With the help of leukocytes, the body defends itself against harmful microorganisms. They help cleanse the blood of dying cells and fight bacteria and viruses. The reduced content of leukocytes can be determined by the leukocyte formula. An increase in their number can also be an alarming sign, as this signals viral diseases such as hepatitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, or toxoplasmosis. So, what happens in the body if the number of white blood cells is high or, conversely, leukocytes are low?
Causes of changes in blood composition
If the test results show an increase in white blood cells, the causes may be hiding in bacterial, viral or fungal infections, such as tonsillitis, meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, polyarthritis, abscess, appendicitis, peritonitis and pyelonephritis. This phenomenon can be caused by poisoning the body with gout. An increase in leukocytes is also possible in the period after serious burns and bleeding, injuries and operations, after myocardial infarction, as a result of chronic or acute anemia.
ExceptIn addition, the culprit of such an indicator may be the development of a malignant tumor in the body. Low white blood cells can be associated with bacterial and viral infections such as influenza, sepsis, measles, AIDS, typhoid fever, or malaria. A similar situation develops with rheumatoid arthritis and kidney failure, as a result of radiation sickness and as a side effect of taking medications. The same picture is typical for leukemia, diseases of the bone marrow, anaphylactic shock, anemia or exhaustion. If low white blood cells are a chronic condition of the body, we can talk about leukopenia. This disease signals a decrease in immunity, often caused by serious diseases or cancer therapy. In addition, leukopenia is characteristic of people who consume insufficient amounts of protein, namely vegetarians.
What to do if you have low white blood cells?
If the causes of leukopenia lie in serious infectious diseases, the main condition for restoring the composition of the blood will be recovery and stopping medication.
But you can help the body restore the number of white blood cells. First of all, the right diet will help. It is worth consulting with your doctor about what to do if low white blood cells are found. He will advise a diet that will have an increased amount of protein and reduced carbohydrates, as well as an increased intake of ascorbic and folic acid, choline and lysine. This can be done through regular use.liver, meat and animal fat, porridge from buckwheat, oats, barley, inclusion in the diet of fresh vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs. You should pay more attention to chicken eggs, nuts and caviar, drink natural juices from fruits and vegetables, especially from carrots and tomatoes. You can also eat sprouted wheat grains.
