Where do elevated red blood cells come from?

Elevated red blood cells in the blood: physiological erythrocytosis

Erythrocytes - red blood cells, the mainwhose function is to transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide. In the alveoli of the lungs, red corpuscles are saturated with oxygen and spread throughout the body. Hemoglobin also forms compounds with such an exchange product as carbon dioxide, carrying it to the tissues of the lungs. Quite often during the laboratory analysis, it is found that the patient has elevated red blood cells in the blood. In fact, such a problem can arise under the influence of many factors, both external and internal environment. Sometimes the causes of erythrocytosis are completely harmless, but in most cases such a violation indicates the presence of the disease. This function of red blood cells is associated with the so-called physiological erythrocytosis. Elevated red blood cells in the blood are observed in residents of high-altitude regions, where the concentration of oxygen and air is much higher. The same goes for professional athletes, as their body absorbs much more oxygen. In fact, this is a perfectly normal phenomenon, which does not require treatment.

Elevated red blood cells and concomitant diseases

Unfortunately, the causes of erythrocytosis are far from always so harmless. Quite often, such a violation indicates the presence of serious diseases:

• For example, increased erythrocytes in the blood of a childcan be the result of severe dehydration. After all, in childhood, even vomiting and diarrhea can lead to such a disorder. In adulthood, erythrocytosis from dehydration is diagnosed much less often, but nevertheless it is possible.
• Increased number of red blood cellsoften occurs as a compensatory reaction in various heart diseases. After all, if the heart muscle does not cope with their work, then, consequently, the tissues do not receive enough oxygen, as a result of which erythrocytosis appears.
• Quite often elevated red blood cells in the bloodcan also indicate the pathology of the respiratory system, for example, bronchitis, inflammation, rhinitis, intense allergic reactions. After all, if the lumen of the respiratory tract decreases, then, accordingly, the amount of oxygen inhaled decreases.
• Sometimes a similar problem is associated with a malfunction of the bone marrow, which begins to produce an increased number of red blood cells.
• In some cases, erythrocytosis can signal cancer of the liver and kidneys.

Elevated red blood cells in the urine

Another fairly common problem ispresence of a large number of red blood cells in the urine. In case of such violations it is worth immediately conducting additional studies and starting treatment. After all, the presence of blood impurities in the urine often indicates serious problems. In particular, such a violation is observed in acute and chronic glomerulonephritis. The same symptom appears with the formation of kidney stones. The formation of tumors (malignant or benign) in the tissues of the kidneys or the urinary canal is also accompanied by an increase in the number of erythrocytes in the urine.