This happens because all of these nutrients are needed to produce healthy red blood cells. Various nutrient deficiencies can cause your RDW to increase, such as: If your RDW is high, work with your doctor or another health care professional to get an accurate diagnosis. Causes of High RDWĬauses listed below are commonly associated with high RDW. It happens when, for any reason, the body is having issues producing red blood cells. High RDWĪ high RDW means that your red blood cells are unequal in size. However, it is still possible to have a blood-related disease and low RDW levels. This is desirable and not a cause for concern. Low RDWĪ low value indicates that your red blood cells are uniform in size. Your doctor will interpret your results in conjunction with your medical history and other test results. However, a normal RDW doesn’t mean a condition such as anemia is absent. The range may slightly vary between laboratories. Hereditary red blood cell disorders, such as thalassemia.Īlong with the MCV ( mean corpuscular volume), MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin), and MCHC ( mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), a high RDW can serve as a sign of several underlying diseases, such as anemia : In other words, there is some issue with red blood cell production or survival. Higher values mean that your red blood cells are produced in different sizes. Low values mean that your red blood cells are roughly similar in size, which is normal and desirable. It is a part of a complete blood count, which also measures your hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red and white blood cell counts. Basically, it tells you how equal or unequal your red blood cells are in size. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is the variation of the size/volume of your red blood cells. However, in some conditions and diseases, red blood cells can have a distorted shape or be smaller or larger than normal while still maintaining their core function (oxygen and carbon dioxide transport). Normally, red blood cells are relatively equal in shape and size. It is very flexible, which enables it to change shape – this is needed for a red blood cell to squeeze through the narrowest of blood vessels called capillaries. What is Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW)Ī normal red blood cell is shaped like a disk with a depressed center. Keep reading to learn why having a high RDW is bad and how to improve your values. These include inflammatory, autoimmune, liver, kidney, and heart disease. In addition, it is also increased in seemingly unrelated disorders and diseases that nevertheless affect blood cell production and lifespan. It can help your doctor diagnose various blood-related disorders and diseases. RDW or red blood cell distribution width is a measure of how equal your red blood cells are in size. A plus sign next to the number “” means that the information is found within the full scientific study rather than the abstract. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please leave a comment or contact us at that each number in parentheses is a clickable link to peer-reviewed scientific studies. Our goal is to not have a single piece of inaccurate information on this website. They are continually monitored by our internal peer-review process and if we see anyone making material science errors, we don't let them write for us again. Our science team must pass long technical science tests, difficult logical reasoning and reading comprehension tests. Our science team is put through the strictest vetting process in the health industry and we often reject applicants who have written articles for many of the largest health websites that are deemed trustworthy. Our team comprises of trained MDs, PhDs, pharmacists, qualified scientists, and certified health and wellness specialists.Īll of our content is written by scientists and people with a strong science background. We are dedicated to providing the most scientifically valid, unbiased, and comprehensive information on any given topic. We believe that the most accurate information is found directly in the scientific source. SelfDecode has the strictest sourcing guidelines in the health industry and we almost exclusively link to medically peer-reviewed studies, usually on PubMed.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |