Blood is a unique biological fluid in our body. It was she who first responded to the slightest changes in the internal environment, and that is why a general blood test is the most common diagnostic method. Any deviation from the norm - increased red blood cells or a large number of white blood cells - indicates the presence of any pathology. Each age group has its own standards for quantitative and qualitative blood composition. And although in many respects they are rather arbitrary, to know under what conditions red blood cells are elevated, what this means and what measures need to be taken is important for every person who takes good care of their own body, which we have only one.
Blood cells - red blood cells
These are red blood cells that contain hemoglobin protein, the main function of which is to ensure the exchange of gases in the tissues. The composition of hemoglobin includes iron, which ensures the existence of 3 forms of this protein:
- Oxyhemoglobin - hemoglobin with oxygen, has a bright scarlet color and a rather unstable compound.
- Carbohemoglobin - hemoglobin with attached carbon dioxide. Also unstable compound of dark red color.
- Carboxyhemoglobin is a persistent combination of hemoglobin with carbon monoxide. Such a red blood cell can no longer carry oxygen and even a small amount of CO in the air can be very dangerous for humans. And it is the formation of this form of red blood cells that are not capable of oxygen transfer that affects all smokers.
Red blood cells in the process of their formation lose their nucleus, and their whole life, which lasts up to 120 days, is aimed at fulfilling its main function - gas exchange. In adults, new red blood cells are constantly forming in the blood-forming organs - the bone marrow of the spine, ribs, and skull. Children have more blood-forming organs - besides the listed ones, the thymus, hands and feet play an important role.
After fulfilling the prescribed period, red blood cells die in the liver and spleen, and the iron contained in hemoglobin again enters the blood-forming organs and participates in the formation of new red blood cells.
Brief logistics of a single red blood cell
These small (7-8 microns) spongy biconvex discs are filled with hemoglobin. In our blood there are more of them than all other blood elements taken together (up to 5 million erythrocytes in 1 sq mm, up to 8 thousand leukocytes, and up to 400 thousand platelets). If all human red blood cells are decomposed, as in a clearing, then its area will be 3.8 thousand square meters.
When they enter the alveoli of the lungs with blood, free oxygen joins the hemoglobin, which these suppliers carry to every cell in our body. Having reached the goal, the red blood cell will change oxygen to carbon dioxide and go on the return trip.
But the function is far from one
In addition to the main transport function, red blood cells perform other important tasks:
- They protect the body from poisons and toxins, removing them from the body.
- Red blood cells carry not only oxygen, but also some nutrients throughout the body, supplying them with cells.
- These workers play an important role in the processes of blood coagulation, maintain its acid-base balance and participate in the renewal of the plasma (liquid component) of human blood.
Relative norm
For the normal supply of cells, tissues and organs of our body in the blood should be a sufficient number of red blood cells. Doctors have established the relative norms of their amount per liter of blood, namely:
- Adult males - from 4.0 to 5.1 x10¹².
- Adult women - from 3.7 to 4.7 x10¹².
- A pregnant woman is characterized by a slight decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood - from 3 to 3.5 x10¹².
- In newborns, the number of red blood cells is constantly changing (the first blood sampling is taken from the umbilical cord, and the norm of red blood cells at this moment is from 3.8 to 5.5 x10¹²), but up to 1 year of age, the norm is increased red blood cells from 4.0 to 6.6 x10¹².
- For older children, the norm is within adults, but fluctuations may not be a pathology. They may be associated with the maturation of the immune system.
Norms are considered relative, and the number of red blood cells is calculated individually taking into account the general status of the body, place of residence and associated diseases.
The number of red blood cells below the norm is called erythropy. Elevated red blood cells in adults and children are called erythrocytosis or polycythemia (Polycythemia vera).
Too much is not good either
The causes of elevated red blood cells in the blood are very diverse. A separate block in their series are hereditary pathologies. In addition to them, an increase in red blood cells in the blood can lead to:
- Violations of the liver, kidneys and adrenal glands.
- Various neoplasms in the blood-forming organs (hypernephroma or hemangiomas).
- With a lack of oxygen at altitude or with pathological processes in the lungs, hypoxemia develops, which leads to an increase in red blood cells in the blood.
- Long-term physical activity and dehydration also increase the number of red blood cells.
- An increased content of red blood cells in the blood can be triggered by the use of certain steroid-type drugs.
