While there may be a number of causes for a decrease in red blood cell production, an inadequate intake of certain nutrients may be one of them. Supplements that may help increase your count include iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid.
- red meat, such as beef.
- organ meat, such as kidney and liver.
- dark, leafy, green vegetables, such as spinach and kale.
- dried fruits, such as prunes and raisins.
- beans.
- legumes.
- egg yolks.
How can I restore a normal red blood cell count?
Sometimes nutritional deficits are the cause of anemia. When this is the case, you may be able to restore a normal red blood cell count by consuming enough of the lacking nutrient. Folic acid helps your body make red blood cells. Dietary sources include leafy green vegetables (like kale and spinach), beans, peanuts, liver, and seafood.
How to increase red blood cells naturally?
Increase Red Blood Cells with These Natural Remedies 1 Eat more foods that are rich in iron. 2 Consume more copper and folic acid. 3 Get Enough Vitamins A and C. 4 Exercise more. 5 Quit smoking and drinking alcohol. 6 ... (more items)
What are the treatment options for low red blood cells?
And when bleeding is the cause of anemia, treatment may include options such as medication to heal an ulcer or surgical repair of the damaged area. Low red blood cells can be a problem in many different chronic diseases and acute medical conditions. It’s important for everyone to have habits that help maintain a normal red blood cell count.
What vitamins help make red blood cells?
Folic acid helps your body make red blood cells. Dietary sources include leafy green vegetables (like kale and spinach), beans, peanuts, liver, and seafood. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin. Some dietary sources are red meat, seafood, leafy green vegetables, and beans. Vitamin B12 is involved with the production of red blood cells.
Can you regenerate red blood cells?
How fast does your body make blood? Your body makes about 2 million new red cells every second, so it only takes a number of weeks to build up stores of them again.
How do I fix my red blood cells?
There's no specific treatment for this type of anemia. Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. If symptoms become severe, a blood transfusion or injections of a synthetic hormone normally produced by your kidneys (erythropoietin) might help stimulate red blood cell production and ease fatigue.
What vitamin helps produce red blood cells?
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a condition in which your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, due to a lack (deficiency) of vitamin B12. This vitamin is needed to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of your body.
What happens when red blood cells are damaged?
Damaged RBCs can release unbound forms of iron-carrying hemoglobin, which can cause kidney injury, and can lead to anemia, reducing the delivery of oxygen to tissues. If disease-associated RBC damage overwhelms the body's ability to clear aged RBCs, toxic levels of free iron can be released.
What is the fastest way to increase red blood cells?
Eating an iron-rich diet can increase your body's production of RBCs....Ironred meat, such as beef.organ meat, such as kidney and liver.dark, leafy, green vegetables, such as spinach and kale.dried fruits, such as prunes and raisins.beans.legumes.egg yolks.
How long does it take for red blood cells to regenerate?
between four to six weeksRed blood cells take between four to six weeks for complete replacement, which is why the FDA requires an eight-week wait between blood donations. Your body will not be affected adversely by the loss of the pint of blood.
What causes red blood cells to be low?
Missing certain vitamins or minerals in the diet because of not eating enough. Low iron levels in blood. Major organ problems (including severe heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease) Red blood cells (RBCs) being destroyed by the body before they're replaced.
Does vitamin D increase red blood cells?
In addition to decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, vitamin D has been shown to support erythropoiesis by increasing burst-forming unit-erythroid proliferation (BFU-E) and having a synergistic effect with erythropoietin to further enhance erythroid progenitor cell proliferation [18, 19].
How do you know if your red blood cells are low?
Persistent fatigue, breathlessness, rapid heart rate, pale skin, or any other symptoms of anemia; seek emergency care for any trouble breathing or change in your heart beat. Poor diet or inadequate dietary intake of vitamins and minerals. Very heavy menstrual periods.
What diseases can affect red blood cells?
There are many different types of red blood cell disorders, including:anemia.red cell enzyme deficiencies (e.g. G6PD)red cell membrane disorders (e.g. hereditary spherocytosis)hemoglobinopathies (e.g. sickle cell disease and thalassemia)hemolytic anemia.More items...
What cells destroy damaged red blood cells?
