What Are Low Red Blood Cells? 3 Ways You Can Keep Your RBC Count Up

 Are you experiencing a lower red blood cell count? Here’s how to keep them up or contact mobile lab service providers in MD for help. 

 

 

Our blood is made up of four components responsible for different tasks in the body. Out of them, red blood cells play a massive role in delivering oxygen to all of our tissues and organs. They also carry carbon dioxide into our lungs from our cells.

RBCs are critical as they transport oxygen, enabling our cells to break down food and get the energy we need to survive. A lower number of red blood cells can harm our body. In fact, lower RBC counts can also lead to developing anemia. This condition causes you to feel tired or weak due to less oxygen-rich blood.

Today we’re discussing how to keep the number of RBCs up in your body and how mobile lab service provider VA can help.

What Are Red Blood Cells? What Role Do They Play?

Red blood cells are a component of our blood produced in the bone marrow. They have an average life span of around 120 days and contain hemoglobin. It’s a protein responsible for transporting oxygen from our lungs to different parts of the body. Each second, about two million red blood cells are produced and destroyed to replace each other in the cycle. Anything that disrupts this balance can prove to be detrimental to our health.  

What Happens When You Have Lower Red Blood Count?

Before we discuss how to keep red blood cells count up, we need to know why they’re essential in the first place.   

We know red blood cells are responsible for oxygen circulating in our bodies. That's why a lower red blood cell count induces feelings of weakness, exhaustion, and fatigue. Lower hemoglobin levels mean your body has to work harder to carry oxygen to other cells. As a result, they are likely to develop anemia, which can put them at risk for a lot of complications.

Here are some symptoms to look out for:

1. Constant or persistent fatigue

2. Dizziness

3. Heart palpitations (tachycardia)

4. Irritability

5. More headaches

6. Lack of energy

7. Low blood pressure (hypo-tension)

8. Pale skin

9. Persistent sleepiness

10. Shortness of breath

11. Trouble concentrating  

 

In cases of severe anemia, the patient might also experience fainting, heart failure, organ damage, and organ failure.

Though anyone can develop anemia at any point in their life, certain people are at a much higher risk of developing the condition, including:

1. People over the age of 60.

2. People taking blood thinners.

3. Pregnant people

4. Those who experience heavy periods.

5. Young children

So, how can you keep your red blood cell count up?

Method #1: Improving Your Diet

Did you know that your red blood cell count can decrease if you stop eating essential nutrients?

Iron

One of the most common types of anemia is iron deficient anemia. That's because your body needs iron to create hemoglobin. Without hemoglobin, your body can't provide oxygen to cells which can prove fatal.

Here are some iron-rich foods to incorporate into your diet.

1. Beans

2. Dark and leafy vegetables, like spinach

3. Dried fruits

4. Egg yolk

5. Legumes and lentils

6. Organ meat, like kidney

7. Red meat, such as beef.

Folic Acid

Folate deficiency can lead your body to develop anemia. Here are some foods that are chock full of folic acid you can add to your diet:

1. Beans

2. Lentils

3. Peas

4. Nuts

Vitamin B-12

Did you know that deficiency of vitamin B12 can trigger abnormal RBC development called megaloblasts? This can lead to developing megaloblastic anemia.

Here are some foods that contain B-12:

1. Dairy products

2. Eggs

3. Fish

4. Red meat

Method #2: Reduce Consumption of Alcohol

With simple lifestyle changes, you can substantially improve your RBC count.

It’s no secret that drinking too much alcohol has a detrimental impact on your health. In fact, the direct and indirect effects of alcohol can lead to severe medical conditions. Out of them, you're also likely to develop decreased RBC production and impaired RBC metabolism.  

According to dietary guidelines, men should only drink two or fewer drinks, and women should only consume one or fewer drinks a day.

Method #3: Exercise Regularly

Moderate but regular exercise offers benefits for any person that adopts it. Most importantly, exercise is especially important for red blood cell production.

When it comes to your general health, exercising is essential in stimulating erythropoiesis. It's the process that enables the production of red blood cells in the body.

When you exercise regularly, it raises your heartbeat and boosts the need for oxygen in your brain. In turn, the requirement for oxygen results in our body, taking the hint to boost the production of hemoglobin.

Here are some exercises that you can incorporate into your lifestyle:

1. Aerobics and other guided exercises

2. Cycling

3. Jogging

4. Running

5. Swimming

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), you should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity every week. 

 

Do you think you have a lower red blood cell count but can’t get it checked? Most people avoid getting important blood work done due to busy schedules or health issues. However, avoiding the problem might result in developing anemic symptoms later.

What if we tell you that you can get blood tests done at home? This is where Phlebotomy on Wheels comes in.

Phlebotomy on Wheels is a leading team of Mobile Laboratory Services in Maryland that offers home blood Draw services MD. Their expert team of lab phlebotomists in MD conducts important blood work in the comfort of your home to detect any issues.

Their mobile blood draw services in MD offer help with other issues like paternity testing, stat blood draw, specimen pick-up, and delivery services, urine testing, etc.

Schedule an appointment with them today to get convenient medical test services from home.

 

About the Author

The author is a social worker and renowned researcher passionate about teaching people about blood donations. They encourage people to undergo routine blood tests and donations to help others. They currently work for Phlebotomy on Wheels and spend their free time writing articles about phlebotomy, blood, and donations.