Medications known to increase the WBC
White blood cell
White blood cells are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. All white blood cells are produced and derived from multipotent cells in the bone marrow known as hematopoietic stem cells. Leukocytes are found throughout the body, including the blood and lymphatic system.
What would cause a high white blood cell count?
Overall, the most common cause for a high white blood cell count is response to infection. Another potential cause of an elevated white blood cell count is leukemia. This is effectively a cancerous change of the blood and bone marrow which causes significant overproduction of white blood cells.
How to achieve a high white blood cell count?
- Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
- Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
- Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
- Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
- Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)
How can I Raise my low white blood cell count?
Iron-rich foods include:
- 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
What are the reasons for low white blood cell count?
These include:
- AIDS
- Aplastic anemia (condition in which the bone marrow makes insufficient blood cells)
- Bone marrow disease (myelodysplastic syndromes)
- Chemotherapy
- Leukemia
- Liver disease ( hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure)
- Overactive spleen that destroys white blood cells
- Radiation exposure
What is the treatment to increase WBC count?
Drugs that may increase WBC counts include epinephrine, allopurinol, aspirin, chloroform, heparin, quinine, corticosteroids, and triamterene.
What could be the reason to increase white blood cells?
Leukocytosis is most commonly caused by infection or inflammation. Other high white blood cell count causes may include: Excessive physical or emotional stress (such as fever, injury or surgery).
Is high white blood count serious?
White blood cell counts that are too high or too low may be dangerous, depending on the cause. Infection can cause spikes, as well as blood cancers and other conditions. White blood cells (leukocytes) make up about 1% of our blood and they help protect the body against illness and disease.
How can I reduce my WBC count?
To lower your high white blood cell count, you should include the following in your diet:Vitamin C. ... Antioxidants. ... Omega-3 Fatty Acids. ... Avoid foods rich in sugar, fat and salt.
What are symptoms of high white blood cell count?
Symptoms of a High White Blood Cell CountFever.Fatigue.Decreased appetite.Sweats.Chills.Swelling of an area of infection.Joint swelling due to infection or autoimmune disease.Itching, with or without a rash.More items...•
What infections cause white blood cells to be high?
A high white blood count may mean you have one of the following conditions:A bacterial or viral infection.An inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis.An allergy.Leukemia or Hodgkin disease.Tissue damage from a burn injury or surgery.
How long does it take for WBC to return to normal?
Depending on the type of infection, WBC can take from 5 days to 25 days for levels to return back to normal. For instance, a study has found that patients who contracted COVID-19 took between 2 to 6 weeks after the onset of symptoms for their WBC count to return to normal.
When should I be worried about high WBC?
The specific number for high (above normal) white blood cell count varies from one lab testing facility to another, but a general rule of thumb is that a count of more than 10,500 leukocytes in a microliter of blood in adults is generally considered to be high, while 4,500-10,500 is considered within the normal range.
Elevated White Blood Cell Count: What Is The Normal WBC Count?
Before you can figure out what an elevated white blood cell count is, you need to know what a normal white blood cell count. The scale for a normal...
Causes of Elevated White Blood Cell Count
An elevated white blood cell count is called leukocytosis and can be evidence that your body is trying to fight off something. If your test results...
How Elevated White Blood Cells Can Affect You
Your doctors have determined that, for some reason, you have an elevated white blood cell count. We know it may indicate an underlying condition in...
Can Food Help Lower Elevated White Blood Cells Count?
There are a number of foods that can help you lower your white blood cell count naturally. The following foods can not only help you lower the whit...
Preparing For White Blood Cell Count Test
With many medical tests, there are various things you have to do to prepare such as fasting or drinking a special liquid to make certain things sho...
Elevated White Blood Cell Counts Should Be Monitored
Since white blood cells help fight disease, viruses, and infections, you may assume that an elevated white blood cell count is a good thing. Sadly,...
What is an elevated white blood cell count?
An elevated white blood cell count is called leukocytosis and can be evidence that your body is trying to fight off something. If your test results show an elevated white blood cell count, your first thought might be that something horrible is wrong with you. While many of the causes of an elevated white blood cell count are serious, ...
What foods lower white blood cells?
The following foods can not only help you lower the white blood cell count, but they are also good, healthy choices alone. 1. Antioxidants. Foods high in antioxidants like carrots, blueberries, onions and garlic are great to help with the immune system. 2.
How old is a baby when you have a high white blood cell count?
As an infant, your white blood cell count tends to be higher, and the count steadily decreases to the age of 16. The measurements are taken per microliter or mcL. “Normal” white blood cell counts can vary from laboratory to laboratory, but they do tend to be similar.
What causes white blood cells to increase?
injury. emotional stress. labor. pregnancy. smoking. allergic reactions. excessive exercise . Certain respiratory illnesses, such as a whooping cough or tuberculosis, may cause the levels of white blood cells to increase. In some cases, all white blood cells are affected.
What is the term for an increase in white blood cells?
An increase in white blood cells is known as leukocytosis. It typically occurs in response to the following conditions: infection. immunosuppression. medications, including corticosteroids. a bone marrow or immune disorder. certain cancers, such as acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. inflammation. injury.
How many white blood cells are there in the human body?
Several types of white blood cell serve different functions. Most people will produce around 100 billion white blood cells every day. There are normally between 4,000 and 11,000 cells in every microliter of blood, although this can vary according to race. There are several different types of white blood cells, each with varying responsibilities: ...
What does it mean when your monocytes are high?
