But a low white blood cell count doesn't necessarily mean there's anything to worry about. In fact, white blood cell measurements from blood tests are best considered in context of your historic data and whether recent tests deviate from your normal.
Here's a comprehensive overview of white blood cells, the reasons they might be low, and how to support their production. Get 10 recipes to support your immune system. Your total white blood cell count is the sum of five different types of white blood cells, all with different roles in battling foreign invaders in the body: neutrophils , eosinophils , basophils , lymphocytes , and monocytes.
It's for this reason that a low white blood cell count is most likely due to a low neutrophil count, also called neutropenia. They essentially control traffic to and from an infection site by recruiting additional white blood cells specialized to the type of invader. Neutrophils function by engulfing the pathogen and breaking it down. The lifespan of a neutrophil is very short, ranging from 5 hours to a few days. Because your white blood cells play a vital role in immune function, low levels can leave you more susceptible to infection, increase the duration of illness, and increase the severity of it.
If you have a history WBC levels just below the 4. When an immune response is mounted, neutrophils leave the circulation to defend the body at the location of the damage. Since white blood cells engulf invading pathogens to destroy them, they tend to have a very short lifespan—most neutrophils can only effectively remove a few pathogens before they themselves die.
This high usage of neutrophils results in a low level of them in the blood. And since neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell, lower neutrophil levels bring down your overall WBC count.
So don't be too stressed about a one-time low WBC measurement. If you are not feeling ill by the time you get your blood test results they usually take several days to be processed , it is likely that your WBC count and neutrophil levels have retuned to normal since your blood draw.
A single low WBC result means that your immune system is working as it should, especially if you never felt sick. Utilizing a history of blood data is the best way to understand a low white blood cell count.
A single low WBC measure is not enough information for diagnosis. Speak with your physician about the need for follow-up testing. For most people, a low white blood cell level does not indicate illness or disease, but rather that your immune system is functioning properly. To maintain a properly functioning immune system, take action on improving lifestyle factors related to your white blood cell count. To learn what actions you can take to impact your white blood cell count, upload your results and develop your action plan with InsideTracker.
Hum Genet. Get in touch by phone or email contactus insidetracker. The inside guide Evidence-based tools to empower you to live a healthier, longer life. What are white blood cells WBC? They are largely produced in the bone marrow, although the spleen plays a role in the production of some types of white blood cells, too. The production of these cells is stimulated in response to infection, upon which they circulate throughout the blood and lymph systems.
Generally, though, a normal white blood cell count is 4,, per microliter of blood. This is usually reported as 4. You may also see this value represented as a percent of your total white blood cell count.
The many causes of low white blood cells First, before trying to pinpoint the cause behind a low WBC measure, it is important to note that a single data point really can't provide a comprehensive answer. So track down past blood work and use it as a comparison point for your new results—using multiple data points can help you determine whether you fall into one of the below categories. We all danced. And then we fought. And then plenty of people who had been ignoring the WBC finally took notice of it.
Will it help the WBC? That remains to be seen. If Team USA is eliminated Sunday, more people will no doubt line up to declare the tournament a failure. By Danny Knobler. Mar 9, at pm ET 4 min read. For once, you certainly did. For once, the WBC has people talking. All it took was the ugly brawl above. MLB rumors: Fast free agent frenzy coming? MLB free agent tracker: Market officially opens R. Canada, Mexico brawl, as WBC comes alive How secure is Manfred's job as lockout looms?
Dayn Perry 7 min read. Top offseason question for each team Mike Axisa 19 min read. When a foreign virus or bacteria enters your blood, the white blood cell aka leukocyte , recognizes and destroys the invading particle before it can cause disease. There are several different types of white blood cells, each with their own function.
Some directly destroy the foreign bacteria, while others attack your own cells that are infected by viruses. Other types of white blood cells can even play a role in allergic reactions! In addition to your total white blood cell count, InsideTracker also measures the different types of white blood cells, which can give clues as to what may be causing the elevated white blood cell count.
The types of white blood cells include: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. A high lymphocyte count may occur when there is a viral or bacterial infection. Increased monocytes can indicate chronic inflammation. Elevated levels of basophils and eosinophils may occur when there is an allergic response or in cases of a parasitic infection.
Infection —As infection-causing bacteria or viruses multiply in the blood, your bone marrow produces more white blood cells to fight off the infection. Infection can also lead to inflammation , which can in turn cause the number of white blood cells to increase. It is commonly caused by cigarette smoking, which results in inflammation in the lungs and air passages. As you gain more inflammation in your lungs and airways, your body will produce more white blood cells to fight it off.
Leukemia —Leukemia is a type of cancer that dramatically increases your number of white blood cells. Leukemic white blood cells are often non-functional, which may increase the risk of infection in these cancer patients. If you have one of these conditions, your doctor should monitor your white blood cell levels.
Stress —Finally, emotional or physical stress can also cause elevated white blood cell counts. The good news is that white blood cell levels will return to normal after the stress is gone. Omega-3 fatty acids —Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat or PUFA that is known to increase heart health and elevate the activity of phagocytes, a type of white blood cells that protect you from foreign bacteria.
Omega-3 PUFAs are found mainly in fatty fish like trout, herring, and salmon, but also in walnuts and flaxseed.
Studies have shown that PUFAs significantly increased white blood cell counts in women on a controlled diet.
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