New in what to meet what to cook. Fire element: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Called white blood cells, they stand guard, protecting the body from viruses and bacteria.

The leukocyte count in the blood is rarely static, because there are many reasons that can affect its fluctuation.

The normal level of leukocytes in the blood (9 units per liter):

• In women = from 3.9 to 10.4x10, during pregnancy from 4 to 11x10
• For men = from 4.2 to 9x10

In children of different ages:

• Up to 12 months = 6-17.5x10
• From one to two years = 6-17x10
• From two to six = 5-15.5x10
• From six to sixteen = 4.5-13.5x10
• From sixteen to twenty-one = 4.5-11x10

The reasons for the increased white blood cell count can be varied. In one case, this indicates inflammatory process in the body, and in another it just means stress or a sudden change in diet.

Most frequent symptoms which may indicate an increased level of leukocytes in the blood:

• Fast fatiguability
• Hyperthermia
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Lack of appetite
• Weight loss
• Decrease in visual acuity
• Insomnia
• Fever
• Aches in muscles and joints
• Fragility of blood vessels,

Therefore, if you find yourself with several of the listed symptoms that last more than a week, you should get tested to determine the cause of your poor condition and rule out leukocytosis.

Leukocytosis is divided into pathological and physiological.Most common reasons pathological leukocytosis in men are:

• Inflammation affecting organs.
• Diseases.

The most common causes of physiological leukocytosis are:

• Excessive physical activity.
• No diet plan.
• Use of inappropriate medications.

In women, manifestations of leukocytosis can cause:

• Premenstrual period.
• Pregnancy.
• Postpartum trauma.

Physiological leukocytosis can cause toxicosis, as well as the third trimester of pregnancy. Thus, the body prepares for childbirth. In women who are not carrying a child, leukocytosis can be caused by:

• Poor nutrition.
• Abuse of sauna and hot baths.

Pathological leukocytosis in women manifests itself due to:

• Infections.
• Physical injuries.
• Heart diseases.
• Large blood loss.

Useful video - Blood test and decoding of the main indicators:

The presence of leukocytosis in infants is asymptomatic, so excess leukocytes in the blood can only be determined by donating. Despite the absence of symptoms, it poses a particular danger to children and why younger age child, the more undesirable consequences may occur if leukocytosis is not detected in time.

The main causes of pathological leukocytosis in children are:

• Infectious diseases.
• Leukemia.

The main physiological causes of leukocytosis in children are:

• Stress and emotional overload.
• Physical overload.
• Poor nutrition.

Diagnosis and treatment of leukocytosis

Leukocytosis is detected very simply, just take a test where the level is clearly visible. In case of an increased number of leukocytes, repeated tests are prescribed, and then full diagnostics which will help identify the reasons.

It is important to note that the test must be taken on an empty stomach and at calm state. It is not recommended to engage in heavy physical labor for 8-12 hours.

Treatment is prescribed according to the diagnosis, depending on the nature of the disease. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as antibiotics, are mainly prescribed. In case of leukemia it is used radiation therapy and blood transfusion. Diet and immunostimulating medications are often prescribed.

It is very important to refuse bad habits and eliminate stressful situations that will make treatment ineffective.

• Sleep for 8 hours a day.
• Elimination of overload, both physical and emotional.
• Adequate fluid intake (2 liters per day).
• Diet.
• Reducing the amount of meat products in the diet.
• Exclusion of fatty, spicy, smoked foods.
• Portions should not be too large.

Traditional methods of reducing leukocytes

All folk remedies to reduce leukocyte levels should be approved by the attending physician and be part of general therapy.

