What does it mean when your red blood cells are low?
A low red blood cell count means you have anemia, a condition that could be caused by a variety of factors like blood loss, genetic disorders, cancer treatments and other causes. Discovering anemia is often the starting point to diagnosing an underlying condition. Red blood cells carry oxygen in the blood.
Is a low blood count serious?
The most serious complications of low blood cell counts include: Infection. With a low white blood cell count and, in particular, a low level of neutrophils, you’re at higher risk of developing an infection. And if you develop an infection when you have a low white blood cell count, your body can’t protect itself.
What should I do if my red blood count is low?
5 nutrients that increase red blood cell counts
- 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.
How low is too low for red blood cell count?
Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or the hemoglobin is less than normal. In men, anemia is typically defined as a hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml and in women as hemoglobin of less than 12.0 gram/100 ml.
Which medicine increase red blood cells?
Epoetin alfa products are in a class of medications called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). They work by causing the bone marrow (soft tissue inside the bones where blood is made) to make more red blood cells.
What is considered a low red blood cell count?
This condition of low red blood cell count is called anemia, and it may indicate several factors. Anything below 4.5 to 5.5 million RBCs per microliter (mcL) in men, and 4.0 to 5.0 million RBCs per microliter (mcL) in women, is considered to be a low RBC count .
What medications cause low blood count?
A number of medications can cause low platelet count by triggering immunologic reaction against the platelets. This is called drug-induced thrombocytopenia. Some of the medications that can cause this condition are digoxin, quinine, quinidine, Sulfonamide antibiotics, rifampin, and acetaminophen.
What are the side effects of low blood count?
The most serious complications of low blood cell counts include: Infection. With a low white blood cell count and, in particular, a low level of neutrophils ( neutropenia ), a type of white blood cell that fights infection, you’re at higher risk of developing an infection.
What causes decreased red blood cell count?
One of the most common causes of decreased red blood cell production and red blood count as low as 7.7 gm/dl is iron deficiency anemia, where low levels of iron decrease the production of red blood cells. Impaired absorption or inadequate intake also decreases iron stores.