What happens if you have high white blood cell count?

We’ve all heard that having high white blood cell count is not something to brag about. But what exactly happens if you have a high number of these little guys running around your body? Are they planning world domination or just causing some mild inconvenience? Let’s dive into the world of white blood cells and see what kind of hell they can unleash in our bodies.

Understanding White Blood Cells

Before we jump into the implications of having too many white blood cells, let’s first understand what they are and their important role in our immune system.

White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are an essential part of our body’s immune system. They circulate throughout our bloodstream looking for foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses that could harm us. Once they detect one, they go full Rambo-mode, attacking and destroying it with precision.

There are five types of white blood cells: neutrophils which zap bacteria; eosinophils which attack parasites; basophils which help regulate inflammation; monocytes which gobble up debris and other waste materials; lymphocytes which produce specific antibodies tailored to each invader.

Now let’s switch gears and see how things can go awry when there are too many or too few WBCs in circulation.

The Implications Of High WBC Count

A normal range for WBC count is 4,000 to 11,000 per microliter (mcL) (we know right who knew?!). When someone has a higher than average count (in medical jargon this is called leukocytosis), it means that their bone marrow — where most types of WBCs originate from — is producing more than usual amounts of them due to illness or infection ^(or alien invasion according conspiracy theorists) .

Chronic Infection

One common cause behind sustained elevated levels of WBC is chronic infections. These could include recurring urinary, skin or respiratory tract infections that have gone undetected over a long period of time. While the heightened WBC counts are expected to combat these pathogens, it does signal there’s an underlying health issue that requires attention.

Inflammation

In some cases elevated levels of white blood cells indicate inflammatory disorders such as arthritis and allergic reactions, where they’re called upon to attack healthy tissues due to lack of proper regulation from the immune system ^(and this is what we call “friendly fire” folks) .

Leukemia

One potentially alarming reason for high WBC count (particularly higher than 50,000 mcL) could be chronic myeloid leukemia which initiates in bone marrow stem cell mutations resulting in abnormal production of too many leukemic white blood cells (nope not fun at all).

The Effects Of High White Blood Cell Count On Symptoms

The symptoms associated with high WBC counts can vary based on factors such as age and gender along with the cause behind it. Some commonly observed effects are:

  • Fever: Prominent fever spikes more often point towards bacterial infection whereas low-grade sustained fever signals other underlying issues
  • Fatigue: More energy consumption by body may lead to feeling overly tired.
  • Sweating: night sweats not related hot environments.

By learning about these signs you’ll know if your scuffle between ‘if I should wear full sleeve shirts out on a sunny day’ vs ‘Hey but its going hot let me just ditch this damn shirt’.

Treatment Options For High WWB Counts

Medical treatments will depend largely upon cause identified for increased count alongwith degree and presenting symptoms involved however some measures like broad spectrum antibiotics may be administered initially followed by need specific intervention strategies accordingly.

Whichever line of treatment suggested one thing is certain… treating this condition promptly would reduce the risk of complications down the line

Normal White Blood Cell Count Expected After Treatment

Typically, higher count lasts for few days following a bacterial or viral infection where counts come back to standard range once recovery takes its natural course depending on severity of condition this can then take time.

However in cases involving cancer, lymphoma can augment WWB count as much as leukemia does.

The Bottom Line: Remember To Monitor

It is strongly advised to not ignore any warning signs pertaining to an abnormal WBC count. With high levels indicating serious health concerns that require medical intervention.

Conversely decreased count (leukopenia) needs be addressed with immediate testing from healthcare providers resulting in treatments geared towards tackling underlying causes like autoimmune disorders and chemo/ radiations therapy.

                                                                                                                    By Editorial Board

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