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Biology may not have been your favorite subject at school, but knowing things like different blood cell types and causes for varying levels of these might be important to know. Don't worry if you don't remember much from biology class though! Keep reading to find out some important things you need to know on this topic. Specifically, we'll look at the significance of white blood cells and what role they play in your health and wellbeing, along with possible causes for a high white blood cell count.

To start off, you should know that a complete blood count (CBC) blood test will always include a white blood cell count. A CBC will in most cases be asked for from your physician as it is often part of your yearly health examination. It may also be in order to diagnose a condition that would have an effect on the number of white blood cells. A high amount of white blood cells may point towards a range of possible conditions which may necessitate looking into or treatment.

What is a white blood cell count?

White blood cells build immunity as they aid your body in fighting off infections and diseases. They therefore work as part of your immune system and help to keep you healthy and in good shape. Your body usually produces the most white blood cells when you are ill, while the rest of the time, your white blood cell count remains average. White blood cells are also known as leukocytes, and they make up approximately 1% of all the blood cells present in your body. However, even though their proportion feels like a tiny number, the impact they can have is enormous.

There are three main types of cells which make up your blood, and they are all produced by your bone marrow. These three types of cells are platelets, red blood cells, and of course, white blood cells.

White blood cells may be small but they are powerful, and the body can produce up to 100 billion of them in just a day's time, everyday! For every microliter of blood, the number of white blood cells which can be there is anywhere between 4,000 and 11,000 cells. Your white blood cell count, whether it is low or high, can indicate a range of concerns such as the possibility of cancers, stress (whether emotional or physical), infections and so on.

Below is a list of the five primary types of white blood cells, along with their average count for every microliter:

• Lymphocytes: 1,500-3,000 white blood cells per microliter

• Neutrophils: 3,150-6200 white blood cells per microliter

• Basophils: 15-20 white blood cells per microliter

• Eosinophils: 50-250 white blood cells per microliter

• Monocytes: 300-500 white blood cells per microliter

Does anything happen if your white blood cell count is too high?

A question you might be curious about is what happens if your white blood cell count rises above a certain amount. If the amount of white blood cells is high in your body, then it is most likely that you've already started to feel some of the potential symptoms. One such symptom and a probable result of an increased white blood cell count may appear in the form of an infection or inflammation, or signs of one. There is also a high probability of the white blood cell count to be out of average (whether low or high), in people who have specific types of cancer or an immune disorder.

On the other hand it's vital to note that while illness may act as an indication of you having a high blood cell count, there is also always the possibility that you have no visible symptoms either. While a high amount of white blood cells itself is not harmful, the causes of this can be if they are not treated on time. Normally, our body has been designed to produce white blood cells as and when they are required, and they are then reduced when normal health has been regained.

What are the possible causes for a high white blood cell count?

There are numerous causes, reasons and indications of a high level of white blood cells. For this reason, a complete blood count test is helpful and is only one of the numerous ways that doctors and medical professionals use in order to make accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.

The following are matters that a high white blood cell count may indicate:

• Infection (viral or bacterial)

• Inflammation, including rheumatoid arthritis

• Immunosuppression (suppression of the immune response)

• An immune disorder

• Myelofibrosis (bone marrow disease)

• An allergic reaction

• A reaction to medication, for example epinephrine or corticosteroids

• Cancer, such as many forms of leukemia

• Tuberculosis

• Polycythemia vera

• Whooping cough

However, don't worry - there are a range of other causes of a high white blood cell count as well which are much less in severity. These could be anything from excessive physical activity, emotional stress, or smoking, to pregnancy, labor, or injury.

Moreover, some people may even have a high level of white blood cells with no cause that can be determined, and yet still experience serious symptoms. This is referred to as idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, and can result in damage to one's nervous system, liver, heart, skin and lungs.

How can you reduce white blood cells?

There are some conditions causing a rise in the amount of white blood cells which cannot be prevented. Despite this, there are techniques to decrease your white blood cell count, primarily though making a healthier diet a part of your lifestyle.

In order to reduce your white blood cell count, you should include the following foods in your diet which are rich in nutrients:

• Antioxidants. These help to neutralize damaging molecules, also called free radicals. Garlic, grapes, onions, tea, leeks and a myriad of fruits and vegetables are a great source to get antioxidants.

• Vitamin C. This helps to control your white blood cell amount. Berries, pineapples, papayas, carrots, cauliflower, guavas, bell peppers, broccoli, citrus and many others can give you your fix of Vitamin C.

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids. These help to improve cardiovascular health, as well as increase the activity of phagocytes to help fight bacteria. Flaxseed, walnuts and fatty fish like trout, salmon and herring are sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Improving your diet will not only help you get your white blood cell count under control, but is also likely to improve your health as a whole. It's important that you keep an eye on how much you're consuming of certain foods, especially those with a high saturated fat, salt and sugar content. Finally, foods like soy protein, vinegar, teas (black and green), grapes, garlic, nuts and spices are foods which help to reduce inflammation, and are especially beneficial to use as a replacement.

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