Traditional recipes:

• Grind equal parts of horsetail, motherwort and knotweed into powder. This composition should be consumed three times a day with meals, 3 grams.
• Grind the wormwood and pour 9 grams of powder into 600 ml of boiling water, leave for an hour. Take 15 drops three times a day.
• Pour 6 grams of dry St. John's wort herb with a glass of boiling water and leave to steep for half an hour. Drink the infusion three times a day, a third of a glass, an hour before meals.
• Squeeze the juice from the green beans into the beans. Every morning drink 18 ml before breakfast.
• Mix honey and pollen 1:1. Take 2 teaspoons of the mixture every day.
• Brew fresh lemon balm leaves with a glass of boiling water. Drink 18 ml three times a day.

In order to reduce the risk of leukocytosis, you must adhere to some rules:

1. Regularly undergo medical examinations and take tests.
2. Treat inflammatory diseases until the end. Even an ordinary runny nose should not be left to chance, hoping that it will go away on its own as suddenly as it appeared. The same applies to viral and fungal diseases.
3. Correctly distribute your daily routine in order to be able to avoid overwork.
4. Avoid hypothermia and overheating.
5. To refuse from bad habits.
6. Strengthen your immune system in every possible way.
7. Avoid overeating.

Obviously, just sticking healthy image life can significantly improve health and prevent the development of leukocytosis. Naturally, you should not try to diagnose yourself; only a doctor can conduct a detailed examination and prescribe correct and timely treatment.

Advanced leukocytosis carries a lot of dangers and unpleasant complications, such as:

• Provocation of metastases in cancer.
• Emergence purulent inflammation, for example, furunculosis and abscesses.
• The occurrence of peritonitis.
• Development of pathological diseases of the immune system (dermatitis).
• For pregnant women, leukocytosis threatens miscarriage, premature birth, pathologies and diseases of the fetus.
• Leukocytosis is dangerous for newborns possible violations in development.

Elevated leukocytes are a reason to pay attention to your health. Despite the fact that sometimes leukocytosis is short-term, it can indicate a number of diseases that need to be cured.

Only examinations in medical institution will be able to install the real reason increased level of leukocytes by selecting necessary treatment. Therefore, you should not delay your visit to the doctor and neglect medical examination, so as not to encounter complications and serious health problems later.

Leukocytes (WBC, Le) are formed elements that are commonly called white cells. In fact, they are rather colorless, because, unlike nuclear-free blood cells, filled with red pigment ( we're talking about about red blood cells), they lack components that determine color.

The leukocyte community in the blood is heterogeneous. The cells are represented by several varieties (5 populations -, and), which belong to two series: granular elements () and cells lacking specific granularity or agranulocytes.

Representatives of the granulocyte series are called - granulocytes, but since they have a nucleus divided into segments (2-5 lobules), they are also called polymorphonuclear cells. These include: neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils - a large community shaped elements, which is the first to respond to the penetration of a foreign agent into the body ( cellular immunity), accounting for up to 75% of all white cells present in the peripheral blood.

leukocyte series - granulocytes (granular leukocytes) and agranulocytes (non-granular types)

Shaped elements of another series - agranulocytes, in white blood are represented by monocytes belonging to the mononuclear phagocyte system (mononuclear phagocytic system - MPS), and lymphocytes, without which neither cellular nor humoral immunity can exist.

What are these cells?

The size of cells representing the leukocyte community varies from 7.5 to 20 microns; in addition, they are not identical in their morphological structure and differ in functional purpose.

formation of leukocytes in bone marrow

White blood elements are formed in the bone marrow and lymph nodes, mainly live in tissues, using blood vessels as a route for movement throughout the body. White peripheral blood cells make up 2 pools:

• Circulating pool - leukocytes move through blood vessels;
• Marginal pool - cells adhere to the endothelium and, in case of danger, react first (with leukocytosis, Le from this pool passes into the circulating pool).

Leukocytes move like amoebas, heading either to the scene of the accident - positive chemotaxis, or from him - negative chemotaxis.

Not all white cells live the same way; some (neutrophils), having completed their task within a few days, die at the “combat post”, others (lymphocytes) live for decades, storing information acquired during life (“memory cells”) - Thanks to them, strong immunity is maintained. This is why certain infections manifest themselves in human body only once in a lifetime, and that’s the purpose for which they are made preventive vaccinations. As soon as an infectious agent enters the body, “memory cells” are right there: they recognize the “enemy” and report it to other populations, which are able to neutralize it without development clinical picture diseases.

