What Causes High Red Blood Cell Count: Insights Into Hematological Disorders
By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 17, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 17, 2024Table of Contents
In this blog, we discuss about the causes, effects, management, and ways to avoid high red blood cell count. Knowing and understanding these is key for individuals who might have related symptoms. This knowledge is also vital for healthcare workers who aim to provide top-notch care for their patients.
In this article, we will look into blood conditions that come with high red blood cell counts. We’ll share facts and suggested plans that may help to handle this problem. We’ll also talk about how they connect and affect one’s health in general. Lastly, we will answer frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
Did you know?
What is a high red blood cell count? It’s when you have more red blood cells in your bloodstream than the normal range. It is medically called polycythemia or erythrocytosis. Red blood cells are critical since they carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. This oxygen flow ensures that your organs and tissues function optimally. However, if these cell counts go over the line, your health may be at risk. A possible danger with raised RBCs is the formation of blood clots and these clots may lead to even bigger health problems. Another possible risk is the potential progression to leukemia which is a blood cancer.
Studies show that while most cancers tend to lower red blood cell counts, some specific cancers can actually increase the number of red blood cells in your body. These exceptions include rare conditions like polycythemia vera, which results in excessive red blood cell production, as well as common adult cancers like renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), both of which can lead to higher than normal red blood cell levels.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
The usual red blood cell counts change from person to person. It generally depends on their age and gender. For an adult male, the range is 4.35 to 5.65 million red blood cells per microliter (µL) of blood. While for females, it lies between 3.92 and 5.13 million red blood cells per µL of blood.
You might wonder, how is this cell count measured? Well, doctors do a blood test called complete blood count (CBC). This common blood test also offers useful data about other blood parts such as white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin levels as well.
People with a high red blood cell count might show some or all of these signs:
It’s important to see a healthcare professional if you notice any of these signs. They can help identify the root cause and suggest the right course of action.
Studies have found that an elevated red blood cell count may be caused by an underlying medical condition or lifestyle factors. Medical causes include heart issues, blood cancers, kidney and lung problems, low oxygen levels, and carbon monoxide exposure. Lifestyle factors encompass smoking, high-altitude living, and the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD
There are many probable reasons that may cause a rise in the RBC count. These are as follows.
Your body may produce more red blood cells in response to times when there are low oxygen levels. This may happen in the following conditions:
Living in areas set high above sea level might lead to low oxygen levels. This altitude then prompts the body to make extra red blood cells.
Medical conditions that affect the heart or lungs might lead to poor oxygen circulation around the body. Therefore more red blood cell production occurs. Such conditions include inborn heart disease, ongoing lung diseases (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), heart failure, and sleep apnoea .
Athletes looking to improve their game might misuse certain drugs that may end up boosting red blood cell production. Such drugs are discussed below.
Erythropoietin is a hormone that increases red blood cell production. Usually, it is used to treat anaemia due to chronic kidney disease. However, some athletes may use it to improve performance. It is a type of doping called blood doping where illicit products are used by athletes to increase performance by increasing the red blood cell mass.
Other products that may be used to enhance performance include darbepoetin-alfa, blood transfusion, etc. This misuse may bring health dangers including blood clots that may lead to problems like stroke or heart attack.
Blood is made up of blood cells and the liquid part called plasma. A fall in the liquid part of the blood, known as plasma, may cause a higher concentration of red blood cells. This fall may occur in a medical condition called dehydration which is discussed below.
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in, due to which the plasma volume goes down. This drop causes the red blood cells to look very dense in the blood. It looks like there’s an increase in red blood cell count. However, the actual number of red blood cells might not have gone up.
Some sicknesses lead to an increase in red blood cell count. Such disorders might affect red blood cell production or function directly or indirectly. These diseases are as follows.
Certain kidney diseases like renal artery stenosis (wherein the blood vessels supplying the kidney become narrow), lead to a low oxygen supply to the kidney. Thus, in response, erythropoietin (EPO) is released by the kidney. As we know, EPO will stimulate the bone marrow to increase RBC production.
Specific lung diseases, like COPD and lung scarring, may hamper the body’s normal oxygen supply. This, in turn, causes the body to make extra red blood cells in reply.
Bone marrow disorders may lead to strange red blood cell production, raising red blood cell count. One such example is polycythemia vera, wherein the bone marrow increases its production of RBCs.
