If you have consulted our blog more than once or are interested in topics related to medicine, surely this is not the first time you have read the term ‘hema’. It appears in certain words, such as ‘hematoma’ or ‘hemoglobin’, referring, as we suppose you know, to blood. Although this prefix does not resemble the word we use to designate the liquid that runs through our veins, its Greek origin literally means ‘blood’.
The word we want to talk about today is, of course, philologically related to blood. Erythrocytes or red blood cells are a fundamental part of it and perform certain functions. Their increase or decrease can affect our body, causing mild or serious problems, depending on the imbalance and how long it takes to detect it. Today we will see what these cells are and what they can indicate to us.
What are erythrocytes?
Erythrocytes are the cells of the red series of blood, hence they are popularly known as red blood cells. They are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body using the veins and the liquid in which they move and live, the blood. It is actually one of the many cells that live inside it, in a liquid called plasma. Erythrocytes are from the red series, but there is also another, the so-called white series, in which leukocytes and platelets are found.
These cells are produced in the bone marrow and move towards the bloodstream as they grow and are ready to carry out their function. Erythrocytes specifically make up 40% of the blood volume and contain hemoglobin, a protein with the ability to bind oxygen so that it can reach the organs and tissues of the body that need it.
But they not only carry oxygen, but also transport small amounts of CO2 produced by cellular metabolism to the lungs, which will be responsible for eliminating it. All components of the blood perform a vital function in our body and are indispensable for leading a healthy life without complications.
Erythrocytes have a lifespan of approximately 120 days, so in reality, the bone marrow is almost constantly creating new cells to replace those that die or are lost in bleeds. Their production and the quantities that exist in the blood are what interest us today. Certain situations can arise in which their count has increased or decreased.
These variations can parallel those of hemoglobin and hematocrit:
- If erythrocytes are destroyed or lost due to bleeding at a faster rate than the bone marrow can produce them, if it suddenly stops creating them, or if the cells are irregular or do not contain enough hemoglobin, anemia would occur in the body. This disease can affect the oxygen levels reaching the tissues.
- If, on the other hand, too many erythrocytes are released, we would be facing a case of polycythemia. This excessive amount of cells literally ‘fills’ the blood, thickening it and decreasing its flow due to the number of elements found in it. This condition can cause headaches, dizziness, vision problems, excessive clotting, or in extreme cases, an acute myocardial infarction.
That is why performing a red blood cell count is so important in any medical test, as doctors will be able to find out how many erythrocytes are in the obtained blood sample. It is, in fact, one of the tests included when a complete blood count is requested (a comprehensive blood analysis, in which a patient’s overall health status is examined and possible conditions such as anemia, infection, and leukemia are detected).
When is their analysis requested?
As we have just mentioned, if the doctor requests a complete blood count, a red blood cell count will directly proceed as part of the test. These tests are usually requested when a patient goes for a medical check-up or is going to undergo surgery. In the first case, the reason for requesting a complete blood count is usually because the patient is showing signs or symptoms associated with a disease that demonstrates an increase or reduction in erythrocytes. Some of them are:
- Weakness or fatigue.
- Lack of energy.
- Paleness.
When erythrocytes increase in the body, some of the symptoms that may appear are:
- Vision disturbances.
- Headaches and/or dizziness.
- Facial redness.
- Spleen swelling.
The red blood cell count is also performed periodically to monitor people diagnosed with diseases of these types:
- Bone marrow disorders.
- Kidney diseases.
- Bleeding disorders.
- Chronic anemia.
- Polycythemia.
- Cancer (chemotherapy or radiotherapy usually decrease bone marrow production of all blood elements).
Let’s now see what the approximate ranges of erythrocytes considered normal in a human being are. Always keep in mind that these vary according to the age, sex, and health status of the person in question. Below we comment on the canonically usual values, but it is best to consult with a health professional to find out what yours should be, taking into account the factors we have just mentioned:
- Adult woman: 4 – 5.5 million/µl (microliter).
- Adult man: 4.5 – 6.2 million/µl.
