White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

What are White Blood Cells?

White blood cells are a crucial part of the immune system, helping the body fight off illness and infection^[1]. Also known as leukocytes, white blood cells are made in the bone marrow and circulate in the blood and tissues, notifying other white cells of the location of infection or invading pathogens to help the body defend itself.

There are 5 basic types of white blood cells, each has specific jobs and functions:

• Neutrophils

  Engulf and destroy bacteria, viruses, and fungi

• Monocytes

  Similar role to neutrophils but they are also known as macrophages when they travel to infected tissues

• Eosinophils

  Involved in the body’s allergic response and kill parasites

• Lymphocytes

  2 types; B cells make antibodies and T cells trigger an immune response

• Basophils

  Defend the body against parasites and pathogens, and work to prevent blood clots^[2]

Measuring the white blood cell population can identify conditions, like inflammation, infections, allergies, and leukaemia.

What is a White Blood Cell Count?

A white blood cell count is a blood test which measures the number of white blood cells in the blood. The test is a good indicator of illness or infection. When you are unwell, white blood cell numbers increase as they respond to invaders to fight off an infection.

Some conditions cause a lower number of white blood cells which can make it more difficult to fight infection. So, a white blood cell count may help to identify why you may be getting sick more frequently^[3].

What is a Normal White Blood Cell Count?

A healthy white blood cell count according to our laboratory is:

Men	3.8 – 10.6 x10^9/L
Women	3.6 – 11 x10^9/L

Our data shows that 95% of Forth customers have a healthy white blood cell count.

Should I worry if my white blood cell count is high?

A high white blood cell count can indicate an underlying health issue, such as:

• infection

• illness

• allergy

• autoimmune condition

• stress

• trauma

In cases where an elevated white cell count is caused by an illness or infection, it should return to normal once the infection has been treated. In some circumstancess, a white blood cell count may be caused by a more serious condition such as leukaemia.

If you are concerned about your white blood cell results, you should speak to your doctor for advice.

What Causes WBC to Change?

There are several reasons why your white blood cell count may increase or decrease.

What causes a high white blood cell count?

A high white blood cell count is also known as leukocytosis and means the number of white blood cells circulating in the blood is higher than it should be^[4].

Common causes of elevated white blood cells are:

• infections

• inflammation

• allergic reactions

• inherited conditions

• some cancers including leukaemia

White blood cell numbers may also rise during pregnancy, when you take certain medications or drugs, or if you have recently experienced trauma.

A high white blood cell count on its own is unlikely to cause any symptoms, instead, you may notice the signs associated with the underlying condition responsible for the rise.

Some common symptoms might include:

• fever

• chills

• night sweats

• fatigue

• bruising

• swelling, redness, and pain at the sight of an injury

What causes a low white blood cell count?

A low white blood cell count or leukopenia is not always something to worry about. As they are responsible for clearing up old, damaged, or infected tissue a low white cell count is a fairly common finding in athletes and people who exercise regularly. Exercise bouts promote a mild neutrophilia, there is a reciprocal drop in pre-exercise/resting levels.

A very low or persistently low level however, is less common and may indicate that your body does not have enough disease-fighting cells circulating in the blood. If this happens, it can leave you vulnerable to illness or infection.

People with a low white blood cell count may have certain medical conditions, take specific medicines, or may have a poor diet. For example:

• Bone marrow disorders

  White blood cells are made in the bone marrow so any condition affecting blood cells or bone marrow can cause a reduction in white blood cells, such as aplastic anaemia or multiple myeloma.

• Autoimmune conditions

  When the immune cells attack the body’s cells it can result in an autoimmune condition, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Occasionally, these can cause a lower number of circulating white blood cells.

• Infections

  Some infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis can cause leukopenia.

• Nutritional deficiencies

  Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause low white blood cells like vitamin B12, zinc, and folate deficiencies.

• Medications

  One of the side effects of some medications is leukopenia, including bupropion, carbimazole, penicillin, and valproic acid.

• Cancer treatments

  Cancer treatments, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, can deplete white blood cells because they can destroy healthy cells as well as cancer cells.

Overtraining or repeated and prolonged bouts of exercise can reduce the number of white blood cells in circulation^[5]. This is likely to be because of an increase in stress hormones. The reduction in white blood cells is why athletes who overtrain are more susceptible to illness and infection.

The symptoms associated with leukopenia include:

• fever

• chills

• mouth sores

• sore throat

• frequent respiratory infections

• diarrhoea

• coughs

• colds

Monitoring Your WBC Count

If your doctor requests a white blood cell count because you are displaying signs and symptoms of an infection or illness, they may request a full blood count which will include a white blood cell count. Usually, a blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

You can get a white blood cell count as part of the following Foth at-home test kits:

• Baseline
• Advanced
• Ultimate

How to Keep WBC in the Healthy Range

You can support your white blood cell count through:

• Diet

  Try to eat sufficient amounts of protein because the amino acids they contain help to make new white blood cells. Certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, C, and E, promote the growth and differentiation of white blood cells. You should be able to get all of the nutrients your body needs by eating a healthy, balanced diet.

• Practice good hygiene

  This is essential for minimising the risk of developing an infection or becoming ill. Consider washing your hands with warm soapy water after going to the toilet, before and after handling food, and whenever they are dirty or you have touched potentially contaminated surfaces. Always cook meat thoroughly and ensure you get good sleep.

• Exercise

  Exercise is important for immune health but you must incorporate rest periods into your routine to lower the risk of overtraining.

Written by Leanne Edermaniger

Based in the UK, Leanne specialises in writing about health, medicine, nutrition, and fitness.

She has over 5 years of experience in writing about health and lifestyle and has a BSc (hons) Biomedical Science and an MSc Science, Communication and Society.