Anemia Symptoms, Causes and Treatment and Low White Blood Cell Count

Anemia Symptoms, Causes and Treatment and Low White Blood Cell Count

Low White Blood Cell Count

Everything seems perfect if it is balanced. As excess of everything is bad likewise deficiency of anything could be bad. This is also true for white blood cells, which are also known as leukocytes. If an excess of white blood cells is produced in the body, it can lead to cancer. However, if there is a low white blood cell count, it can also be proved dangerous.

Types of white blood cells:

There are 5 main types of white blood cells:

  • Basophils
  • eosinophils
  • lymphocytes (T-cells and B-cells
  • monocytes
  • neutrophils

Causes of low white blood cell count:

A low white blood cell count is usually caused due to the following reasons:

  • Infections such as viral infections temporarily disrupt the normal bone marrow function.
  • Cancer or some other diseases which damage the bone marrow.
  • Aplastic anemia.
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Congenital disorders are then characterized by diminished bone marrow function.
  • Autoimmune disorders can destroy white blood cells or even bone marrow cells.
  • Infectious diseases
  • The overwhelming infection uses up white blood cells much faster than the rate at which they can be produced.
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes.
  • The use of drugs that destroy the white blood cells and the bone marrow and, in this way, results in low white blood cell count.
  • Malnutrition.
  • Parasitic diseases.
  • Congenital disorders.
  • Certain medications, such as antibiotics and diuretics
  • Chemotherapy
  • Hypersplenism, which is a premature destroying of blood cells by the spleen.
  • Kostmann’s syndrome is a congenital disorder that involves low neutrophil production.
  • Leukemia.
  • Lupus.
  • Myelokathexis is a congenital disorder it involves the failure of neutrophils from entering the bloodstream.
  • Other autoimmune disorders.
  • Radiation therapy or radiotherapy.
  • Deficiency of vitamins.Facts about low white blood cell count:
  • It is a condition in which the number of white blood cells in the bloodstream is decreased, affecting the body’s ability to fight against infections.
  • It is a disease of blood cells defined by an absolute neutrophil count of less than 1500 per microliter.
  • It may be caused by and is associated with numerous medical conditions.
  • Most of the infections that can occur due to low white blood cells count are because of the bacteria present on the skin or even in the gastrointestinal or might be in the urinary tract.
  • Treatment of this disease depends upon what has caused this disease to develop and the severity of the condition, and as well as on the underlying disease state which is responsible for the disease.

Treatment of Low White Blood Cells Count

If you are suffering from low blood cell counts, then your treatment will depend upon which white blood cells count are low because there are many types of white blood cells. Furthermore, it also depends upon what is causing the low numbers of white blood cells. Listed below are the common treatments for low white blood cells count.

Blood Transfusions

Blood Transfusion helps people with low levels of platelets and red blood cells. Utilizing the blood transfusion, you are given either red blood cells or platelets from people who are donors. Even though transfusion of white blood cells is possible, it is reserved for specific and scarce situations because it has a risk of many complications.

Medications

A doctor might prescribe you the medication that will stimulate the production of more blood cells; in this way, it will compensate for the low white blood cell count. Medications have been proved to have benefits and some associated risks as well, so you should have to talk to the doctor about the possible side effects of these treatment drugs, which are used to boost up the blood cell counts, which are beyond the normal level.

Stopping Treatment

In some severe cases, patients may need to delay their cancer treatment to raise their blood cell counts.

The Choice of treatment for low white blood cell count depends upon the physical condition of the patient. If a physical condition is too weak, some treatments can harm the patient instead of curing low white blood cell count.

Copping With Low White Blood Cells Count

There are certain measures that you have to take to cope with the low white blood cell count. Here we go with some measures or ways to cope with this disease.

Eating a Balanced Diet

Eating a balanced and healthy diet improves your body’s potential to cope with the low blood cell count. Our body needs to have all the vitamins and nutrients in a balanced way so that it can heal itself during or after your treatment. Choice of plenty of fruits and vegetables is good for health. Suppose the treatment complications make you’re eating difficult and problematic. For instance, if you are experiencing nausea and vomiting or mouth sores, you should experiment with finding food that you can tolerate easily without any trouble or difficulty.

