what causes elevated white blood cells
A high white blood cell count could be a sign of leukemia, a form of blood cancer or other medical conditions. In todayâs post, we are listing down potential causes of an elevated white blood cell count: 1. Severe Stress. Severe emotional and mental stress can cause white blood cells to elevate to abnormal levels.
A bone marrow disorder is a less common, more serious cause of elevated white blood cells. Leukemia is the most frequent culprit. With this type of cancer, the bone marrow produces large numbers of defective white blood cells and releases them into the blood. Other bone marrow disorders, such as polycythemia vera, can also increase the WBC count.
Bacterial and viral infections are the most common causes of a high white blood cell count. Fungal or parasitic infections can also increase the number of white blood cells in the blood. The increase in WBCs due to infection is caused by a normal immune system response that stimulates the bone marrow to release stored white blood cells.
The same mutation can trigger the bone marrow to release too many white blood cells. Finally, myelofibrosis can also cause an elevated white blood cell count. This condition is caused by the abnormal production of blood cells, increasing the white blood cell count during the initial period of an inflammation.
What Causes High White Blood Cell Count? So, what happens when you have too many white blood cells? Known as leukocytosis in medical terms, a high white blood cell count can result from the following health conditions: Infection; Inflammation; Emotional Stress; Allergen reactions; Medications such as corticosteroids and epinephrine; Immune system disorder