red blood count ???

Hello my friends :) chris had a check up today and was told they wanted to re check his blood count.. They said his red count went way up. What does your red count mean?? Boy cancer is such a learning process....lol

Loves,
Mel

Comments

  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    Melanie....hope this helps some
    The RBC is a count of the number of red blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. In response to hypoxia, the hormone erthyropoietin, secreted by the kidneys, stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. The formation of red blood cells is known as erthyropoiesis.

    Normal red blood cells values at various ages are:

    * Newborns: 4.8 - 7.2 million
    * Adults: (males): 4.6 - 6.0 million
    * (Females): 4.2-5.0 million
    * Pregnancy: slightly lower than normal adult values
    * Children: 3.8 – 5.5 million



    Increase in red blood cells:

    An increase in red blood cell mass is known as polycythemia. Normal physiological increases in the RBC count occurs at high altitudes or after strenuous physical training. At high altitudes, less atmospheric weight pushes air into the lungs, causing a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen and hypoxia. With strenuous physical training, increased muscle mass demands more oxygen. The drugs gentamicin and methyldopa have been associated with increasing the number of red blood cells. Smokers also have a higher number of red blood cells than non-smokers.

    There are also pathological reasons for an increased number of red blood cells. Polycythemia vera is a disease of unknown origin that results in an abnormal increase in red blood cells. Polycythemia vera is referred to as a "primary polycythemia" because the overproduction of red blood cells does not result from hypoxia. The term "vera" means true; thus polycythemia vera refers specifically to overproduction of red blood cells in the bone marrow not caused by a physiologic need. Polycythemia vera is treated by radioactive phosphorus to slow down bone marrow overproduction of red blood cells. Hydration is an important consideration when caring for patients with abnormally high red blood cell counts. Very high RBC mass will slow blood velocity and increase the risk of intravascular clotting.

    Red Blood cells live for about 4 months....just a little trivia...Love to ya, buzz

    and BTW, beautiful pic.I love babies.......... :)
  • MelanieT
    MelanieT Member Posts: 186
    Buzzard said:

    Melanie....hope this helps some
    The RBC is a count of the number of red blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. In response to hypoxia, the hormone erthyropoietin, secreted by the kidneys, stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. The formation of red blood cells is known as erthyropoiesis.

    Normal red blood cells values at various ages are:

    * Newborns: 4.8 - 7.2 million
    * Adults: (males): 4.6 - 6.0 million
    * (Females): 4.2-5.0 million
    * Pregnancy: slightly lower than normal adult values
    * Children: 3.8 – 5.5 million



    Increase in red blood cells:

    An increase in red blood cell mass is known as polycythemia. Normal physiological increases in the RBC count occurs at high altitudes or after strenuous physical training. At high altitudes, less atmospheric weight pushes air into the lungs, causing a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen and hypoxia. With strenuous physical training, increased muscle mass demands more oxygen. The drugs gentamicin and methyldopa have been associated with increasing the number of red blood cells. Smokers also have a higher number of red blood cells than non-smokers.

    There are also pathological reasons for an increased number of red blood cells. Polycythemia vera is a disease of unknown origin that results in an abnormal increase in red blood cells. Polycythemia vera is referred to as a "primary polycythemia" because the overproduction of red blood cells does not result from hypoxia. The term "vera" means true; thus polycythemia vera refers specifically to overproduction of red blood cells in the bone marrow not caused by a physiologic need. Polycythemia vera is treated by radioactive phosphorus to slow down bone marrow overproduction of red blood cells. Hydration is an important consideration when caring for patients with abnormally high red blood cell counts. Very high RBC mass will slow blood velocity and increase the risk of intravascular clotting.

    Red Blood cells live for about 4 months....just a little trivia...Love to ya, buzz

    and BTW, beautiful pic.I love babies.......... :)

    Thanks soooo much Buzz.....
    Thanks soooo much Buzz..... Its amazing all the things ya learn or in my case try to learn when cancer enters your life!! Thanks for the picture comment. He is amazing and I cant get enough of him. He really has helped Chris too... I find him telling Will(our G baby) how he is going to teach him how to play golf and how they are going to go play Pebble Beach.. lol

    Loves,
    Mel