What happens if rbc count is low

Dietary and lifestyle changes are not enough to manage RBC levels in some people. Doctors may recommend other options to help increase the number of RBCs in the blood. A doctor may prescribe certain medications to stimulate the production of RBCs. They may recommend hormone treatment to people with anemia due to cancer , kidney disease, diabetes , or any other disorder that may have caused a hormonal malfunction.

Treatment may help the RBC count improve on its own. However, diet and lifestyle choices can support a healthy RBC count alongside specific treatment. A doctor may rarely recommend a blood transfusion if RBC levels do not respond to medications and lifestyle changes.

Macrocytic anemia is a type of anemia characterized by abnormally large red blood cells. The size of the red blood cells means there are fewer of them…. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin or MCH levels refer to the amount of hemoglobin that is present in a red blood cell.

Hemoglobin is a protein that carries…. For some types of blood tests, a person may need to fast beforehand. In this article, learn about fasting for blood tests. Anemia is the most common blood disorder. The body does not have enough red blood cells and is unable to deliver enough oxygen around the body.

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells. Oxygen entering the lungs adheres to this protein, allowing blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the…. How to increase red blood cell count. Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M. Diet Lifestyle changes Symptoms Understanding blood count When to see a doctor We include products we think are useful for our readers. Lifestyle changes. Understanding blood count.

When to see a doctor. Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. Macrocytic anemia: Symptoms and treatment. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. There are many different reasons a person with cancer might have anemia.

Some common causes are:. Anemia often starts slowly, so you may not notice symptoms at first. As your hemoglobin level gets lower you may have one or more of these symptoms:. Anemia can range from mild to life-threatening, depending on your hemoglobin level and the symptoms you are experiencing. Some of these symptoms are more serious than others. Your doctor will explain your hemoglobin level and the severity of your anemia.

If you have any of these symptoms, tell your doctor or nurse right away. Let your cancer care team know if you have any other medical problems such as heart or lung disease, as this may make your symptoms from anemia worse.

Be sure to mention how the symptoms affect your day-to-day life. Doing so will help you get the treatment you need when you need it. A complete blood count CBC is a blood test that measures your hemoglobin level and other characteristics of your red blood cells such as their size. This test not only shows if you have anemia, but it can also help your doctor figure out what might be causing it.

Your doctor or nurse can use the results of these tests, along with your medical information and a physical exam, to get an idea of what might be causing your anemia. The first thing the doctor needs to know is how severe your anemia is. Anemia can affect your quality of life and has been found to shorten survival in people with cancer. In some cases, this lack of oxygen may be bad enough to threaten your life.

Anemia can also make your heart work harder. So if you already have a heart problem, anemia can make it worse. Anemia can also make it hard for you to breath normally, making it challenging to do your usual activities. Severe anemia may mean you have to delay your cancer treatment or have your treatment dose reduced. It can also cause some cancer treatments to not work as well as they should.

Your cancer care team may try to figure out your risk of serious problems from the anemia based on any symptoms you are having and your hemoglobin level. 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.

People with anemia typically feel tired and weak. They may also experience headaches, cold hands and feet, dizziness, and irregular heartbeats.

A bone marrow biopsy can show how the different cells of your blood are made within your bone marrow. Diagnostic tests, such as ultrasounds or electrocardiograms , can look for conditions affecting the kidneys or heart. Dietary changes can play a major part in home treatment by increasing or lowering your RBC count.

You may be able to increase your RBC with the following dietary changes:. Has your doctor advised you to increase your red blood cell count?

These supplements and lifestyle changes may help. Blood cell disorders impair the formation and function of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. A complete blood count, or CBC, measures several components of your blood and can help diagnose a broad range of conditions, from anemia and to cancer. Red blood cells RBCs might show up in a urine sample. Learn more…. A haptoglobin test measures the amount of haptoglobin in your blood. Learn why this test is performed, what to expect, and what the results may mean.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Symptoms of an abnormal count.