- Various heart defects, both congenital and acquired.
- Treatment of malignant tumors with radiation therapy.
- Acute infectious diseases (whooping cough, diphtheria).
- The use of chlorinated or carbonated water, lack of vitamins in the diet and digestive disorders (enzymatic deficiency).
- Smoking provokes the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, which does not decompose and thus increases the total number of red blood cells in the blood.
- In addition, there is a blood disease - erythremia (Wakez disease), the causes of which are not yet fully understood.
- Pickwick's syndrome - the development of respiratory failure on the background of high blood pressure. Accompanied by obesity.
- Quite a rare Aerz-Aryllag syndrome, the etiology of which has not been elucidated. Another name for the pathology is idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Against the background of increased pressure in the pulmonary artery, vascular resistance increases. All this is accompanied by decompensatory mechanisms in the right ventricle of the heart, which becomes a threat to life.
As you can see, there can be many reasons for the increase in red blood cells in the blood of a child and an adult. And in this case, only an experienced hematologist can determine the subjective reasons for increasing their level in the patient, taking into account the anamnesis.
In children, pathology is almost always
Pediatricians consider elevated red blood cells in a child’s blood only as a pathology that can be caused by the following factors:
- Chronic diseases of the respiratory system (pneumonia, bronchitis, rhinitis), as well as allergies.
- Disorders of bone marrow.
- Congenital heart defect.
- Blood diseases.
- Violations of the adrenal glands.
- Malignant formations.
- 3rd and 4th degree obesity.
Sometimes not everything is so sad
But there may be reasons, and not so serious:
- Prolonged dehydration as a result of diarrhea and vomiting.
- In children of preschool and primary school age, such an increase in red blood cells may be associated with sports.
- In children whose families smoke.
- Living in the mountains.
In any case, fluctuations in red blood cell counts in any direction should alert responsible parents. And the reasons, physiological or pathological, should be determined by the doctor. First a pediatrician, and if necessary a hematologist.
The danger of polycythemia vera
Since 2008, this pathology has been considered myeloproliferative neoplasm - a type of blood cancer.
With this pathology, bone marrow stem cells begin uncontrolled reproduction. The peculiarity of these predecessors of blood cells in the ability to develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Their increased content in the blood makes it viscous, it flows more slowly through the vessels, which leads to stagnation and thrombosis.
The causes of this pathology are not fully understood, but it is known that such patients have a JAK2 protein mutation, which is responsible for the production of blood cell precursors in the bone marrow.
This is what elevated red blood cells say in the blood, and these data cannot be ignored.
When to start worrying
Symptoms of polycythemia are very different, ranging from mild manifestations to serious complications. However, if you have the following symptoms, then you should contact a hematologist.
- Frequent headaches.
- Fatigue and loss of strength.
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
- Visual impairment.
- Pain in the chest and calf muscles when walking.
And do not tighten. Indeed, in addition to the possible formation of a blood clot, its detachment and blockage of blood vessels, various bleeding can develop (in the gums, nose, stomach and intestinal mucosa). As a result of this pathology, the functioning of organs and systems is disrupted, the liver, kidneys and spleen increase, and thick blood leads to oxygen starvation of the brain. Thus, it becomes clear that timely treatment of the disease can eliminate very serious problems.
The specifics of treatment and prevention
First of all, it is necessary to establish what increased red blood cells mean in a particular patient. There is no specific treatment for this pathology. And first of all, it is necessary to eliminate the factors that lead to the production of excess blood cells.
Thus, therapeutic therapy is the elimination of the main pathology, and only then the removal of excess cells by reducing blood viscosity. Only a doctor can diagnose and write down a protocol of treatment and additional tests.
In addition to treatment, a balanced diet and maintaining the body's water balance are recommended. In addition, you should pay attention to the quality of water consumed. A lot of chlorinated or sparkling water, as well as dirty water, can very well lead to the development of pathology.
Summarize
As it has already become clear, an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood is not a separate pathology, but becomes a symptom of another disturbance in the functioning of organs and systems.
And it is entirely in our power to prevent the appearance of this instability in our blood. You just need to give up bad habits, monitor your diet, drink up to 1.5 liters of quality water per day (sweet soda - does not apply to quality drinks), lead an active lifestyle and exercise to the best of your ability. And then a healthy mind will necessarily appear in a healthy body. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Be healthy!