Avoid Injury

Any daily activity may result in some injury or cut especially if you are a housewife working in a kitchen or a cook. A low platelet count makes even minor abrasions very serious. The low white blood cell count could turn the small cut into a starting point, resulting in serious infections. Use an electric shaver and avoid using a razor so that you may decrease the risk of nicks. You can ask someone else to cut food in the kitchen not to get a cut or some injury or wound because if it happened, blood will not could and much blood will flow out, and it will also decrease blood level. Be gentle when you are brushing your teeth or blowing your nose.

Avoid Germs

You have to avoid contact with such things that may be contaminated with germs. If it happened, then you may get serious infections if you have low white blood cells count. You should avoid unnecessary exposure to germs whenever, wherever, and forever as much as you can. You should wash your hands frequently, or you should use a liquid hand sanitizer. You have to avoid people who are sick or ill and have to stay away from crowds. That is how you can avoid much contact or exposure to germs. You should have someone else who cleans the litter box, the birdcage, or the fish tank. Do not eat raw meat or eggs. Eat thoroughly boiled or cooked eggs or meat to avoid germs or bacteria that may cause serious infection.

Rest

If after your daily activity you feel tired, you should stop at once and take some rest. Rest is excellent to cope with this disease. In this way, the body will be working hard to fight those cancerous cells, and it heals the healthy cells that were damaged by the treatment. Do not feel guilty about taking time for your own and always ask others to help you out. Furthermore, you should plan your most important activities for the time of day when you feel most energetic in such a situation or time you can utilize your energy.

Anemia Symptoms and Treatment

Anemia is a deficiency of red blood pigment (hemoglobin) in the blood. Often, the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) is reduced. Both factors mean that the blood can carry less oxygen to the organs.

There are various forms of anemia, which have different causes, for example; The loss of iron leads to anemia. Also, a lack of substances that participate in the formation of blood may be responsible for anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia causes typical symptoms that occur when the organs do not get enough oxygen.

People with anemia are often :

  • Pale
  • Tired quickly
  • Feel weak
  • Feel shortness of breath.
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Brittle nails
  • Torn mouth
  • Anemia can also lead to hair loss

Laboratory tests can ascertain anemia. Treatment depends on the cause of anemia. Therefore, it should not be started without a medical evaluation. If there is iron deficiency anemia, it is recommended to change in diet, and iron supplements can help to compensate for the lack of iron. If an ongoing blood loss is the cause of the iron deficiency, the source of bleeding (such as a stomach ulcer) must be found and eliminated.

What is Anemia?

Red blood pigment (hemoglobin) is too few in blood when there is present anemia.

An adult’s body has about 3.5 to 5 liters of blood – the equivalent of about 70 milliliters per kilogram of body weight. The blood consists of half a kind of liquid is called’’ blood plasma’’, and the other half is made up of cells. The majority of these cells make the erythrocytes: They carry oxygen via the blood from the lungs to organs and tissues. Such as iron deficiency anemia, red cells, or hemoglobin are lack in the blood. The result is that the body is not adequately supplied with oxygen.

The bone marrow constantly produces new erythrocytes and releases them into the blood – an average of 160 million per minute. To form new erythrocytes, bone marrow requires several nutrients and growth factors. Three elements are particularly crucial: Iron, vitamin B12, and folate.

Likewise, the growth hormone plays erythropoietin in the synthesis of red blood cells, a crucial role. The service life of erythrocytes is 120 days. Thereafter, they are broken down, especially in the spleen. It filters the whole blood and retains old or malformed red blood cells.

If the production or degradation of erythrocytes is disturbed, anemia can occur. Causes of anemia may include:

  • An impaired formation of red blood cells
  • An increased loss of red blood cells
  • A disturbed distribution of erythrocytes

Frequency

Anemia is a widespread symptom of various diseases. The most common form of anemia is iron-deficiency anemia. It is estimated that 25 of every 100 people have iron-deficiency anemia worldwide. Totaly it is about 1.75 billion people.

What Are The Causes of Anemia?

There are various causes of anemia (anemia): The lack of red blood pigment (hemoglobin) and red blood cells (RBCs) can arise when the formation is disrupted. A loss or a disturbed distribution of erythrocytes are possible as causes. The consequence of this is: The body can transport less oxygen in the blood.