Video: medical animation about leukocytes

The norm before and now

It is generally accepted that, in general, the content of leukocytes in the blood of women and men does not differ. However, in men who are not burdened with diseases, the blood formula (Le) is more constant than in representatives of the opposite sex. In women in different periods life, individual indicators may deviate, which, as always, is explained by physiological characteristics female body, which may be approaching the next period, preparing for the birth of a child (pregnancy) or ensuring lactation (breastfeeding). Usually, when interpreting test results, the doctor does not neglect the woman’s condition at the time of the test and takes this into account.

There are also differences between the norms of children of different ages.(state immune system, 2 crosses), therefore Doctors do not always regard fluctuations in these corpuscles in children from 4 to 15.5 x 10 9 /l as a pathology. In general, in each specific case, the doctor approaches individually, taking into account age, gender, characteristics of the body, geographical location the place where the patient lives, because Russia is a huge country and the norms in Bryansk and Khabarovsk may also have some differences.

Physiological increase and tables of norms of white blood parameters

In addition, leukocytes in the blood tend to increase physiologically due to various circumstances, because these cells are the first to “feel” and “know”. For example, physiological (redistribution or, as previously called, relative) leukocytosis can be observed in the following cases:

1. After eating, especially a large meal, these cells begin to leave their places of permanent dislocation (depot, marginal pool) and rush into the submucosal layer of the intestine - nutritional or food leukocytosis(why is it better to do OAC on an empty stomach);
2. With intense muscle tension - myogenic leukocytosis when Le can be increased by 3–5, but not always due to cell redistribution, in other cases true leukocytosis can be observed, which indicates increased leukopoiesis (sports, hard work);
3. At the moment of a surge of emotions, regardless of whether they are joyful or sad, in stressful situations - emotiogenic leukocytosis, the same reason for the increase in white cells can be considered severe manifestations of pain;
4. With a sudden change in body position (horizontal → vertical) – orthostatic leukocytosis;
5. Immediately after physiotherapeutic treatment (therefore, patients are first asked to visit the laboratory, and then go for procedures in the physical room);
6. In women before menstruation, during pregnancy (mostly in recent months), during breastfeeding - leukocytosis of pregnant and lactating women and so on.

It is not so difficult to distinguish relative leukocytosis from true: elevated white blood cells are observed in the blood for a short time; after exposure to any of the above factors, the body quickly returns to its normal state and the leukocytes “calm down.” In addition, with relative leukocytosis, the normal ratio of white blood representatives of the first line of defense (granulocytes) is not disturbed and they never show toxic granularity, characteristic of pathological conditions. With pathological leukocytosis in conditions of a sharp increase in cell number (hyperleukocytosis - 20 x 10 9 / l or more), a shift (significant) is noted leukocyte formula to the left.

Of course, doctors in each region know their standards and are guided by them, however, there are summary tables that more or less satisfy all geographical areas (if necessary, the doctor will make an adjustment taking into account the region, age, physiological characteristics at the time of the study, etc.).

Table 1. Normal values ​​of representatives of the leukocyte unit

Table 2. Fluctuations in normal white blood counts depending on age category

In addition, it will be useful to know the norms depending on age, because, as noted above, they also have some differences in adults and children of different periods of life.

Obviously, information about the total white blood cell count (WBC) is not presented to the physician as comprehensive. To determine the patient's condition, it is necessary to decipher the leukocyte formula, which reflects the ratio of all types of white blood cells. However, that’s not all - deciphering the leukocyte formula is not always limited to the percentage of a particular population of leukocytes. Very important indicator in doubtful cases, the calculation of absolute values ​​is considered different types leukocytes (norms for adults are given in Table 1).

