Early intervention and treatment greatly improve the likelihood of recovery.Īnyone who suspects that they or a loved one has an eating disorder can contact the National Eating Disorders Association for advice and support via: This is common in young females.Įating disorders can severely affect the quality of life of people living with these conditions and those close to them.
People following restrictive diets as a means for weight loss are also at risk of having a low RBC count. Older adults may also be more likely to have a low RBC count due to malnutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally, 42% of children under the age of 5 years old are anemic. This is also often due to a lack of iron in their diet. Heavy periods can cause iron deficiency anemia due to increased blood loss, but iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy is usually the result of a deficiency of iron in the diet.Īnemia is also common in young children. However, certain people may be at a higher risk of developing the condition, including: Who may have a low RBC count?Īnyone can develop anemia. If the body does not receive a regular supply of necessary nutrients, the RBCs may become malformed or die off faster than the body can replace them. The bone marrow continuously produces RBCs. Malnutrition can also cause a person to have a low RBC count. This includes medicines that don't need a prescription and any illicit drugs you may use.Several conditions can cause a person to have a low RBC count. Be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. Being pregnant or being older than 60 can cause your HCT to be lower than normal.Ĭertain medicines can also affect your results. Living at a high altitude may cause your HCT to be higher than normal. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may feel a slight sting or pain. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand. White blood cell cancers, such as leukemia If your HCT is low, it means you may have: This can happen when you are dehydrated or in shock. Your HCT may also be high if your plasma or blood volume is too low. If your HCT is high, it may mean your body is making too many red blood cells. Normal values are:ģ0% to 44% for children, depending on age Normal hematocrit values are different for men, women, and children. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you. Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Your healthcare provider may also order a test that measures your hemoglobin to find out how much oxygen your red blood cells are carrying. Your healthcare provider may also order a complete blood count, or CBC, which is a blood test that counts all the different types of cells in your blood. What other tests might I have along with this test? Too few red blood cells is called anemia.Īnemia can be caused by blood loss, your body making fewer red blood cells, or increased destruction of red blood cells.
Too many red blood cells is called polycythemia. You may also need your hematocrit checked before having surgery or if your healthcare provider suspects you have a red blood cell disorder. You may need this test if it is part of routine blood testing. To measure your HCT, your blood sample is spun at a high speed to separate the red blood cells. Your hematocrit (HCT) shows whether you have a normal amount of red blood cells, too many, or too few. In this test, your red blood cells are separated from the rest of your blood so they can be measured. Normal blood contains white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and the fluid portion called plasma. This test measures how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells. HCT, packed cell volume, PCV What is this test? Hematocrit Does this test have other names?
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