Blood cells that can't pass the test will be broken down in your spleen by macrophages. Macrophages are large white blood cells that specialize in destroying these unhealthy red blood cells. Always economical, your spleen saves any useful components from the old cells, such as iron.
What causes your red blood cells to be low?
Missing certain vitamins or minerals in the diet because of not eating enough. Low iron levels in blood. Major organ problems (including severe heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease) Red blood cells (RBCs) being destroyed by the body before they're replaced.
How do you know if your red blood cells are low?
Persistent fatigue, breathlessness, rapid heart rate, pale skin, or any other symptoms of anemia; seek emergency care for any trouble breathing or change in your heart beat. Poor diet or inadequate dietary intake of vitamins and minerals. Very heavy menstrual periods.
How quickly can you fix anemia?
It usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks of regular iron supplements before your symptoms start to improve. You may need to keep taking iron for several months to build up your reserves of iron and prevent your anemia from returning. Take your pills for as long as your doctor recommends, even if your symptoms have improved.
What could low red blood cells mean?
A low red blood cell count means you have anemia, a condition that could be caused by a variety of factors like blood loss, genetic disorders, cancer treatments and other causes. Discovering anemia is often the starting point to diagnosing an underlying condition. Red blood cells carry oxygen in the blood.
How does Beta thalassemia minor affect red blood cell count?
In general, beta thalassemia minor only causes a very mild anemia, which is a reduced red blood cell count.
Can drinking water increase red blood cell count?
No. It is important to stay hydrated, but drinking too much water can dilute your blood, which may cause a decrease in your red blood cell counts.
Are there any fruits I can eat to increase my red blood cell count?
There are some fruits you can eat that will help, but a balance of nutrients is what is most important. The best foods to eat to improve your red b...
Maintaining optimal levels is important for your health
Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders. Dr. Moawad regularly writes and edits health and career content for medical books and publications.
Red Blood Cells and Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the red blood cells are low in number, too small, too large, or not healthy.
Nutrients to Increase Your Red Blood Cell Count
Sometimes nutritional deficits are the cause of anemia. When this is the case, you may be able to restore a normal red blood cell count by consuming enough of the lacking nutrient.
Lifestyle Changes to Increase Your Red Blood Cell Count
There are also a few non-dietary lifestyle strategies you can use to increase your red blood cell count if it is low. These strategies will only be effective if you are also getting the nutrients your body needs to make enough healthy red blood cells.
When to See a Doctor
You should see a doctor if you experience any symptoms of anemia. Sometimes anemia is caused by medical problems that can become more serious and less treatable if they progress without treatment (like kidney disease or cancer).
Summary
Low red blood cells can be a problem in many different chronic diseases and acute medical conditions. It’s important for everyone to have habits that help maintain a normal red blood cell count. These include getting the nutrients your body needs for healthy red blood cell production, exercising regularly, and avoiding excess alcohol. 3
A Word From Verywell
A low red blood cell count is one of the signs of an underlying health problem. There are many causes and solutions. If you have a medical illness that’s causing you to have reduced number of red blood cells, you will need treatment.
What is the function of red blood cells?
The primary function of the red blood cell is to transport oxygen to all parts of the body. Inflammation and nutrient deficiencies can reduce red blood cell numbers or their ability to effectively deliver oxygen. This condition is called anemia.
Why does exercise increase red blood cell production?
That’s because when muscles work more, they need more energy and more oxygen. Moderate physical activity signals your body to increase red blood cell production in order to increase the oxygen supply to your muscles [ 15 ]. However, strenuous exercise can have the opposite effect.
What happens when RBCs release nitric oxide?
When RBCs release nitric oxide, nitric oxide can cause the blood vessels to expand, which leads to a drop in blood pressure [ 1 ].
Why are red blood cells low?
In a lot of cases, red blood cells are low due to long-term disease or inflammation. This is called “anemia of chronic disease” [ 11, 12 ]. Studies suggest that vitamin D has an important role in lowering inflammation, but also that this vitamin gets depleted in chronic inflammation and disease.
What is the hormone that helps the body destroy its own RBCs?
There is also a hormone called erythropoietin ( EPO ), that is made in the kidneys and stimulates red blood cell production (erythropoiesis) [ 17 ].
