A low RDW means your red blood cells are all about the same size. A high RDW means you have both very small and very large red blood cells. You may also have a “normal” RDW.
Does high RDW indicate cancer?
Elevated RDW was associated with overall cancer mortality. To a certain extent, RDW may predict the risk of mortality in patients with cancers; it was an independent prognostic indicator of short-term mortality after hospitalization in cancer patients.
What is considered high RDW?
A high RDW (over 14.5%) means that the red blood cells vary a lot in size. A normal RDW is 11.6 to 14.6%, but researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that patients with a RDW level greater than or equal to 12.9% had an increased risk for depression.
Should I worry about high RDW?
Red blood cells are usually fairly uniform in size, and an increase in variation or anisocytosis (an increased RDW) can mean several things. A high RDW can be a sign of some types of anemia as well as a general sign of inflammation in the body.
Is high RDW serious?
High results If your RDW is too high, it could be an indication of a nutrient deficiency, such as a deficiency of iron, folate, or vitamin B-12. These results could also indicate macrocytic anemia, when your body doesn’t produce enough normal red blood cells, and the cells it does produce are larger than normal.
Is low RDW a concern?
A low RDW is desirable since it is a sign that your RBCs are uniform in size. A low RDW is not a cause for concern. But even if you have a low RDW, still you may have a blood disease.
How is high RDW treated?
If your test results indicate you have a chronic blood disorder, such as anemia, you may be put on a treatment plan to increase the amount of oxygen that your red blood cells can carry. Depending on your specific condition, your doctor may recommend iron supplements, medications, and/or changes in your diet.
Does RDW 16.3 mean?
RDW level on admission was considered “high” if it were greater than the 95th percentile per the normal interval of the institution’s laboratory (16.3%), and “normal” if ≤16.3%.
How can I lower my RDW levels?
Eat a healthy and nutritious diet in order to prevent nutrient deficiencies. It is important that your diet includes enough iron, folate, and vitamin B12 [8, 11, 12]. Correcting nutritional deficiencies can help improve red blood cell production and decrease RDW levels.
What are the symptoms of high red blood cell count?
If you have a high RBC count, you could experience symptoms such as:
- fatigue.
- shortness of breath.
- joint pain.
- tenderness in the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
- itching skin, particularly after a shower or bath.
- sleep disturbance.
What is the normal range for RDW SD?
Since the RDW-SD is an actual measurement, it is not influenced by the MCV and more accurately reflects the red cell size variance. The normal RDW-SD range for adults is 40.0 – 55.0 fL.
What diet causes Macrocytic anemia?
A folate deficiency, sometimes known as vitamin B-9 deficiency, can also cause macrocytic anemia. Pregnant and breast-feeding women use more folate and have a higher risk of becoming deficient. People who do not eat enough folate-rich foods can also become deficient.
Which foods increase hemoglobin in blood?
How to increase hemoglobin
- meat and fish.
- soy products, including tofu and edamame.
- eggs.
- dried fruits, such as dates and figs.
- broccoli.
- green leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach.
- green beans.
- nuts and seeds.
What does HGB stand for in blood work?
Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. A low hemoglobin count is generally defined as less than 13.5 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter (135 grams per liter) of blood for men and less than 12 grams per deciliter (120 grams per liter) for women.
What is Microcytic anemia?
Microcytic anemia is defined as the presence of small, often hypochromic, red blood cells in a peripheral blood smear and is usually characterized by a low MCV (less than 83 micron 3). Iron deficiency is the most common cause of microcytic anemia.