The pandemic has already taught us the value of a strong immunity system. Apart from that, infections and diseases can easily attack your body if your immune system is weak. WBCs act as your guard against diseases and infections. Leukopenia occurs when the WBC count is low. It may attract a list of diseases. Here, what is more important is to be aware of your WBC count from time to time, as it gives you an idea of your overall health.
What is a WBC Count Test?
WBC count is one of the common blood tests that doctors advise. This test holds great importance to know the quantity of white blood cells in your body. It is often done together with RBC and platelet counting tests. These three particles form the blood and any imbalance in them may signify some unwanted diseases.
Monitoring your WBC Count Helps
- Detect infections: Whether your report reads an increase or decrease in WBC count, it can never be associated with something positive. It is an indication of infection always.
- Monitor immune system disorders: To treat the reason behind the changing WBC count, it becomes essential to know the disease behind it. Often,the presence of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and various other diseases disturb the WBC count.
- Evaluate treatment effectiveness: The doctor starts the treatment immediately after knowing the disrupted level of WBC count. Monitoring is important here to check the improvement or deterioration in health that the patient is experiencing after the medication. It can only be done through testing.
Assess overall health:
A normal WBC count indicates a healthy body.
The normal WBC count ranges from 4500 – 11000 in the microliter of blood in a healthy individual. This number may vary from age to age; disease one is suffering from, gender and sometimes due to any sudden health changes too.
Causes of Low WBC Count
A low WBC is never a good sign; as mentioned above, several factors can collectively form a reason for it.
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Medications: Certain medications also affect the number of WBCs by inhibiting the functionality of the bone marrow. Drugs used in chemotherapy and immunosuppressive treatment may also adversely alter the number.
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Autoimmune Diseases: Diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can restrict the immune function pathway.
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Infections: Infections often attract low WBC count and need to be controlled immediately to dilute the impact of infection. It may be a temporary effect due to infection.
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Bone Marrow Disorders: Certain bone marrow diseases like anaemia or leukaemia may bring a situation where white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets can increase or decrease.
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Nutritional Deficiencies: Malnutrition reduces immunity. Deficiency often results in a situation where WBC is reduced.
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Viral Infections: Some of the viral infections, such as HIV and hepatitis, result in low WBC count that may take more than 2 weeks to increase.
Symptoms of Low WBC Count
While symptoms of low WBC can vary, common indicators of such condition include:
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Frequent infections
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Fatigue
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Fever
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Sore throat
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Mouth sores
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Enlarged lymph nodes
Note: However, they may also be hallmarks of other ailments. One must see a doctor for an appropriate diagnosis.
Natural Ways to Increase Your WBC Count
While medical intervention might be necessary in severe cases, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can make the immune function better:
- Balanced Diet: Eat fruits and vegetables, fresh meats and whole grain products.
- Regular Exercise: Add exercise to your daily routine to have a healthy body.
- Adequate Sleep: One should aim to get quality sleep to improve the immune system.
- Stress Management: Stress may invite disturbance in WBC count, and handling it may lead to healthy living.
- Hydration: Water has a second name, "Life." It should be consumed in an adequate amount to stay hydrated along with other liquids.
When To See A Doctor?
You should see your doctor immediately if you have constant symptoms or have any issues with your WBC count. If you are from Delhi, opt for an Immunity test in Delhi immediately to diagnose the problem so it can be dealt correctly.
Take a Test at Qris Health
Qric Health brings the WBC tests with accurate results and on an economical budget. Their highly skilled lab personnel and modern laboratories ensure that patients get results quickly.
Why Qris Health?
The body's immunity plays the most active role against any disease. A routine blood analysis such as the CBC will give a clear picture of your WBC count and overall body health. This test is recommended to those who are facing some symptoms and suffering from related diseases.
For your benefit, Qris Health presents you with a package of full body checkup in Delhi, including the WBC tests. Since an individual's health status must be checked regularly, early detection and intervention are important in ensuring sound health.
Make an appointment with your doctor and determine how efficient your body is at fighting off infections if the report figures are not in your favour.