What is high red blood cell count?
A high red blood cell count means the number of red blood cells in your bloodstream is higher than normal. Red blood cells are one of the major components of your blood, along with white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells help carry oxygen throughout your body. But, when your red blood cell count is high, it could mean you have an underlying health condition.
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What is considered a high red blood cell count?
Healthcare providers measure your red blood cell count to diagnose medical conditions and learn more about your health. What’s considered normal may vary depending on where you’re tested. But in general, normal red blood cell counts are:
- For people assigned male at birth, 4.7 million to 6.1 million red blood cells per microliter of blood.
- For people assigned female at birth, 4.2 million to 5.4 million red blood cells per microliter of blood.
- For children, 4.0 million to 5.5 million red blood cells per microliter of blood.
Providers typically find a high red blood cell count during testing for another health issue. You may need more tests to determine what’s causing the higher levels. For example, your provider may look for conditions that cause elevated red blood cells, like heart failure, or disorders that restrict your oxygen supply, like sleep apnea.
What does it mean when your red blood cell count is high?
If you have a high red blood cell count, then you have something called erythrocytosis. This makes your blood thicker than it should be, and it could increase your risk for blood clots.
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How can I tell if my red blood cell count is high?
Your healthcare provider can run a number of tests to determine how many red blood cells are in your blood. These tests may include:
- Red blood cell count (RBC).
- Hemoglobin test.
- Hematocrit test.
- Complete blood count (CBC).
To obtain a sample of your blood, your provider inserts a needle into your vein and removes blood through a tube into a bag or container. This is called phlebotomy.
Do people with a high red blood cell count develop any symptoms?
High red blood cell count symptoms may include:
- Tiredness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Headaches.
- Blurry vision.
- Sleep disorders.
- Joint pain.
- Itchy skin.
- Numbness and/or tingling.
- Nosebleeds.
Sometimes, people with a high red blood cell count don’t develop any symptoms at all.
