5 Preventive steps to keep your white blood cells (WBC) count normal | Zyla Health

White blood cells (WBC), also known as leukocytes, play a crucial role in the immune system’s ability to protect the body from invaders. These cells are created in the bone marrow and are found throughout the body to search for any indications of infections.

Each WBC has a specialised function, ranging from consuming invaders to producing antibodies. Let’s learn about them and their vital functions in preserving your health.

WBC count is a subtest of the Complete Blood Count (CBC) lab test

White blood cells (WBC) and differential count

“White blood cell count” refers to the total number of WBCs present in a specific amount of blood. It is an indicator of how effectively one’s immune system is working whereas a differential count measures the percentages of different WBCs present in the blood.

Let’s learn about different types of WBCs and what kind of significance they hold…

Did you know?

Immediately following delivery, it’s typical for babies to have greater WBC counts.

Types of WBCs and their roles

1. Neutrophils: They are the most common form of WBC and are critical to the innate immune (body’s first line of defence) response. They specialise in phagocytosis (a process of ingesting other harmful cells).
2. Lymphocytes: They play a role in the second line of defence. They consist of natural killer cells, T cells, and B cells.
3. Monocytes: They can differentiate into dendritic cells and macrophages that can present themselves into antibodies.
4. Eosinophils: They participate in allergy reactions as well as parasitic infections.
5. Basophils: They force out histamine (a chemical) and other substances in case of any allergy.

Having a strong immune system is very important, especially during pregnancy. To build your immunity during pregnancy, give a quick read to our blog- Taking care of your immunity.

Now, if you ever check your complete blood count (CBC) report, you’ll know what the above terms mean but have you ever questioned whether your blood’s WBC count is normal or not? If yes, then take a glance at the next topic…

Normal range of WBC

Blood typically contains 4,500 to 11,000 WBCs per microliter. This value may vary a bit between different labs as they use different testing methods.

Normal range of differential count

The normal range of differential count is as follows:

Table 1

Here also, the values might vary due to the reason mentioned above. If your parameters are not within the range, don’t worry as you can consult our team at Zyla Health for a more personalised evaluation and treatment, download the zyla app or visit our website- zyla.in.

Moving on, do you know what happens if your WBC count shows some unusual results? For more information, keep reading…

Why does it matter if the WBC count is high?

Leukocytosis is typically defined as having more than 11,000 white blood cells per microliter of blood.

Risk factors of high WBC count:

Anyone can develop a high WBC count, although some categories of people may be prone, these include:

1. Infected individuals: Infections or allergies are one of the most frequent causes of leukocytosis.
2. Chronic inflammatory or autoimmune disorders: People with chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases are more likely to undergo leukocytosis.
3. Blood cancers: Blood cancers influence the generation of blood cells and can cause an increase in the number of WBC.
4. Bone marrow disorders: Bone marrow disorders like leukemia damage the bone marrow’s capacity to create blood cells and can result in leukocytosis.

Now that you are clear about what is leukocytosis or high WBC count, let’s talk about leukopenia or low WBC count.

Why does it matter if the WBC count is low?

Low WBC count, called leukopenia, is when you have too few WBC making it difficult for your body to fight infections.

With great immunity, you can fight off infections easily.

Risk factor of low WBC count:

1. Medical interventions: Such as chemotherapy can cause leukopenia.
2. Disorders of the bone marrow: WBC production can be hampered by diseases that damage the bone marrow, like aplastic anemia.
3. Autoimmune disorders: The immune system may target and kill white blood cells as a result of autoimmune diseases.
4. Chronic inflammatory diseases: Diseases like crohn’s disease (chronic disease of the digestive tract) can occasionally reduce WBC levels.

Now you know what are WBCs, their types and what happens if they’re are not present in appropriate numbers, let’s explore what happens when the differential count is abnormal.

Causes of high differential count

1. Neutrophils: Increased levels of neutrophils may be a sign of stress, inflammation, or a bacterial infection.
2. Basophils: This is a rare occurrence that can occur in some bone marrow abnormalities.
3. Eosinophils: This may occur in autoimmune illnesses, parasite infections or allergies.
4. Lymphocytes: This could indicate a viral infection or leukemias.
5. Monocytes: This can be observed in various autoimmune disorders, leukaemia or infections.

Causes of low differential count

1. Neutrophils: Low levels of neutrophils may be caused by viral infections, chemotherapy, autoimmune or bone marrow disorders.
2. Basophils: Low amount of basophils in blood is rare, although it may happen due to allergic responses.
3. Eosinophils: Low levels of eosinophils occur in allergic reactions and parasitic infections.
4. Lymphocytes: HIV, chemotherapy, autoimmune diseases, and some immunological deficits can lead to low lymphocytes.
5. Monocytes: Certain illnesses or drugs can cause low levels of monocytes.

You might be asking if there are any preventive steps we can take to make sure your differential count is in normal range… Continue reading the blog if you want to learn about it.

5 Preventative steps to keep WBC count normal

You can take several preventive measures to keep your WBC within normal range.

1. A well-balanced and nutrient-rich diet

Take a balanced diet. For a healthy immune system, nutrients like zinc and vitamins C, D, and E are crucial.

To improve your immunity post-covid-19, read our blog here.

If you are struggling with what to eat and how much to eat, take expert guidance from experienced Clinical nutritionists at Zyla Health by downloading the zyla app or visit zyla.in.

2. Exercise regularly

Do regular bodily movement and exercises. Increased circulation due to exercise can support a strong immune system.

3. Get the recommended amount of sleep

A healthy immune system depends on getting enough sleep.

4. Keep yourself adequately hydrated

All body processes, including the immune system’s ability to perform at its best, are supported by water so prevention of dehydration is essential.

5. Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol

Smoking and heavy drinking can compromise the immune system.

Quit smoking!

To know about the treatment options available take a glance at the next topic.

Treatments for abnormal WBC count

Depending on the underlying cause different treatments are provided. Some of the treatments are as follows:

Treatment for high WBC count

1. Treatment of underlying cause: The ailment causing the elevated WBC count is the main area of focus.
2. Medication: In some circumstances, a doctor may prescribe drugs to control the production of white blood cells.
3. Blood or marrow abnormalities: Chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, or immunotherapy may be used to treat diseases which affect bone marrow.

Treatment for low WBC count

1. Addressing the root cause: Similar to leukocytosis, treating the root cause of low WBC is the primary goal.
2. Medications: Antibiotics or antifungal drugs may be used to treat infections.
3. Bone marrow disorders: Treatments for bone marrow disorders can range from drugs to blood transfusions to stem cell transplants.

It is essential to know WBC count while evaluating health due to their role in the immune system. Our team at Zyla Health provides you with a range of programmes to support your health.

We have a team of doctors, nutritionist and other health experts that can provide you with holistic approaches to improve your WBC count. To learn more about the health programmes available download the zyla app or go to zyla.in.

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References:

Histology, White Blood Cell

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