Should I be worried about high red blood cell count?

Should I worry if my red blood cell count is high? Not necessarily. While a high red blood cell count can indicate a disease or disorder, it doesn’t always mean you have a health condition. Other factors — like living at a high altitude — can also have an impact on your red blood cell count.

How do you treat too many red blood cells?

Treatment may include a phlebotomy. In this treatment, some of your blood is removed to help keep the number of red blood cells down and lower the risk of blood clots. Treatment may also include a medicine that keeps the bone marrow from making too many red blood cells or to help reduce the risk of blood clots.

What happens if you have too many red blood cells?

The increase in blood cells makes the blood thicker. Thick blood can lead to strokes or tissue and organ damage. Symptoms include lack of energy (fatigue) or weakness, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, visual disturbances, nose bleeds, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual periods, and bruising.

What are the consequences of having too many red blood cells?

What does it mean when your body produces too many red blood cells?

Polycythemia vera (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh) is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots. Polycythemia vera is rare.

What diseases cause large red blood cells?

Macrocytic anemia is a blood disorder that happens when your bone marrow produces abnormally large red blood cells.

What is wrong when you have too many red blood cells?

Polycythemia vera (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh) is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots.

What does it mean if you have high red blood cells?

A high red blood cell count can be a sign of: Dehydration. Heart disease. Polycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that causes too many red blood cells to be made.

What causes enlarged red blood cells NHS?

Contents. Vitamin B12 or B9 (commonly called folate) deficiency anaemia occurs when a lack of vitamin B12 or folate causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that cannot function properly. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body using a substance called haemoglobin.

Is polycythemia vera a terminal illness?

Without treatment, polycythemia vera can be life-threatening. But proper medical care can help ease signs, symptoms and complications of this disease.

What are the first symptoms of polycythemia vera?

Symptoms

• Itchiness, especially after a warm bath or shower.
• Numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness in your hands, feet, arms or legs.
• A feeling of fullness soon after eating and bloating or pain in your left upper abdomen due to an enlarged spleen.
• Unusual bleeding, such as a nosebleed or bleeding gums.

What disease causes too many red blood cells?

Polycythemia vera is a rare blood disorder in which there is an increase in all blood cells, particularly red blood cells. The increase in blood cells makes the blood thicker. Thick blood can lead to strokes or tissue and organ damage.

Is there such a thing as too many red blood cells?

Polycythemia or Too Many Red Blood Cells. Is there such a thing as too many red blood cells? When most people think about problems with red blood cells, they think of ​anemia, a reduced number of red blood cells, but too many red blood cells can be a problem too. This is called polycythemia, or erythrocytosis.

What to do if you have too many red blood cells?

Besides, here are two main medications you can use when having too many red blood cells: Hydrea. This is particularly advisable for people with a risk of clot formation. Aspirin. Aspirins have also proven to be an effective treatment against polycythaemia.

What medications can you take for too many red blood cells?

Besides, here are two main medications you can use when having too many red blood cells: 1 Hydrea. This is particularly advisable for people with a risk of clot formation. Hydroxyurea or hydrea is a synthetic… 2 Aspirin. Aspirins have also proven to be an effective treatment against polycythaemia. It’s particularly effective… More

What does it mean when your red blood cells are high?

Health or lifestyle factors can cause a high red blood cell count. Medical conditions that can cause an increase in red blood cells include: Polycythemia vera (a blood disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells) Carbon monoxide exposure (usually related to smoking)