March 3, 2010

Symptoms & Treatment for Low White Blood Cells

Posted in Category : Common Ailments

Also known as leukocytes, white blood cells are an essential part of the body’s immunity system and help protect the body against infections and foreign materials. A normal white blood cell count in the human body stands at around 4000 to 10000 per cubic millimeter of blood. White blood cells have a rather short life span and live for no more than between a few days to a few weeks. If the number of white blood cells in the body is excessively high, the condition is known as leukemia and if the number is excessively low, it is known as leucopenia. Low white blood cell count can be a symptom of a number of serious underlying medical conditions including lupus, live disease, spleen disease and deficiencies of minerals such as zinc and copper, as well as vitamins. When the white blood cell count of the body is reduced, the body is unable to fight infection as easily as under normal conditions. Since fever is usually the first sign of infection, the individual will fall ill rather frequently. Some of the other common symptoms of the condition include stomach cramps, canker sores, urination problems as well as rectal bleeding. If you experience a sore throat or a headache accompanied by sneezing, they could all be indications of a sinus or lung infection.

Diet and Treatment

Some of the more prominent aggravators of conditions borne out of low immunity or low white blood cell count include stress, dietary habits as well as the overall lifestyle of a person. It is also very natural for a persons white blood cell count as well as immunity levels to reduce with the passing of time and aging. The kind of food you eat will either adversely affect, or positively contribute to the amount of impact the condition has on your daily life. Foods high in zinc content such as oysters, dark meat turkey and pumpkin are very beneficial in order to boost the production of white blood cells in the body. Avoid foods that contain high levels of fat or cholesterol; however, increasing your intake of fish – with their beneficial omega 3 fatty acids will help significantly. Leading a hygienic lifestyle will go a long way into ensuring that you are affected by a minimal number of infections despite the significantly low potency of your immune system. Avoid going to places where large crowds gather, as the higher number of people present the more prone you are to contracting a bacterial infection.