BLOOD COUNT TESTS, ABNORMAL
Description and Possible Medical Problems
If you feel mote tired and look paler than you usually do, there are a number of causes your doctor will look for, but it’s likely that the first one he will check will prove to be the cause. Fortunately, it is also the easiest to treat.
Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cells contain less hemoglobin than is normal for a healthy, well-functioning circulatory system. Hemoglobin is composed mostly of iron, which is why all the commercials for dietary iron supplements stress that without their products you’ll be more prone to developing anemia.
On the surface this is true, but in actuality it’s not that simple. While anemia is frequently caused by a lack of iron in the diet, it can also be due to a defect within the digestive system. Anemia can also be the result of a deficiency of another nutrient, including vitamin or folic acid.
The first test your doctor will conduct is called a complete blood cell count. This will provide the doctor with a clear picture of the composition of your blood by counting the number of each type of blood cell— red, white, and platelets—and comparing it to that of nonanemic blood. Red blood cells should make up 40% to 45% of the blood’s composition in women and 45% to 50% in men. If the numbers from your blood test fall below these figures, you probably have anemia.
In addition to a reduced blood cell count, the test will also reveal an elevated blood cell count, typically when the body is producing a surplus of white blood cells, the condition known as leukemia. Interestingly, the symptoms for anemia and leukemia are similar.
Treatment
Whether the results of an abnormal complete blood cell count show reduced or elevated blood counts, your doctor is the best person to recommend the proper course of treatment. If you have anemia, your doctor will suggest you take iron supplements as well as increase the amount of iron-rich foods in your diet. Though leukemia is the mote serious disease, it can be treated successfully with customized chemotherapy regimens, especially if it’s caught early.
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