Symptoms of low white blood cell count
Immune cells, which are cells that make antibodies, are divided into several types, such as phagocytes and lymphocytes, and play a role in protecting the body from foreign substances invading from the outside. White blood cells are one of these immune cells, which are produced in the bone marrow and are contained in the blood. It functions as an immune cell against foreign substances and infectious diseases. It contains about 4,000 to 10,000 cells per 1 μl of blood, and it can appear in a variety of forms depending on the body’s immune status and whether it is infected with bacteria or viruses. White blood cells, which play a key role in the immune system, can be weakened by several factors, such as excessive mental stress, nutritional imbalance, overwork, lack of sleep, bacterial and viral infections, effects of medications being taken, and radiation therapy. If the level is lowered due to a problem in the normal production of white blood cells, it can cause various physical abnormalities as well as problems such as leukopenia, which can have a fatal adverse effect on the body. So today, let’s look at the various symptoms and management methods that appear when the white blood cell count is low.
Symptoms of low white blood cell count
Because white blood cells are a type of immune cell that defends the body, a low level of white blood cells can weaken the body’s immune system, making it vulnerable to various diseases. In addition, fatigue leads to a chronic form, so even if you rest, you do not recover well, and you often feel fever and cold of unknown cause. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anemia are also very frequent, and symptoms of decreased appetite may appear. In addition, diseases such as colds occur frequently, and the recovery period is longer than usual. In addition, the healing of wounds caused by trauma also slows down, and the wounds become swollen. In addition, stomatitis and blisters often occur in the mouth, and burning when urinating, cystitis, and urinary tract infection can occur. In the case of an infectious disease that occurs in a patient with a low white blood cell count, it spreads rapidly throughout the body and can have fatal, life-threatening consequences.
How to manage your white blood cell count
1. A balanced diet
In order to prevent the symptoms of low white blood cell count, it is important to maintain a balanced diet regularly. Proper nutrition should be maintained through fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish, which are rich in high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are excellent in helping the body’s immune system to improve. On the other hand, excessive consumption of meat cuts containing excessive saturated fat, processed meat, and processed foods and beverages containing fructose can weaken the immune system, so intake should be appropriately controlled. In addition, nutritional imbalance caused by a rapid diet adversely affects normal metabolism and causes a drop in white blood cell count, so you need to be careful.
2. Regular exercise
Regular regular aerobic exercise is also an important way to effectively manage white blood cell count. It is recommended to exercise regularly, such as walking, running, or biking at least 3 times a week. In particular, it is important to spend a certain amount of time in the sun a day, as it helps the smooth synthesis of vitamin D, which plays an important role in immune function, when exposed to sunlight. However, if you are receiving treatment for a condition with a low white blood cell count through various tests, it is recommended to do light-intensity exercise because too much activity and exercise can make the symptoms worse.
3. Stress Control
Stress that leads to a chronic form continuously secretes cortisol and adrenaline, which can act as the main culprit that damages the body’s immune system. Therefore, it is recommended to properly control excessive mental stress and find a method that works for you that will help you manage your mind and practice it consistently. It is also recommended to get enough sleep, as irregular and insufficient sleep patterns can also cause extreme fatigue and increase stress hormones, which lowers immune function. In order to minimize the cause of other bacterial infections, personal hygiene must be maintained thoroughly.
4. Appropriate examination and treatment
It is said that in many cases, white blood cell count returns to normal if the various management habits introduced above are properly implemented. However, if the abnormality continues, it is recommended to receive appropriate tests and treatment because the occurrence of leukopenia, in which the level of white blood cells in the blood falls below the normal level, may be suspected. Leukopenia is a symptom caused by various causes and diseases, so it is necessary to find the cause and treat it appropriately. It is performed using antibiotics caused by infection, and if antibiotic treatment is not successful or serious infections occur repeatedly, a granulocyte cell population promoter can be administered to increase the production of white blood cells. And if leukopenia is caused by an immune mechanism involving some antibodies, it can be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin or steroids.
