High Red Blood Cell Count

Red blood cells are the primary constituents of the blood cells in a human body, and their function is to carry and supply oxygen to the various parts in the body. The oxygen is derived from the lungs, and every tissue in the human body requires this oxygen to function properly, and it is the red blood cells (RBCs) that carry out this vital activity for the smooth functioning of the body. A high red blood cell count in the bloodstream is a condition known as polycythemia, or erythrocytosis, and as a result of this condition the viscosity, or the thickness of the blood is increased. This has a damaging effect on the ability of the blood cells to flow and squeeze through any organs inside the body.

Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow of the body, and the primary constituent of RBCs is hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries the oxygen within the blood. A high red blood cell count does not necessarily imply something harmful, as the age and the sex of a person also plays a part in the red blood cell count in the bloodstream. Males have a higher red blood cell count than women, and newborns generally have a higher red blood cell count than full-grown adults.

Causes of High Red Blood Cell Count
The causes of high red blood cell count are many, and for a medical specialist to ascertain the exact cause of the condition takes some time and careful study of the medical history and lifestyle patterns of an individual. Here are some of the most commonly seen causes of high red blood cell count.

• Production of red blood cells from the bone marrow is higher than normal.
• The kidneys are producing too much erythropoietin. This is a protein that is used in the production of red blood cells.
• The red blood cells are carrying less oxygen than normal. This is the reason for the high red blood cell count.
• More red blood cells are being produced due to limited supply of oxygen at higher altitudes.
• More red blood cells are being produced due to limited supply of oxygen that is being caused by a heart problem or a lung problem of some sort.

Due to these causes the body starts producing more red blood cells in order to enhance the flow of oxygen within the body, and this results in a high red blood cell count in many people. There are a few more specific causes of high red blood cell count as well, that are seemingly caused by external factors or chronic illnesses.

• Excessive smoking.
• Kidney cancer.
• Heart failure, or some heart disease.
• Some form of lung disease.
• Steroids that enhance the production of red blood cells.
• Dehydration.
• Erythropoietin doping by athletes to boost their performance.
• Pulmonary fibrosis.
• Hemoglobinopathies, a condition that is present from birth. This condition limits the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen.

Something else that you should know about high red blood cell count is that this is not a condition that can be discovered by chance by your doctor, it has to be diagnosed and specifically searched for by a medical specialist, and only then can it be treated accordingly.

Symptoms of High Red Blood Cell Count
The symptoms of high red blood cell count can vary from person to person, depending on a variety of factors. Some people may show minimal symptoms that cause absolutely no problem at all, whereas some people may have to live with a lot of discomfort and uneasiness due to this condition. There may be some other blood disorders that will accompany this condition, and bleeding and clotting problems are not rare occurrences for people with a high red blood cell count. Some of the most widely and commonly observed symptoms of this condition are as follows:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Easy bruising
• Itching
• Dizziness
• Joint pain
• Abdominal pain

A high red blood cell count in itself may be a symptom for some other blood disorder that may require immediate diagnosis and treatment, and the visibility of these symptoms must not be neglected. A doctor must be visited immediately in order to avoid complications in the future.

Once the cause of the high red blood cell count has been discovered, constant monitoring and regular treatment of the patient will be carried out. As mentioned earlier, some individuals will have an inherent high red blood cell count, but this may not affect them in any way.