What is a blood count?
A blood count is a measurement of the amounts and types of blood cells in your body.
How many types of blood cells do I have?
1. RED BLOOD CELLS help carry oxygen and food to other cells in your body.
2. PLATELETS help clot blood whenever you have a cut or bruise.
3. WHITE BLOOD CELLS help prevent and fight infection.
The normal blood count values for each of these types of cells are:
| Red Blood Cells (Hemoglobin) | 12 -Â 18 |
| Platelets | 140,000 – 440,000 |
| White Blood Cells | 4,500 – 11,000 |
How does my illness affect my blood cells?
Some types of cancer cause changes in your blood cell production. Often, white cells are produced too quickly and they don’t have time to mature. So you may have too many non-working white blood cells. This can cause your red blood cells and platelets to be crowded and interrupts their development. When this happens, your body ends up with fewer defenses against infection.
What happens if my blood cells are low or immature?
You may feel sick because:
- An inadequate supply of red blood cells can cause anemia, which can leave you pale, weak, and/or tired
- Inadequate platelets can cause easy bruising, poor healing, and sometimes bleeding
- Without enough mature white blood cells, you’re more susceptible to infection, which can result in colds, cough, sore throat, and/or fever
What happens if my blood cell count is high?
You may feel sick because fast-growing white blood cells can travel through your bloodstream and build up inside your body’s organs. These organs may get bigger and may stop working effectively.
How will I know whether my blood cells are low or high?
A lab technician will take a blood sample from your arm and send it to a laboratory for a blood count. By noon that day, the results will be ready the same day or the next day.
Please use the links below to continue learning about you and your blood.