Each population has its own tasks

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of these shaped elements in ensuring human health, because their functional responsibilities are primarily aimed at protecting the body from many adverse factors in the different levels immunity:

• Some (granulocytes) immediately go into “battle”, trying to prevent “enemy” substances from settling in the body;
• Others (lymphocytes) – help at all stages of resistance, provide antibody formation;
• Still others (macrophages) remove the “battlefield” by cleansing the body of toxic products.

Perhaps the table below can more clearly tell the reader about the function of each population and the interaction of these cells within the community.

White blood cell community - a complex system, where, however, each population of leukocytes exhibits independence when functioning, performing its own unique tasks. When deciphering the test results, the doctor determines the ratio of leukocyte cells and the shift of the formula to the right or left, if any.

Elevated white blood cells

Elevated leukocytes (more than 10 G/l), in addition to physiological situations, are observed in a number of pathological conditions and then leukocytosis is called pathological, while only cells of one type or several at once can be increased in number (as determined by the doctor when deciphering the leukocyte formula).

The increase in the concentration of white blood cells is primarily due to an increase in the rate of differentiation of leukocyte precursors, their accelerated maturation and exit from the hematopoietic organ (HA) into the peripheral blood. Of course, in this situation, the appearance of young forms of leukocytes - metamyelocytes and juveniles - in the circulating blood is not excluded.

Meanwhile, the term “WBC elevated” does not reflect the complete picture of events occurring in the body, because a slight increase in the level of these formed elements typical for many conditions healthy person(physiological leukocytosis). In addition, leukocytosis can be moderate, or it can give very high levels.

Thus, slightly elevated leukocytes for a short time do not give cause for concern; it’s another matter if there is high level these cells, not associated with physiological factors- he's already talking about pathological changes, which can sometimes be quite serious. For example, very high leukocytosis, when the content of these formed elements exceeds the limits of 60 - 70 G/l, is noted at. Le is also especially elevated in acute and chronic forms ah, in this case, the values ​​of the indicator may well leave the limit of 80 G/l.

Video: Dr. Komarovsky about the types of leukocytes and their increase

Reduced white blood cell values

Reduced values ​​of these formed elements (WBC) - also should not always cause a stir. For example, elderly patients may not be particularly concerned if the numbers indicating the content of white blood cells froze at the lower limit of normal or slightly exceeded it in the direction of decrease - in people older than low level leukocytes. The values ​​of white blood laboratory parameters may also be reduced in cases of prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation in small doses. For example, employees of X-ray rooms and persons on duty who come into contact with factors unfavorable in this regard, or people permanently residing in areas with increased background radiation (therefore they should more often take general analysis blood to prevent the development of a dangerous disease).

It should be noted that a low level of leukocytes, as a manifestation of leukopenia, occurs mainly due to a decrease in granulocyte cells - neutrophils (). However, each specific case is characterized by its own changes in peripheral blood, which there is no point in describing in detail, since the reader can get acquainted with them on other pages of our site if desired.

But this is only a list of conditions that are characterized by a decrease in the content of such significant cells as leukocytes. However, why do such changes occur? What factors lead to a decrease in the amount of formed elements that protect the body from agents foreign to it? Perhaps the pathology originates in the bone marrow?

A low white blood cell count can be due to several reasons:

1. Decreased production of white blood cells in the bone marrow (BM);
2. A problem that arises at the final stage of leukopoiesis - at the stage of the release of mature, full-fledged cells from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood (“lazy leukocyte syndrome”, in which a defect cell membrane inhibits their motor activity);
3. Destruction of cells in the hematopoietic organs and in the vascular bed under the influence of factors that have lysing properties in relation to representatives of the leukocyte community, as well as changes in physicochemical characteristics and impaired permeability of the membranes of the white blood cells themselves, formed as a result of ineffective hematopoiesis;
4. Changes in the marginal/circulating pool ratio (complications after blood transfusion, inflammatory processes);
5. The departure of white cells from the body (cholecystoangiocholitis, purulent endometritis).

