Low Blood count? Here’s what you can do?

Blood is an important component of the body. It helps carry oxygen and nutrients to each and every cell, removes metabolic waste and helps fight infections! Any decrease or increase in blood count may indicate that you have an underlying medical condition that calls for further evaluation.

What is a Complete Blood Count Test?

Complete Blood count test, Credits: pixabay

A complete blood count (CBC) test is a blood test that measures several components and features of your blood. It is an important marker that detects your overall health and helps identify a wide range of disorders including anaemia, infection, blood cancer and leukaemia.

What Does Low Blood count mean?

Low blood count, Credits: pixabay

When your bone marrow is not making enough of any one type of blood cells then you are likely to suffer from low blood count. A low blood count is also referred to as cytopenia. You can have one or more low blood counts. Some terms which you may here for low blood count include.

1. Myelosuppression – a total decrease in the production of blood cells

2. Pancytopenia – a decrease in the level of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells.

3. Anaemia – Decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBC).

4. Thrombocytopenia – a decrease in the number of platelets (PLT), which may lead to low blood platelet count.

5. Leukopenia – characterized by a decrease in the total number of white blood cells (WBC), which may lead to low white blood cell count.

6. Granulocytopenia – a decrease in the number of granulocytes, the group of white blood cells that include neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils, which may lead to low white blood cell count.

7. Blood cancer: the production of red blood cells, platelets, WBC and whole lymphatic system is affected. Blood cancer symptoms may include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, weak immune system, and loss of weight.

What is Low Red Blood Cell Count? What can you do to manage it?

Low red blood cell count, Credits: pixabay

Red blood cells contain a pigment called haemoglobin which carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. The RBC, haemoglobin, and hematocrit are the three tests that can help determine if you have low red blood count.

Symptoms may include:

1. Weakness

2. Headache

3. Fatigue

4. Shortness of breath and

5. Loss of appetite

6. Decreased stamina

What can you do to manage your low red blood cell count?

1. Take rest between activities

2. Save your energy by planning things beforehand

3. Cut down caffeinated and alcoholic beverages

How to increase haemoglobin in a week?

Haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that carries heme group and oxygen molecules to be delivered to the body cells. In order to increase your haemoglobin levels in a week try consuming iron-rich foods like:

1. Pomegranate

2. Vitamin C rich foods

3. Folic acid supplements

4. Nettle tea and

5. Lots of exercises

Low White Blood Cell Count

Low white blood cell count, Credits: pixabay

White blood cells are of different types which helps fight infection and clears the metabolic waste from the body. A decrease in the levels of white blood cells indicates higher risks of infection.

Symptoms of low WBC:

1. Swelling

2. Pain

3. Redness

4. Bruising

5. Runny nose

What can you do manage your low white blood count:

1. Maintain personal hygiene by frequent hand washing, and cleaning yourself after coming in contact with people or after visiting crowded places

2. Try limiting or avoiding contact with the person who is sick.

3. Include a good source of protein in your diet along with various other supplements like vitamin C, selenium, zinc, garlic and spicy foods.

 Low Blood Platelet Count

Low platelet count, Credits: pixabay

Also referred to as thrombocytopenia. Platelets function is to initiate a blood clot. They are found in the blood flowing through the blood vessels. Low platelet can occur in various conditions including dengue fever. In Dengue fever platelet count ranges from  20,000 to 40,000,

Symptoms of low platelets:

Low platelet count may cause severe bleeding, fatigue, anaemia, excessive bruising, and enlarged spleen

How to increase platelet count?

Platelets help our body fight infection and injury. One of the healthy ways to increase your platelet count is eating healthy. Foods rich in vitamin B12, Wheatgrass, Papaya, and vitamin C rich sources can help increase platelet count.