What will happen if your white blood cells are high?
White blood cells are an important and necessary part of your immune system. Produced in your bone marrow, they defend your body against infections and disease. But, when there are too many white blood cells, it usually means you have infection or inflammation in your body.
Why would white blood cells be high?
A high white blood cell count may indicate several things, such as the immune system is working to destroy an infection, a sign of physical or emotional stress, or particular types of cancer. Pregnancy also leads to high white blood cell count, as levels tend to rise from the first trimester, into the third.
What causes white blood cells to be high in adults?
A high white blood cell count usually indicates: An increased production of white blood cells to fight an infection. A reaction to a drug that increases white blood cell production. A disease of bone marrow, causing abnormally high production of white blood cells.
Can high white blood cells make you tired?
Symptoms of common conditions that may be associated with a high white blood cell count include: Fever. Fatigue. Decreased appetite.
What causes sudden increase in white blood cells?
Causes of an elevated white blood cell count include infection, abnormalities in the bone marrow, smoking, chronic lung disease, immune disorders, inflammatory or allergic reactions or even physical and emotional stress.
What does high white cell count indicate?
However, too many white blood cells doesn’t always that your body is simply working hard to fight a short-term infection; it is not always good news. A high white blood cell count (also called leukocytosis) isn’t a specific disease but rather a sign that could indicate an underlying problem.
Why would someone have a high white blood cell count?
Overall, the most common cause for a high white blood cell count is response to infection. Another potential cause of an elevated white blood cell count is leukemia. This is effectively a cancerous change of the blood and bone marrow which causes significant overproduction of white blood cells.
What causes a slightly high white blood cell count?
Side effect of medication. High WBC can be a side effect of some medications.
What diseases cause high white blood cell count?
The most common bone marrow disease that causes an elevated white blood cell count is leukemia. This is a fatal condition wherein the bone marrow produces too much white blood cells and are released into the blood. Polycythemia vera is another bone marrow condition characterized by the overproduction of red blood cells.
