Why are erythrocytes needed and how many should be normal?

What are red blood cells and why are they needed

ErythrocytesComplete Blood Count (CBC) / Lab Tests Online, or red blood cells, are blood cells that are produced by the bone marrow. With the help of the protein hemoglobin, they deliver oxygen to all tissues of the body and carry carbon dioxide from them to the lungs.

Every second is generatedRed blood cell production / U. S. National Library of Medicine up to 2 million red blood cells, and they live on average 120 daysComplete Blood Count (CBC) / Lab Tests Online.

Why you need to know the level of red blood cells in the blood

According to this indicator, one can assume what kind of disease a person has.

An increase in the number of red blood cells, or erythrocytosis, can leadRBC count / U. S. National Library of Medicine:

• Smoking cigarettes.
• Heart diseases. It can be congenital defects or cor pulmonale - this is how pathological enlargement is called. cavities of an organ that develops, for example, with chronic obstructive disease or scarring lungs.
instagram viewer
• Strong dehydration.
• Kidney tumor.
• Low blood oxygen levels. This happens, for example, when climbing mountains.
• A malignant disease of the bone marrow in which a large number of red blood cells are produced.
• Taking certain medications. Let's say anabolic steroids, erythropoietin, or gentamicin-based antibiotics.

If the level of red blood cells is low, doctors talk about erythropenia. This condition may have the following reasons:

• Bleeding.
• Damage to the bone marrow by toxins, tumors, or radiation.
• Kidney disease, in which the production of the hormone erythropoietin decreases. Normally, it stimulates red blood cell division.
• Destruction of red blood cells too quickly, or hemolysis.
• Leukemia. This is a type of blood cancer.
• Malnutrition.
• Bone marrow cancer, or myeloma.
• Lack of iron, copper, folic acid, vitamin B6 or B12.
• Pregnancy.
• Hyperhydration. This is the name of a condition in which there is a lot of water in the body.
• Medicines. Some antibiotics, over-the-counter pain relievers, chemotherapy medications, epilepsy medications, and high blood pressure medications can reduce red blood cell count.

What is the rate of red blood cells in the blood

It all depends on the gender and age of the person. Are considered normalHigh Red Blood Cell Count / Cleveland Clinic such indicators:

• in men, 4.7–6.1 million cells per microliter of blood;
• in women, 4.2–5.4 million cells per microliter of blood;
• in children, 4.0–5.5 million cells per microliter of blood.

How to determine the level of red blood cells in the blood

For this they rent general blood analysis. You don't need to go to himComplete Blood Count (CBC) / Lab Tests Online specially prepare. Most often, the sample is taken from the capillaries in the finger, less often from the vein of the hand. In newborns, the heel is pierced.

What to do if the level of red blood cells in the blood is abnormal

If there are deviations up or down, you should not engage in self-diagnosis - it is better to consult a therapist. When evaluating the result of the analysis, he will look not only at the erythrocytes, but also at other indicators, and will also take into account the symptoms that bother you. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional diagnostics or refer you to a specialized specialist.