How to Lower Eosinophil Levels

Although an increase in eosinophils (eosinophilia) may sound concerning, it is usually just the body’s natural response to an infection. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that helps fight infections through inflammation. In most cases, eosinophil levels decrease once the underlying cause is treated. However, adopting healthy lifestyle habits and anti-inflammatory therapies can also help lower abnormal eosinophil levels.

Reduce Stress in Life. Stress and anxiety can contribute to elevated eosinophil levels. Taking time to relax can help regulate eosinophil levels. You should review your daily routine to identify stress triggers. When possible, try to eliminate or reduce sources of stress.

• Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, and muscle relaxation can help you unwind when feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Avoid exposure to known allergens. Allergens are the most common cause of elevated eosinophil levels. The body may produce more eosinophils to fight off these allergens, so treating allergies and avoiding allergic triggers can help manage eosinophil levels.

• Allergic rhinitis can cause eosinophil levels to spike. Over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl or Claritin can help reduce eosinophil levels in the body.
• For instance, if you are allergic to dogs, try to avoid contact with them whenever possible. When visiting someone who owns a dog, ask if they can keep the dog in a separate room during your visit.

Keep your home clean. Dust mites can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals, leading to elevated eosinophil levels, particularly if you have a dust mite allergy. To prevent this, try to keep your living space as clean as possible. Wipe down surfaces at least once a week to prevent dust from accumulating in corners of your home.

• Pollen can have a similar effect on some individuals. To prevent pollen from entering your home, keep doors and windows closed during pollen season.

Avoid acidic foods. Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can increase eosinophil levels in the body. A balanced, healthy diet is essential to avoid these conditions. Opt for low-fat foods such as lean meats, whole grains, vegetables, and fresh fruits. Avoid acidic foods like fried foods, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, and coffee.

• Being overweight can also increase the risk of GERD and elevated eosinophil levels. If you're overweight, consider losing weight to reduce this risk.

Increase your daily vitamin D intake. People with low vitamin D levels are at a higher risk for elevated eosinophil levels. There are two ways to increase your vitamin D intake: get sun exposure for about 5 minutes (for those with very fair skin) to 30 minutes (for those with darker skin) at least twice a week, or take vitamin D supplements.

• To get vitamin D from sunlight, go outside to soak up the sun. Vitamin D is found in UVB rays, which cannot penetrate glass, so sitting inside near a window will not be effective.
• Cloudy days also reduce UV rays, so you may need to spend a little more time outside when it’s overcast.

Drink ginger to reduce inflammation. Ginger is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties. While still under study, early research suggests that ginger may help lower eosinophil levels. You can take ginger supplements daily or make ginger tea to enjoy the benefits of ginger.

• Ginger tea can be found in most health stores. Just place the tea bag in a cup and pour hot water over it. Let it steep for a few minutes before drinking.

Use turmeric to reduce inflammation in conjunction with medication. Turmeric may help lower eosinophil levels in certain cases. To take advantage of turmeric's anti-inflammatory effects, consider taking higher doses of turmeric supplements. Keep in mind that turmeric can be quite expensive, so it may not always be the best option.

• Try taking turmeric for 1-2 months, and stop if it does not show any improvements.

See a doctor for a thorough examination. There are several conditions that can cause high eosinophil levels, including blood disorders, allergies, digestive disorders, connective tissue disorders, parasitic infections, or fungal infections. Blood and skin samples will be taken to help determine the cause. In rare cases, your doctor may also recommend stool tests, CT scans, or bone marrow tests.

• Primary eosinophilia is a condition where eosinophils increase in the blood due to a blood disorder, such as leukemia.
• Secondary eosinophilia is caused by other conditions, such as asthma, GERD, or eczema.
• Hypereosinophilia refers to elevated eosinophil levels with no clear cause.
• If eosinophil levels affect certain organs in the body, you may be diagnosed with a specific eosinophilia syndrome. Eosinophilic esophagitis affects the esophagus, while eosinophilic asthma impacts the lungs.

Consult with an allergist for allergy testing. As allergies often trigger increased eosinophil levels, your general practitioner may refer you to an allergist. The allergist may perform a skin prick test, where small amounts of common allergens are applied to your skin to check for reactions. You may also be asked to provide a blood sample for allergy diagnosis.

• If food allergies are suspected, the doctor may recommend an elimination diet, where you avoid certain foods and then reintroduce them one at a time. The allergist will then conduct blood tests to see if any foods are affecting your eosinophil levels.

Take corticosteroid medication. Corticosteroids are currently the only medication directly used to treat high eosinophil levels. Steroid medications can help reduce inflammation caused by elevated eosinophils. Depending on the underlying cause of increased eosinophils, your doctor may prescribe either oral or inhaled medication. Prednisone is the most commonly prescribed corticosteroid for treating eosinophil elevation. Always follow your doctor's instructions when taking this medication.

• If the cause of increased eosinophils is unclear, your doctor may start you on a low dose of corticosteroids to monitor for improvement.
• Avoid using corticosteroids if you have parasitic or fungal infections, as steroids could worsen the condition.
• If you are taking prednisone, never stop abruptly if you've been on it for more than three weeks. Gradually reduce your dosage instead.
• If your doctor prescribes a topical steroid with a high concentration, do not use it for more than two weeks at a time.

Eliminate parasites if you have a parasitic infection. Parasitic infections may cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloating, fatigue, or sudden weight loss. To eliminate the parasite and bring eosinophil levels back to normal, your doctor will prescribe medication to target specific types of parasites. Corticosteroids will not be prescribed as they may worsen some parasitic infections.

• Parasitic treatment methods vary depending on the type of parasite you are infected with. Often, your doctor will prescribe daily oral medications.

Treat GERD if you have eosinophilic esophagitis. Increased eosinophil levels can be caused by acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or other digestive disorders. To diagnose eosinophilic esophagitis, your doctor may recommend an upper digestive endoscopy using a scope to examine your esophagus (EGD) and perform a biopsy. You may be prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium or Prevacid for treatment.

• Eosinophilic esophagitis does not increase the risk of esophageal cancer, but it can increase the likelihood of esophageal narrowing, which may cause food to get stuck.

Treat respiratory conditions if you have eosinophilic asthma. Your doctor may prescribe inhaled corticosteroids or a biologic drug known as monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, you might undergo bronchial thermoplasty, a procedure where a probe is inserted through your mouth and nose to apply heat to your airways to ease breathing.

• The procedure will be done under anesthesia, and recovery typically takes just a few hours afterward.

Get a prescription for imatinib if you have hypereosinophilia syndrome. Hypereosinophilia syndrome may lead to blood cancers, such as eosinophilic leukemia. To reduce this risk, you may be prescribed imatinib. This medication will treat hypereosinophilia syndrome and slow the development of cancer cells. Your doctor may also monitor you for tumor formation.

Participate in a clinical trial for eosinophilia. The exact causes behind elevated eosinophil levels are still unclear. Clinical trials often require individuals with high eosinophil counts to study environmental causes and explore new treatment methods. These are experimental treatments, so participating comes with some risks. However, there is a potential to discover an effective treatment.

• You can find clinical trials through the website https://clinicaltrials.gov/.