What is the reason for excessive white blood cells

When you go to the hospital for medical treatment, the most common test is a routine blood test, and when the test results come out, the first thing they do is to check whether the white blood cells are abnormal. This is because the main function of white blood cells is to help the human body resist the invasion of viruses and bacteria, thereby ensuring the health of the human body. Under normal circumstances, the white blood cell count will be maintained at a stable level, but if an abnormality occurs, it means there is a problem with the human body. So, let’s talk about the causes of excessive white blood cell count.

1. White blood cell count is high after intense exercise

A white blood cell count higher than 10.0×10^9/L is usually considered abnormal and is a matter of great concern. This increase has both psychological and pathological factors. We don't have to worry about temporary increases caused by physiological factors, but we must never ignore pathological increases. The physiological increase of white blood cells often occurs in the following environments, such as strenuous exercise, physical labor, after hot or cold water baths, extreme heat and cold, ultraviolet radiation, women's menstrual and ovulation periods, pregnancy (especially after 20 weeks of pregnancy), postpartum, smokers, emotional excitement, stimulation, children's violent crying, etc., which can all lead to an increase in the number of white blood cells.

2. White blood cells are high in hypochromic anemia

Routine blood test includes hemoglobin determination, red blood cell count, white blood cell count and white blood cell differential count. Among them, too high white blood cell count indicates that the body is unhealthy. Under normal circumstances, the ratio of the number of red blood cells to the hemoglobin content is relatively fixed. However, in the case of anemia, the ratio between them will change. For example, in the case of hypochromic anemia, the hemoglobin content will decrease significantly, and the ratio of red blood cells to hemoglobin will increase.

3. Hypersplenism and elevated white blood cell count

White blood cell (WBC) count: normal adults are 4000-10000/μL, newborns are 15000-20000/μL, and infants from 6 months to 2 years are 11000-12000/μL. *Elevated: various cell infections, inflammations, severe burns. Leukemia should be excluded when significantly elevated. Decreased: leukocytopenia, hypersplenism, hematopoietic dysfunction, radiation, drugs, chemical toxins, etc. causing bone marrow suppression, malaria, typhoid, viral infections, paratyphoid. Leukocytosis is common in inflammatory infections, bleeding, poisoning, leukemia, etc. Its reduction is common in viral infectious diseases such as influenza and measles, severe sepsis, drugs or radiation, and certain blood diseases.