat with fat, chicken with skin on it, and deep-fried foods or dessert made with heavy creams or large amounts of butter.

Can thyroid problems cause high red blood cell count?

Kawa MP and et al in 2010 reported that RBC, HB and HCT in patients with hyperthyroidism were significantly higher than control groups while RBC and HB were decreased in hypothyroidism, while HCT was increased.

What causes high red blood cell count hemoglobin and hematocrit?

A high hemoglobin count occurs most commonly when your body requires an increased oxygen-carrying capacity, usually because: You smoke. You live at a high altitude and your red blood cell production naturally increases to compensate for the lower oxygen supply there.

Is 5.13 RBC high?

What's considered a high red blood cell count is different at different labs. For adults, the usual range is generally 4.35 to 5.65 million red blood cells per microliter (mcL) of blood for men and 3.92 to 5.13 million red blood cells per mcL of blood for women.

What blood disorder has high red cell count?

Erythrocytosis, sometimes called polycythaemia, means having a high concentration of red blood cells in your blood. This makes the blood thicker and less able to travel through blood vessels and organs.

What disease causes red blood cells?

red cell membrane disorders (e.g. hereditary spherocytosis) hemoglobinopathies (e.g. sickle cell disease and thalassemia) hemolytic anemia. nutritional anemias (e.g. iron deficiency anemia, and folate deficiency)

Does COVID vaccine affect red blood cell count?

Partial vaccination did not alleviate the anemia, but fully vaccinated patients demonstrated higher RBC counts and lower RDWs with significance, albeit the patient ratios with deranged hematological data showed no difference from those without vaccination.

What medicines increase red blood cells?

Epoetin alfa products are in a class of medications called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). They work by causing the bone marrow (soft tissue inside the bones where blood is made) to make more red blood cells.

What does slightly high RBC and hematocrit mean?

A hematocrit level that's higher than normal may be a sign that: Your body is making too many red blood cells, which may be caused by: Lung disease. Congenital heart disease. Heart failure.

What is the most common symptom in the early stage of polycythemia?

Characteristics of early stages

For example, early symptoms may include: fatigue. weakness. dizziness.

Does hypothyroid affect RBC?

Physicians have long known that patients with an underactive thyroid tend to have anemia because thyroid hormone stimulates red blood cell (RBC) production.

Does Hashimoto's cause high red blood cell count?

One simple blood test is the red blood cell distribution width or RDW test which is included in the complete blood count (CBC). A recent study found that patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis have higher levels of RDW.

What are red flags for thyroid problems?

You feel warmer than usual, or overheated. Hyperthyroidism can make you feel warmer than usual. If you are wearing shorts and a T-shirt when everyone else is bundling up, this could be a sign of an overactive thyroid. You may also notice that you feel especially overheated after even mild exercise or exertion.

What vitamins lower red blood cells?

Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a low red blood cell count due to a lack (deficiency) of vitamin B12.

What is the rare blood disorder after COVID vaccine?

Symptoms related to thrombocytopenia such as bruising and petechiae are common. More serious bleeding has generally occurred after anticoagulation was initiated. Routine testing of platelet counts following COVID-19 vaccination is not suggested due to the rarity of the syndrome.

What is polycythemia disease?

Polycythemia vera (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh) is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots.

What blood issues are caused by COVID vaccine?

As with any vaccine, rare adverse events have been reported after COVID-19 vaccination. For example, some people who received the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines reported blood clots. The condition is known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome or TTS.

What autoimmune disease causes high RBC?

Evans syndrome is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when the immune system produces antibodies that mistakenly attack healthy tissue, specifically red blood cells, platelets and sometimes certain white blood cells.