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How Can Low White Blood Cell Count And Hypo-tension Be Managed?

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Posted on Fri, 4 Oct 2019
Question: yes!n thank you!
63 female - (retired) great health - everything checks out okay
last summer white blood cell count was 3.5 had it retested two weeks later - 4.0 doctor said we'll retest when you come back in march 2018 for physical - march 2018 results 3.6 (no illnesses, colds, flue, etc in last year)
what can i do to improve my white blood cell count?
oh and last summer, i went to doctor because, i would not black out - but it was like i was going to when i got out of bed in the morning - he tested my blood pressure (which has always been almost perfect) from laying down to standing up and it dropped significantly and told me i had hypo--- yikes can't remember - told me to be careful when i get up from lying down -- happens randomly - but not too much anymore.
also, sugar is fine and could lose 10 pounds - but i feel very healthy - don't eat much sweets or carbs and drink occasional glass of wine.
thank you so much
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
you can't do much...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I understand that no cause has been revealed for your low white blood cells (WBC) count. Let me start by saying that your WBC are marginally OK if your polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells are more than 1500-1800/microL and the lymphocytes are more than 1500/microL. If you'd uploaded the full report I could have checked that myself. The full report may also indicate potential causes. For example a high mean corpuscular volume (MCV) may indicate lack of vitamin B12 which causes the bone marrow to produce less blood cells (both red and white ones). Low PMN count might indicate toxicity (a drug you've used for example).

If no deficiency has been revealed and there are no clinical findings and the number of WBC seems to be relatively stable in serial measurements then it may be that your body consistently produces less WBC than most people, particularly if you always had low WBC counts. If your counts are as expected (PMN>1500-1800 and lymphocytes>1500) then there is nothing to worry about. Otherwise further investigation by a hematologist might be required.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (20 hours later)
THANK YOU so very much Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis and kind regards back to you. I so appreciate your help.

Because the Dr.'s office called me late Friday night, I could not get the report until today. Unfortunately, I don't know how to upload it! So... Here's my best shot :)

White blood cell count 3.6
red blood cell count 4.75
hemoglobin 14.2
hematocrit 42.9
MCV 90.3
MCH 29.9
MCHC 33.1
RDW 13.2
PATELET COUNT 234
MPV 10.3
absolute neutrophils 1177 ( they didn't tell me this was low on the phone friday, only wbc count)
absolute lymphocytes 2005
absolute monocytes 367
absolute eosinophils 22
absolute basophils 29

i think the following are in % 's??

neutrophils 32.7
lymphocytes 55.7
monocytes 10.2
eosinophils 0.6
basophils 0.8

the tests i am taking tomorrow are:

CBC with platelet and differential routine
and
peripheral smear morphology review request


Here is some more general medical background info:
* i drink at least 7 glasses of water every day
* walk about 2 miles 5 days per week
* cardio 2 days per week
* meditation class one day per week
* don't smoke ( did in college)
* no coffee or caffeine
* occasional glass of wine
* limited limited sweets and carbs
* cholesterol is 207 total
* have never had flu shot
* I've been blessed with great health - hospitalized twice when i gave birth to my two children - other than that - never hospitalized - i almost every winter get a cold ( stay home, take over the counter meds and sleep and I'm back to normal in 4-5 days)
* work part-time with special needs students - didn't have a cold this winter
* taking no meds

I can't thank you enough for reviewing this information for me and for positive support.

Blessings to you --- XXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
PMNs are less than normal

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the additional info!

Your PMN (neutrophils as they are also called) are less than normal. 1177 is low. Despite that your immune system should still be able to fight infection adequately. Such drops in PMN counts are seen sometimes with viral infections. In other cases bone marrow toxicity may be the cause (drugs? other toxins?)

The microscopic examination of peripheral blood is a good next step in investigation. The rest of the indices in your CBC are normal. In cases like yours I usually recommend to my patients to do follow-up measurements, unless they get fever or other signs of infection. In most cases the count returns to normal within a few weeks. If it doesn't or if the peripheral blood smear is abnormal then a hematologist should take over and proceed with further testing including bone marrow testing (biopsy or aspiration).

Regarding the rest of your habits, they're just fine!

If you'd like to upload (or write down) the next report, I'll be glad to comment on that too.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (2 days later)
Hello Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis,
I'm still waiting for the results of the two tests I took Wednesday morning. After I receive them, I will email you for your valuable input.

Thank you so much for everything. Again, I really appreciate your help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (27 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
please do

Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!

Yes, please do send the reports when you get them. I'll be glad to comment on them!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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How Can Low White Blood Cell Count And Hypo-tension Be Managed?

Brief Answer: you can't do much... Detailed Answer: Hello, I understand that no cause has been revealed for your low white blood cells (WBC) count. Let me start by saying that your WBC are marginally OK if your polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells are more than 1500-1800/microL and the lymphocytes are more than 1500/microL. If you'd uploaded the full report I could have checked that myself. The full report may also indicate potential causes. For example a high mean corpuscular volume (MCV) may indicate lack of vitamin B12 which causes the bone marrow to produce less blood cells (both red and white ones). Low PMN count might indicate toxicity (a drug you've used for example). If no deficiency has been revealed and there are no clinical findings and the number of WBC seems to be relatively stable in serial measurements then it may be that your body consistently produces less WBC than most people, particularly if you always had low WBC counts. If your counts are as expected (PMN>1500-1800 and lymphocytes>1500) then there is nothing to worry about. Otherwise further investigation by a hematologist might be required. I hope you find my comments helpful! Kind Regards!