Monocytes: High levels of monocytes may indicate the presence of chronic infection, an autoimmune or blood disorder, cancer, or other medical conditions. Lymphocytes: If there is an elevation in the level of lymphocytes, the condition is known as lymphocytic leukocytosis. This may occur as a result of a virus or an infection, such as tuberculosis. ...
What are the different types of white blood cells?
There are several different types of white blood cells, each with varying responsibilities: 1 Lymphocytes: These are vital for producing antibodies that help the body to defend itself against bacteria, viruses, and other threats. 2 Neutrophils: These are powerful white blood cells that destroy bacteria and fungi. 3 Basophils: These alert the body to infections by secreting chemicals into the bloodstream, mostly to combat allergies. 4 Eosinophils: These are responsible for destroying parasites and cancer cells, and they are part of an allergic response 5 Monocytes: These are responsible for attacking and breaking down germs or bacteria that enter the body.
What percentage of blood cells are white?
White blood cells make up around 1 percent of all blood cells, and they are essential to regular function in the immune system. White blood cells are also known as leukocytes. The bone marrow continuously produces white blood cells.
Why is white blood count important?
White blood cells are vital components of the blood. Their role is to fight infection, and they are essential for health and well-being. A high white blood cell count may indicate that the immune system is working to destroy an infection. It may also be a sign of physical or emotional stress. People with particular blood cancers may also have high ...
Chemotherapy can leave you at risk for infection
Jennifer Welsh is a Connecticut-based science writer and editor with over ten years of experience under her belt. She’s previously worked and written for WIRED Science, The Scientist, Discover Magazine, LiveScience, and Business Insider.
How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Chemotherapy treatments are drugs that kill or damage fast-growing cells. Cancer cells grow and divide quickly, so these drugs can kill cancer, potentially slowing the growth of a tumor or even shrinking it. 1
Chemo and White Blood Cell Counts
Your body is continually creating and replenishing your body's supply of white blood cells from a spongy tissue in your bones called bone marrow. These cells in the bone marrow are continually dividing, giving rise to new generations of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Signs Your White Blood Cell Count Is Low
Your doctor will check your blood cell counts often during cancer diagnosis and treatment. The test may be called a complete blood cell count (CBC) or "hemogram." These tests take your blood and count the number of cells of different types.
Ways to Increase WBCs During Chemotherapy
Ensuring you’re eating a healthy diet with enough protein, vitamin B12, and folate is essential, so talk to your doctor or another medical professional on your care team about referring you to a dietitian.
Treating a Low White Blood Cell Count
If your doctor finds that your white blood cell counts are low, they may hold off on your next round of chemotherapy to let your body recover.
Summary
Chemotherapy attacks fast-growing cancer cells, but it can also affect other fast-growing cells of the body, such as those that produce white blood cells in the bone marrow. This can lead to low white blood cell counts and increase the risk for infection.
Why are white blood cells important?
White blood cells, called leukocytes, are important for making sure your body stays healthy. They protect it from alien substances and fight infection. A higher-than-normal number of white blood cells is called leukocytosis. Leukocytes usually increase in number when they are doing their job, but there are some other conditions ...
What is it called when you have too many white blood cells?
Leukocytosis is when you have too many white blood cells. Learn about leukocytosis , including what causes it, how it is diagnosed, and which conditions are associated with it. Skip to main content . Check Your Symptoms . Find A Doctor .
What are the roles of white blood cells in fighting invaders?
Different types of white blood cells have different roles in fighting invaders: Neutrophils fight bacteria, eosinophils fight parasites, monocytes fight foreign organisms and also deal with cell waste, and lymphocytes make up the immune system.
What is a high count of lymphocytes?
You can have a high count of all five types of cells, a few types, or just one type — usually lymphocytes or neutrophils. A high count of these cells is sometimes associated with blood cancers. Lymphocytic Leukocytosis. Lymphocytes are an important part of the body's defense system.
How to diagnose leukemia?
Doctors usually diagnose leukemia by analyzing a bone marrow sample. . A serious condition can result if a person has leukemia and the number of immature neutrophils in the blood goes too high. This rare condition is called hyperviscosity syndrome,and it can happen when the blood becomes too thick.
What causes a high lymphocyte count?
The most common cause of lymphocytic leukocytosis is infection with a virus. Other causes include:.
How much of your blood is made up of leukocytes?
Although leukocytes are very important, they make up only about 1% of your blood. Like other blood cells, they are made in the bone marrow. They are being created all the time because most have a very short lifespan. Some live for less than a day.
What Are White Blood Cells?
There are several types of white blood cells (WBCs), also called leukocytes, and each can be affected differently by cancer and its treatments. There are five types of white blood cells:
What Causes a Low White Blood Cell Count?
A low white blood cell count can develop as a result of cancer or cancer treatment. You may also be given a more specific diagnosis based on the exact type of white blood cell affected like neutropenia, which is a low number of neutrophils. 1
Preventing Infections
Since white blood cells help defend your body against pathogens, too few WBCs can increase your risk of infections. For people with cancer, their risk of infection is even higher due to weakness, nutrition problems, and other side effects of cancer and cancer treatments. 1
Summary
Cancer and treatments used to treat cancer, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can lower your WBC count. White blood cells are immune system cells that help defend your body against foreign threats like viruses and bacteria. When the number of WBCs in your body are low, you are at a higher risk of infections.
A Word From Verywell
Some cancers can cause your white blood cell count to increase, but more often it reduces the number of these cells. WBCs power the immune system, and both cancer and cancer treatments can reduce the number of these cells that you have available to fight infection.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Bone marrow and blood cancers, in particular, can lead to high blood counts as the cancer cells cause blood cells to reproduce rapidly. 5