Some people may get genetic changes passed down that spur the body to make extra red blood cells. This may lead to high red blood cell counts.
Now that we’ve gone through what all may cause a rise in RBC count, let’s talk about hematological (blood) disorders in more detail.
Primary erythrocytosis happens when the body makes too many red blood cells on its own. This occurs usually due to a problem with the cells in the bone marrow. The fault lies in the genes of the bone marrow cells.
As we’ve mentioned before, this rare blood disorder causes the bone marrow to produce too many red blood cells. It is a kind of blood cancer. Myeloproliferative disorders are blood cancers wherein the mutation lies in the stem cells of the bone marrow which leads to excess production of mature and immature blood cells. This disorder includes essential thrombocythemia (excess platelets), polycythemia vera (excess RBCs), primary myelofibrosis (excess fibrous tissue in bone marrow), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (excess WBCs).
Secondary erythrocytosis is a disorder where an external factor increases red blood cell production. It could be a sickness, medicine, or other factors.
Some possible causes of secondary erythrocytosis include kidney disease, lung diseases such as COPD or lung scarring, heart or blood vessel disorders, or living at high altitudes.
A doctor can identify if you have a high red blood cell count using several tests and checks. These are as follows.
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures various blood elements in the blood, like red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.
If a doctor suspects another issue might be causing the high red blood cell count, more testing may be needed. These tests might include X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI scans, biopsies, or genetic testing, depending on your specific case.
Once the cause of the high count has been found, your doctor may discuss a tailored management plan with you. These strategies will vary based on what is causing the high red blood cell count.
Management for primary erythrocytosis, such as polycythemia vera, may include the following.
Your doctor may prescribe drugs such as hydroxyurea or interferon-alpha to control red blood cell making.
Phlebotomy is a process that draws blood from the body to reduce red blood cell density and reduces the chances of blood clot formation. It might be done regularly, depending on how severe the sickness is and how the patient responds to the procedure.
If the high count is due to secondary erythrocytosis, the
management will focus on fixing the root cause.
Your healthcare provider might suggest managing diseases like heart, kidney, or lung diseases if they are triggering high red blood cell counts.
Changes in lifestyle such as quitting smoking, doing more physical activity, or moving to a lower altitude may help lower red blood cell count if secondary erythrocytosis is tied to these factors.
Adjustments to the diet may also help manage high red blood cell count. Some methods are as follows.
A well-hydrated body may help control rise in red blood cell concentration caused by dehydration.
If nutritional deficiencies are causing the high count, added vitamins and minerals such as iron, B12, or folic acid might be suggested. These should be started only under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Self-medication is never advised.
To mitigate the risk of high red blood cell count, several measures are available that may help. They are as follows.
Regular checkups and the right management for any current health conditions pertaining to the kidney, heart, or lung disease may help avoid complications such as high red blood cell counts.
Staying clear of performance-boosting drugs, like erythropoietin, may greatly lower the risk of a high red blood cell count.
Keeping an eye on earlier-mentioned symptoms like tiredness, headache, etc., may help with early detection. which allows for proper and swift management. Always discuss your concerns with your healthcare professionals.
Timely detection and management of high red blood cell count is key to preventing and reducing the related health risks and maintaining overall wellness. By understanding the various causes, ways to find out, to manage, and ways to avoid high red blood cell counts, individuals, and healthcare workers may team up to manage and keep proper red blood cell counts in the body. If you experience any of the symptoms discussed above, talk to a healthcare professional.
The most typical cause of high red blood cell count is low oxygen levels. This might happen because of living at high altitudes or having heart or lung issues. Other causes include being dehydrated, misusing growth drugs, and various diseases that affect the production or function of red blood cells.
If your red blood cell count is always high, it’s important to see a healthcare expert. It could be a sign of an underlying health problem that needs care. A high red blood cell count may lead to blood clots and other issues, so swift action is key.
Managing a high red blood cell count depends on the cause. It might involve drugs that act on red blood cell production, fixing the root health issues causing the high count, diet changes, or lifestyle changes. You should speak to a healthcare expert to pinpoint the proper course of action.
Things that may raise red blood cell count include low oxygen levels, misuse of growth drugs, dehydration, and other problems that affect red blood cell production or function.
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