Impaired Erythropoiesis

The service life of an erythrocyte is only about 120 days. Therefore, the bone marrow produces blood cells continuously new – all 160 million per minute. The bone marrow requires several nutrients and growth factors to form new erythrocytes. If they are missing, for example, due to lack of dietary intake or various diseases, it can lead to anemia. These forms of anemia include:

  • Iron deficiency anemia (anemia Sideropenic)
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
  • Folic acid deficiency anemia,
  • Protein deficiency anemia,
  • Vitamin B6 deficiency anemia
  • Vitamin C deficiency anemia
  • Renal anemia is due to chronic kidney disease
  • Aplastic anemia: In this rare disease, the bone marrow makes no more blood cells.
  • Radiotherapy or drugs in chemotherapy may also cause anemia.
  • The myelodysplastic syndrome: In stem cell disease, bone marrow is disrupted and makes fewer or no new erythrocytes.
  • Malignant (malignant), inflammatory and infectious diseases in which the bone marrow is infested are other possible causes of anemia.

Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is associated with 80 out of 100 cases and is the most common cause of anemia. People who are affected often do not take enough iron in the diet. Especially, there can be some conditions that require more iron, such as; Pregnancy or in the growth of children, should pay attention to adequate intake. Even people with eating disorders and vegetarians are at risk of getting an iron deficiency anemia because especially animal foods contain iron.

İt is not just a supply of iron. Also, iron absorption may be impaired: In humans, where parts of the digestive tract are removed or who suffer from a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease), then the body can not absorb the iron sufficient. Medications, such as stomach acid blockers or certain antibiotics can inhibit iron absorption and iron deficiency anemia.

Another cause of iron deficiency can be chronic blood loss. In particular, women of childbearing age are at risk: Women lose blood and iron regularly with their menstrual period.

However, other sources of bleeding may be the cause: diseases such as bleeding gums, gastric ulcer, and hemorrhoids, as well as colorectal cancer, can also cause iron loss and should be treated.

The loss or premature breakdown of red blood cells can lead to anemia (anemia). Possible causes include an increased breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) and acute or chronic blood loss.

Sickle cell anemia, thalassemia (is also called’’ Mediterranean anemia’’): Deficiencies in the structural design of these erythrocytes are rather degraded or burst.

Autoimmune diseases: Due to the body’s own antibodies directed against the red blood cells, they will be destroyed.

A prosthetic heart valve: Some erythrocytes are shredded by a metal of the implant.

Poisoning by heavy metals (as lead or copper): heavy metals inhibit important enzymes of hematopoiesis or destroy the red blood cells directly.

Infections (for example, malaria): The causative agent of malaria multiplies in red blood cells, destroys them eventually.

Disturbed Erythrocyte Distribution

Anemia can also have its reasons that the red blood cells are not uniformly distributed in the body. Chronic inflammation or tumors may be a reason for this.

Hyperspleniesyndrom can lead to anemia: The spleen is enlarged – for example, due to infection (such as glandular fever, cytomegalovirus) – and there is an overactive spleen. Their functions will include the removal of outdated erythrocytes. For this purpose, it filters all the blood and retains old or malformed red blood cells. If the spleen is too large, more red cells will accumulate, and many will be degraded.

What Are The Symptoms of Anemia?

Any anemia and iron deficiency anemia cause certain symptoms because the organs receive less oxygen.

A typical symptom of anemia is pallor, particularly the mucous membranes’ color (for example, on the inside of the eyelid).

  • Concentration decreases
  • You fatigued faster
  • Headache or dizziness
  • Respiratory distress
  • You feel palpitations
  • In the worst case, a swoon

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia and shows typical signs of anemia, but there can be other symptoms that are typical of iron deficiency:

  • Brittle nails
  • Diffuse hair loss
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • Painful inflammation in the oral cavity (is also called ‘’Aphten’’)
  • Burning tongue (glossodynia) and pain when swallowing (as known’’Plummer-Vinson syndrome’’)
  • Torn mouth
  • Loss of appetite or desire for abnormal eating
  • Other symptoms may happen depending on the underlying disease.

Anemia Diagnosis

Laboratory tests can ascertain anemia. A blood sample and analyzing the blood count can be important parameters for proper diagnosis.

