What if rbc count is high

Gentamicin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections in the blood. Methyldopa is often used to treat high blood pressure. It works by relaxing the blood vessels to allow blood to flow more easily through the body. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you take. A high RBC count may be a result of sleep apnea , pulmonary fibrosis , and other conditions that cause low oxygen levels in the blood. Performance-enhancing drugs like protein injections and anabolic steroids can also increase RBCs.

Kidney disease and kidney cancers can lead to high RBC counts as well. Blood cancers can affect the production and function of red blood cells. They can also result in unusual RBC levels. Each type of blood cancer has a unique impact on RBC count. The three main types of blood cancer are:. Your doctor will discuss any abnormal results with you. Depending on the results, they may need to order additional tests.

These can include blood smears , where a film of your blood is examined under a microscope. Blood smears can help detect abnormalities in the blood cells such as sickle cell anemia , white blood cell disorders such as leukemia, and bloodborne parasites like malaria. Anemia is a condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.

Types of anemia include:. All types of anemia require treatment. A high RBC count could be caused by a number of health conditions or health-related factors, including:. Page last reviewed: 21 September Next review due: 21 September Red blood cell count.

Blood and the Cells It Contains. Accessed June 8, Multiple Myeloma and Anemia. International Myeloma Foundation. Accessed June 9, Cleveland Clinic. Polycythemia vera - Symptoms and causes.

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I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Complete Blood Count. Normal Ranges. High and Low Counts. The Complete Blood Count. The RBC count reference range varies by sex and age: Women: 4. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback!

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