With the help of leukocytes, the body is protected from harmful microorganisms. They contribute to the purification of blood from dying cells and fight with bacteria and viruses. The lowered leukocyte count can be determined by the leukocyte formula. Increasing their number can also be a warning sign, as it signals about viral diseases such as hepatitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus, syphilis or toxoplasmosis. So, what happens in the body if the number of white blood cells is high or, conversely, the white blood cells are lowered?
Causes of changes in blood composition
If the test results show an increase in white blood cells, the causes may be concealed in bacterial, viral or fungal infections, for example, angina, meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, polyarthritis, abscess, appendicitis, peritonitis and pyelonephritis. To cause such a phenomenon can be poisoning the body with gout. It is possible to increase the white blood cells during the period after severe burns and bleeding, injuries and surgeries, after myocardial infarction, as a result of chronic or acute anemia. In addition, the culprit of such an indicator may be the development of a malignant tumor in the body. Reduced leukocytes can be associated with such bacterial and viral infections as influenza, sepsis, measles, AIDS, typhoid fever or malaria. A similar situation develops with rheumatoid arthritis and kidney failure, as a result of radiation sickness and as a side effect of taking medications. The same picture is typical for leukemia, bone marrow diseases, anaphylactic shock, anemia or malnutrition. If low leukocytes are a chronic condition of the body, you can talk about leukopenia. This disease signals a decrease in immunity, often caused by serious diseases or therapy for cancer. In addition, leukopenia is characteristic of people who consume insufficient amounts of protein, namely, vegetarians.
What if you have low leukocytes?
If the causes of leukopenia lie in serious infectious diseases, the main condition for the restoration of the blood composition will be recovery and discontinuation of medication. But you can help the body to restore the number of white blood cells. First of all, the right diet will help. About what to do, if low leukocytes are found, it is worth consulting with a doctor. He will advise a diet in which there will be an increased amount of protein and reduced carbohydrates, as well as increased consumption of ascorbic and folic acid, choline and lysine. This can be done through the regular use of liver, meat and animal fat, porridge of buckwheat, oats, barley, inclusion in the diet of fresh vegetables, fruits, berries and greens. We should pay more attention to chicken eggs, nuts and caviar, to drink natural juices from fruits and vegetables, especially from carrots and tomatoes. You can also eat wheat germ.