High White Blood Cells
Doctors can use information provided by the patient along with the results of the blood test to make a diagnosis. A high white blood cell count in combination with certain symptoms can alert the doctor to specific disorders. Any symptoms that are being experienced, however trivial they may seem to the patient, should be reported. These may include:
●Abdominal discomfort, pain, tenderness ●Abnormal heart patterns
●Changes in urination ●Changes in periods/abnormal bleeding
●Chronic acne issues ●Acute fever
●Alcohol abuse ●Illegal drug usage
●Anemia ●Allergies
●Anorexia ●Increase or decrease in appetite
●Sleep apnea ●Anxiety or stress
●Arthritis ●Asthma
●Changes in the stool ●Any recent infections
●Ear, throat or nose problems ●Chronic heartburn
●Numbness or weakness in legs ●Depression
This list is not comprehensive. Any patient who has been experiencing any out of the ordinary signs or symptoms should advise their doctor, especially when a blood test has revealed a high white blood cell count or when combined with several other symptoms.
Depending on the information that is revealed by the blood test, the doctor may need to request further tests to narrow down a diagnosis. Many symptoms can be attributed to any number of illnesses or disorders; additional tests can either confirm or eliminate other possibilities and provide the doctor with a better picture of the patient’s condition.
When a high white blood cell count continues over a period of time, one condition that doctors may examine more closely is the possibility of leukemia. Leukemia is a disease of the white blood cells, and one symptom of the disease is the overproduction of the cells. Two types, myeloid leukemia or lymphocytic leukemia typically afflict humans, with each either presented as chronic or acute. Chronic versions of the leukemias are generally experienced early in the disease, and will gradually worsen. At this stage, the white blood cells can still carry out their prescribed functions. There may not be any symptoms of chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is a condition in which the white blood cells have ceased to function, with the number of highly abnormal cells rising exponentially. This disease advances very quickly.
The type of leukemia is determined by the type of white blood cell that is affected. The lymphoid white blood cells indicate the presence of lymphocytic leukemia, while myeloid white blood cells are representative of the presence of myeloid leukemia. Each leukemia type has its own characteristics:
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia rarely affects children. The largest group of individuals diagnosed with this disease is over the age of 55.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of childhood leukemia, but also affects adults.
Chronic myeloid leukemia usually occurs within adults.
Acute myeloid leukemia accounts for the largest group of new leukemia cases reported every year; affecting both children and adults alike.
There are other forms of leukemias that are extremely rare, but can also be determined through a high white blood cell count revealed in a complete blood test.
An opposite condition is that of low white blood cell count. Also indicative of certain diseases, the lack of ample white blood cells within the bloodstream can leave an individual at greater risk of obtaining infections. Often the cause of the decreased number of white blood cells is the result of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which target and destroy cells that multiply rapidly; a description of white blood cells. Doctors will be monitoring white blood cell levels throughout radiation or chemo, but there is virtually nothing that can be done to prevent the dropping numbers. It is advisable during this time to be particularly attentive to avoiding possible contamination of viruses or bacteria that could result in infections. The lower levels of white blood cells leave your body defenseless against such invasions, so extra care must be taken to protect yourself. Frequent hand washing, mouthwashes, covering cuts and wounds and in general, avoiding situations that are likely to increase chances of infections.
Normally, a high white blood cell count is simply indicative of the body’s natural defense mechanism in fighting off invading bacteria and viruses. However, since the condition can also alert to more serious conditions, it is important that doctors examine the underlying causes to determine and accurate diagnose your condition.