How to Reduce White Blood Cell Count

An elevated white blood cell count can result from various factors. You might feel anxious after receiving abnormal test results, but your doctor will help identify the underlying cause. It's important to share any related symptoms, and you'll undergo diagnostic tests. Many factors can contribute to increased white blood cell count, so the appropriate solution will depend on the specific cause.

Check your specific white blood cell count. A count of 11,000 white blood cells per microliter of blood is considered high. However, there are many potential causes for this condition, and usually, a mild increase in white blood cell count is not a cause for concern.

• A count around 30,000 may result from physical stress, injury, allergic reactions, infections, or medications, such as during a flu infection.
• A count between 50,000 and 100,000 usually indicates a more serious infection, such as progressing pneumonia. In organ transplant recipients, this may signal organ rejection. Additionally, some benign or malignant tumors can cause an increase in white blood cells.
• A count above 100,000 often signals a more serious condition that requires diagnosis, such as severe pneumonia or leukemia.
• It is common for pregnant women to have white blood cell counts as high as 15,000 in the third trimester and post-delivery, which is normal.

Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test. The initial step for an accurate diagnosis is to conduct a CBC test. If the second test shows that your white blood cell count returns to normal, the doctor may conclude that you are healthy. However, if the count remains high for several days, further tests will be necessary.

• Depending on your white blood cell count and symptoms, your doctor might recommend another CBC test within a few days or weeks.
• Your doctor may also suggest a smear test, where a blood sample is examined under a microscope. This test can reveal whether white blood cells are immature, abnormal, or exhibiting other signs to help the doctor make a more accurate diagnosis.

Inform the doctor about any related symptoms. Symptoms like fever and coughing are clear indicators of infection, and the doctor may request a sputum culture to identify the specific type of bacteria. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis can also elevate white blood cell counts, so it's essential to inform your doctor about any digestive issues or joint pain. Additionally, the doctor needs to know if you have other symptoms such as night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, bruising, or bleeding to make an accurate diagnosis.

• Elevated white blood cell counts themselves do not cause symptoms. Any symptoms you experience are likely due to an underlying condition, and these symptoms can help guide the doctor’s next steps in diagnosis.

Discuss your lifestyle and any medications you're taking with your doctor. Corticosteroids, lithium, and other prescribed medications can increase white blood cell count, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you're using. Smoking can also contribute to higher white blood cell counts. Intense exercise, overexertion, and physical stress are additional potential causes.

• Be honest with your doctor about your lifestyle. Doctors are there to help you, so don’t worry about being judged.

Ask your doctor about which type of white blood cells are elevated. There are five types of white blood cells, and a high count of a specific type could indicate certain conditions. For example, a rise in two less common types of white blood cells is often due to allergic reactions or asthma.

• Your doctor might refer you to an allergy specialist or recommend allergy testing. An allergist can help you avoid triggers or prescribe appropriate medications.

Quit Smoking. In addition to numerous health benefits, quitting smoking can help bring your white blood cell count back to normal levels. Ask your doctor to help you choose an appropriate smoking cessation program.

Try stress relief. If you have recently experienced a short-term stressful situation, your white blood cell count should return to normal within hours or days. However, chronic stress can weaken the immune system, so it's important to find ways to alleviate this burden.

• Avoid overloading yourself with tasks and don’t feel guilty when you have to decline something.
• When feeling stressed, try meditation, listen to music to relax, or practice slow breathing for 20-30 minutes.

Engage in light exercise after heavy workouts. If you exercise right before a blood test, the elevated white blood cell count may be due to your workout. Intense exercises, high-intensity sports, and other vigorous activities can raise your white blood cell count by 200-300%. This level typically drops back within a few hours.

• There is no evidence to suggest that these changes in white blood cell count are harmful, but 15 minutes of active recovery after intense exercise can help minimize abrupt changes.
• Active recovery involves lighter activities that help cool down the body, such as brisk walking after running.

Lose Weight. Elevated white blood cell counts can be linked to obesity, as obesity promotes widespread inflammation in the body, leading to increased white blood cells. Losing weight can reduce inflammation, which in turn helps lower white blood cell counts. A healthy diet and 30 minutes of exercise each day can help you lose weight.

Consult your doctor about stopping or changing medications. If other causes are ruled out and the medication you're taking is effective, your doctor might not suggest any changes.

• Some medications are very difficult to adjust the type and dosage, so finding a replacement with fewer side effects may not be the best option.
• Never take prescribed medication without the approval of your doctor.

Treating viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. If cultures or other tests detect an infection, your doctor will typically prescribe antibiotics or antiviral medications. Be sure to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully, and schedule a follow-up appointment if you do not feel better after a few days.

Visit a specialist to treat arthritis or digestive issues. If your elevated white blood cell count is suspected to be due to arthritis or digestive problems, your general physician will refer you to the appropriate specialist. The specialist will recommend medication or dietary changes to help manage the condition.

Ask your doctor if you need testing for malignancies. Your doctor may request additional tests if your white blood cell count exceeds 100,000. These tests could include a smear test or a bone marrow biopsy.

Work with your doctor to create a treatment plan if necessary. In rare cases, if diagnosed with cancer, a team of doctors will collaborate to develop a treatment plan. While being diagnosed with leukemia can be alarming, there are treatments available. Your doctor will advise you on the best course of treatment.