Unfortunately, a low level of leukocytes cannot go unnoticed by the body itself, because leukopenia leads to a decrease in the immune response, and, therefore, a weakening of defenses. A decrease in the phagocytic activity of neutrophils and the antibody-forming function of B cells contributes to the “revelry” infectious agents in the body of an unprotected person, the origin and development malignant neoplasms any localization.

Video: leukocytes - educational film

Video: leukocytes in the program “Live Healthy!”

Leukocytes are also called white blood cells or white blood. They are responsible for the human immune system, a barrier established by the body against diseases, toxins, various viruses and harmful bacteria.

Types of leukocytes

Cells of the leukocyte series have several functions, each group is responsible for certain functions of the body. There are five of them in total:

Leukocytes are commonly called white blood cells. If you look through a microscope, you find that they are purple with a pink tint.

Leukocyte norm

The average leukocyte formula indicators are as follows:

White blood bodies are amenable to complex calculations and the maximum standards depend on many indicators, so the decoding always includes a range from the maximum permissible to the minimum value. Doctors always take into account the following factors:

1. what lifestyle does a person lead: diet; % presence on fresh air, the presence of stressful situations, etc.;
2. what time are tests taken: morning, afternoon, evening; seasonality;
3. patient's age: in a teenager, a child, the indicators are higher than in an adult;
4. In women, a separate group goes through the period of pregnancy and childbirth.

An increase in leukocyte cells is called leukocytosis and has a number of its own characteristics.

Elevated white blood cells - common causes

There are quite a few reasons why leukocytes in the blood are elevated in men and women. They are mainly divided into 2 large groups:

• pathology;
• physiology.

Each case of deviation from the norm is considered separately, based on the overall clinical picture.

TO physiological reasons Increased changes in indicators include:

An increased content of leukocytes in such cases is accompanied by deviations in other indicators, such as platelets, erythrocytes, ESR.

When should treatment begin?

If physiological disorders of the leukocyte formula in adults can be eliminated without the use of medical supplies, then pathological ones need serious treatment. These include:

Due to an imperfect immune system, a newborn may experience an increase in leukocytes, which disappears by the age of three and does not require treatment. In adults, an increase of 2-4 times in indicators should be accompanied by immediate treatment.

Men are most susceptible to changes in their blood count between the ages of 45 and 75 years.

High white blood cell count in women

In addition to the above reasons, women have an additional number of reasons for which changes occur:

By nature, a woman is more susceptible to hormonal surges: menstrual cycles, childbirth, infant feeding, increased emotionality. All this is directly related to the composition of the blood and, in particular, to its leukocyte part.

In older people, regardless of gender, leukocytes are low, so leukocytosis practically does not occur in this group.

Other causes of increased white blood cells

Other conditions under which leukocytosis develops may include temporary factors:

The leukocyte composition of an animal increases significantly when there is a feeling of danger, so the body prepares for destruction foreign bodies And faster healing wound The principle of operation in humans in this case is very similar. In all these cases, the increase is within the acceptable range and normalizes to optimal levels on its own.

Reasons for the highest rates

If some indicators of the leukocyte formula are exceeded tens of times, then this is a signal about serious illnesses, requiring urgent, strong drug treatment. For example, neutrophilic leukocytosis with numbers of 50-100*109 units/l indicates myeloid leukemia.

The reasons may be:

• tuberculosis;
• sepsis, severe infection;
• malignant tumors;
• severe forms of hepatitis.

A significant excess of the norm of eosophils indicates a struggle with a constantly exposed allergen, for example, some regularly taken medication.

Stable, persistent monocytosis becomes a harbinger of chronic forms of tuberculosis or progressive cancer.

A change in leukocyte counts is only a consequence of ongoing internal processes of struggle. When the cause is identified through additional examinations, doctors make a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. To ensure a clear clinical picture, a repeat blood sample is scheduled 2-3 weeks after the violations are detected.