The following laboratory values are investigated :

  • Amount of hemoglobin (hemoglobin) in the blood
  • Number of red blood cells (erythrocytes)
  • Percentage of solid blood constituents (hematocrit) in total blood

If there is anemia, these values decrease below the normal.

The doctor speaks of anemia when the following conditions are present:

  • Amount of hemoglobin below 12 grams per deciliter in women and less than 13 grams per deciliter of blood in men.
  • Some erythrocytes with 4.3 million women and 4.8 million with men per microliter in blood.
  • The proportion of solid blood components is under 38% in women and 42% in men.

The number of red blood cells is not enough to diagnose anemia. At the beginning of iron deficiency anemia, the production of the blood pigment is disturbed earlier than the formation of red blood cells. Therefore, in the early stages of iron deficiency anemia, the hemoglobin amount is already reduced when the number of red blood cells is still normal.

A physical examination provides physicians with important additional information: A view of the mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth reveal pallor.

In a cardiac examination, the doctor can detect a fast heartbeat and hear only the normal heart sounds, often an additional Noise: This is caused by the rapid blood flow at elevated pulse. Kidney, spleen, and bone marrow are examined in further steps if it is necessary.

In addition, a doctor usually asks various questions to patients about their condition and their medical history :

  • Are you taking any medicines? (Certain drugs, inter alia, aspirin, anticoagulants, antibiotics or stomach acid blockers,
  • Are you vegetarian?
  • Are you pregnant, or do you feed your baby? (Pregnant women and nursing mothers have a greater need for iron and are more likely to suffer from anemia.)
  • How strong is your monthly Menstruation?
  • Is there any known kidney damage? (The lack of erythropoietin – a growth factor for the formation of blood can cause anemia.)
  • Have you recently traveled on a long haul? (Infections or parasites can lead to anemia.)

Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency

  • Storage Iron Deficiency: The iron content in the bone marrow and certain iron storage forms are lowered. The proportion of blood pigment (hemoglobin) is not yet changed.
  • Latent iron deficiency: The iron stores are depleted, and transport iron in the blood is lowered. In this phase, the first symptoms of anemia already appear.
  • Manifest iron deficiency: At this stage, the amount of hemoglobin is decreased. The formation of red blood cells is impaired during prolonged iron deficiency.
  • A common cause of iron deficiency is bleeding.

Therefore, physicians make some tests to identify the exact problem and put the exact diagnosis. Using Eisenresorptionstests can be detected impaired iron absorption in the stomach and intestines, and other tests detect parasites that may have settled in the intestine.

For successful treatment, It is crucial to select the right therapy—the treatment depends on particular causes of anemia. In most cases, iron deficiency is behind anemia.

  • If anemia is due to dietary iron deficiency, you should change the eating: meat, fish, and cereals, as well as green vegetables and mushrooms, contain much iron. Vitamin C helps iron absorption.
  • Iron supplementation may be useful: In mild cases, the intake of iron supplements is sufficient. The treatment usually takes three to six months – after this time, the body’s iron stores are replenished.

Important Note: As long as the cause of anemia is not clear, do not take iron supplements. If there is no iron deficiency, the body can be overloaded with iron supplementation. It can cause damage to organs and skin discoloration. That is why you need to keep away your iron supplements from children because accidental ingestion of iron tablets can poison children.

Anemia Process

The course of anemia depends on the underlying cause. The most common form of anemia is iron deficiency anemia and can be treated well in general.

If iron deficiency is not treated, it can come over the years to many complications:

  • Feeling tired and listless.
  • Children with iron deficiency are developmentally and physically disabled.
  • Mortal and miscarriage may be the result of an iron deficiency.

How to Prevent Anemia?

A healthy and balanced diet can prevent anemia. Importantly, should be consumed foods that contain enough iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12.

Under certain circumstances, the iron requirements can be additionally increased :

  • During pregnancy
  • In preterm infants
  • In newborns who are weighing less than 2,500 grams
  • In women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

it is imperative in such cases to get enough iron. You need to consume ferruginous foods, mainly meat, fish, and cereals, as well as green vegetables and mushrooms, which contain a lot of iron.

If you have an increased risk of anemia – such as vegetarians or pregnant – you need to consult a doctor and learn how to prevent anemia.

However, not every anemia can be prevented by a good diet: Certain underlying diseases are associated with anemia and must be treated as soon as possible.