What is the procedure that removes a certain amount of blood from the body?
3) Phlebotomy or Blood Draw. This is a procedure that removes a certain amount of blood from the body. The process is similar to the process of donating blood. It reduces red blood cell count and brings the blood density closer to normal.
What are the particles in blood called?
Over 99% of the particles in the blood are cells called red blood cells (RBCs), or erythrocytes, due to their red color. Red blood cells look like a disc with indentations in the middle so they can bend easily to squeeze through narrow blood vessels [ 1 ]. Each red blood cell contains the protein hemoglobin, which transports oxygen [ 1 ].
How to get rid of low RBC?
Get your daily exercise. Exercise is good for everyone – including those with low RBC levels – and it can benefit you both physically and mentally. It keeps you healthy and is recommended to avoid acquiring certain diseases and illnesses. [11]
What to do if your RBC is low?
If your RBC count is so low that food and supplements can no longer provide large amounts of RBCs, a blood transfusion may be an option. You can talk to your primary doctor and have a diagnostic test given. This is a complete blood count (CBC) that will measure the number of RBCs you have in your body.
How does hemoglobin work?
Know how hemoglobin works in the blood. The iron-rich protein known as hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells. [17] It is responsible for the red color as iron binds with oxygen. Each hemoglobin molecule has four iron atoms and each of which binds to 1 oxygen molecule with 2 oxygen atoms.
What is the normal range of RBCs?
If your hemoglobin level is below 7, then they may recommend a transfusion. Normal range of RBCs is 4 to 6 million cells per milliliter.
Why is my red blood cell count low?
A lack of iron in the diet and, perhaps, other minerals and nutrients is the most common cause of a low red blood cell count. Eating foods rich in 5 ingredients may help to increase your red blood cell count, including iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, copper, and Vitamin A.
How often can you donate blood?
It is the same reason why we can only donate blood once every 3 to 4 months. Men have an average of 5.2 million RBCs per cubic millimeter meanwhile 4.6 million in women. If you are a regular blood donor, you’ll notice that there are more men who passed the blood donation screening than women. ...
How many red blood cells are produced in a second?
Around a quarter of the human body cells are red blood cells, or erythrocytes. These RBCs are developed in the bone marrow produced at approximately 2.4 million red blood cells per second. [16]
How to reduce red blood cell count?
1. Medical Treatments. Phlebotomy is the quickest and simplest way of reducing your red blood cell count, and it may be recommended if you have a history of blood clots. Phlebotomy involves removing about a pint of blood at a time, similar to the procedure used for blood donation.
What causes high red blood cell count?
In primary polycythemia, abnormalities in the production of red blood cells cause a high red blood cell count. The cause of secondary polycythemia is the result of external factors such as sleep apnea, hypoxia, and certain tumors, affecting red blood cell production. 1.
What is the difference between erythrocytosis and polycythaemia?
Polycythaemia is an abnormally high concentration of hemoglobin in the blood through an increase in red cell numbers, whereas erythrocytosis only refers to a documented increase of red cell mass. The number of red cells you have varies according to sex and age. Women have lower levels than men and newborn babies often will have more than adults.
What causes polycythemia vera?
The exact cause of polycythemia vera is not well understood. However, medical experts have found that genetic mutations are responsible for most cases. These mutations are thought to possibly increase the sensitivity of the red blood cell precursors to erythropoietin, thus increase red blood cell production.
What are the symptoms of polycythaemia?
Dizziness. Ringing in the ears. Blurred vision. Ruddy complexion. ltching. If polycythaemia is related to liver cancer, kidney cancer, or other erythropoietin secreting tumors, the symptoms can include abdominal pain or fullness, weight loss, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin).
What is a primary polycythemia?
Primary polycythemias are abnormally high levels of red blood cell precursors resulting from inherited or acquired genetic mutations. This category also includes polycythemia vera, and primary familial and congenital polycythemia.
Why does EPO cause red blood cells to increase?
A lack of oxygen or secreting tumor can cause your body to make more of the hormone erythropoietin, and high levels of EPO can prompt your body to make more red blood cells than normal. Chronic hypoxia.