- Girls, 15 to 17 years: 3.8 – 5 million/µl.
- Boys, 15 to 17 years: 4.3 – 5.7 million/µl.
- Girls/boys, 11 to 14 years: 4.1 – 5.3 million/µl.
- Girls/boys, 6 to 10 years: 4.1 – 5.2 million/µl.
- Girls/boys, 3 to 5 years: 4.0 – 5.1 million/µl.
- Girls/boys, 2 years: 3.8 – 5 million/µl.
- Babies 6 months to 2 years: 3.9 – 5.1 million/µl.
- Babies 8 weeks to 5 months: 3.4 – 4.8 million/µl.
- Babies 5 to 7 weeks: 2.9 – 4.2 million/µl.
- Babies 2 to 4 weeks: 3.1 – 4.8 million/µl.
- Newborns (up to 14 days): 4.1 – 5.7 million/µl.
Low erythrocytes
This health problem is relatively serious, so if any symptom indicating low erythrocytes appears, you should see a doctor immediately for treatment.
The possible reasons for the appearance of anemia (low erythrocytes) may be:
- Poor nutrition (especially due to lack of iron, vitamin B12, and/or folic acid).
- Slow blood loss (menstruation).
- Surgical operations related to the stomach or intestines.
- Pregnancy.
- Certain medications.
- Abnormalities in the intestines and stomach (cannot properly absorb nutrients).
- Kidney diseases.
- Production of abnormal hemoglobin molecules.
- Diseases (leukemia, bone marrow cancer…).
The treatment applied will depend entirely on the patient’s condition and the progress of the anomaly. Some of the most common are:
- Creating a protein-rich diet.
- Prescribing iron, vitamin B12, folate, or other vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Performing blood transfusions.
- Prescribing medications and corticosteroids to inhibit the immune system.
- Providing erythropoietin (a hormone that promotes the production of erythrocytes).
High erythrocytes
Just as harmful is the lack of erythrocytes as their excess, so it is important to know what symptoms can cause an irregular number of these cells in our body:
- Tobacco. By decreasing the oxygen in the blood, tobacco causes the bone marrow to increase the unnatural production of erythrocytes.
- Altitude. Living in high-altitude areas or exercising in them generates a lack of oxygen that, combined with atmospheric pressure, causes the body to produce more erythrocytes. In this case, their high amount would not be related to any disease.
- Respiratory insufficiencies. People suffering from any type of disease related to lack of oxygen also react by creating more red blood cells.
- Consumption of anabolic steroids or any type of doping that stimulates the production of red blood cells.
- Heart diseases. An injury to the cardiovascular system can cause a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream.
- Kidney diseases.
- Dehydration.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Sleep apnea.
- Congenital defects (polycythemia vera).
Although the causes are quite detectable, the problem of excess red blood cells in the blood is that it does not generate specific symptoms, so a blood test will always be necessary to know if the problem is definitively related to erythrocytes.
Some of the discomforts usually generated by this condition can be dizziness, facial redness, or constant headaches. As we have mentioned, they are not unique to erythrocytes, so it is very important to see a doctor immediately, either to confirm suspicions or discover a different problem. If the causes are due to polycythemia vera, a rare disease, additional symptoms may occur, such as ringing in the ears, vision distortion, breathing difficulties, or bleeding gums.
The way to treat high erythrocytes will be initially decided by the doctor, whose first mission will be to discover if the symptoms really come from this problem or not. Through the complete blood count, answers will be found and, whatever the result, treatment will be prescribed if necessary. If, for example, the cause of high erythrocytes is tobacco or steroids, the first thing the doctor will do is recommend stopping or regulating the intake of both substances.
If you are looking for a laboratory that, in addition to performing reference clinical analyses, manages them to integrate smoothly and flexibly into your laboratory’s operations, at AmbarLab we are your partner of trust.
We do not settle for the conventional, we are motivated and excited to offer an extra point, with a more human and personalized treatment. If you want us to start a new path for your business together, you can get in contact with us. A member of our team will attend to you as soon as possible.
