Low white blood cell counts, a condition known as neutropenia, can result because of bone marrow defects, infection or certain cancers such as leukemia. Neutropenia is frequently associated with the use of chemotherapeutic drugs to treat cancer....
White blood cells fight infection by attacking and destroying viruses, bacteria and other pathogenic microbes. At the very least, low white blood cells could suggest vulnerability to such pathogens. However, a low white blood cell count could also...
Determining the number of white blood cells present in a blood sample can give medical professionals important clues about what is causing a patient's symptoms. Leukopenia, or low white blood cell count, can indicate a number of medical...
It has long been known that vitamin D plays a vital part in maintaining strong bones and teeth. There is new evidence that vitamin D has a crucial role in regulating your immune functions, according to a 2009 paper in "Expert Reviews in Clinical...
White blood cells are major immune system soldiers that help your body fight off infections. If your doctor has told you that you have a low white blood cell count, you might need medical treatments such as steroids to boost your numbers. However,...
The blood contains specialized cell types--white blood cells that help ward off infection, red blood cells that carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body and platelets that control blood thickness and clotting. Each of these blood cells...
The function of white blood cells in the body is to fight infection. There are several different types of white blood cells that have different 'jobs' in the process of fighting viruses, bacteria and fungi that can infect the body. Your level of...
Reduced numbers of white blood cells, also known as leukopenia, means that you have fewer disease-fighting cells circulating throughout your body. MayoClinic.com states that fewer than 3,500 white blood cells, or leukocytes, per microliter of...
White blood cells play a critical role in the health and functioning of the immune system. A low white blood cell count can be either a response to, or risk factor for, infection. It is common among people fighting cancer. Nutritional guidelines...
Getting enough vitamin B12 is key to maintaining your body's ability to produce enough blood. While a B12 deficiency can lead to a type of anemia, a blood disease that affects your red blood cells, the vitamin is not generally associated with...
Raised liver enzymes and low white blood cells are two separate conditions that have several mild to severe causes and indications. Both conditions can manifest from the same disease or its treatments. Your physician will typically address each...
Your blood contains three types of cells: red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight off infections and platelets that form blood clots. Cells in your bone marrow, known as stem cells, continually produce new blood cells....
White blood cells, produced in the bone marrow, are a part of the immune system responsible for fighting off abnormal cells and invading organisms. The five types of white blood cells, neutrophils--the most common--monocytes, lymphocytes,...
White blood cells function to protect the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. For the immune system to function properly, the body needs a sufficient number of white blood cells. Normally, stem cells in the...
A low white blood cell count manifests in one of two conditions: leukopenia or neutropenia. In leukopenia, the total overall number of white blood cells decreases, while neutropenia involves a low count of the most abundant type of white blood...
White blood cells help the body fight infections. The Mayo Clinic indicates that the normal range for a white blood cell count often varies. However, a count below 3,500 per microliter of blood may elicit further evaluation from your physician....
White blood cells, or leukocytes, are the cells your body uses to fight off infections. There are different types of white blood cell, each responsible for fighting different microbes. For example, neutrophils help fight off bacterial infections,...
Abnormalities in blood cell counts can be serious signs of illness and disease, side effects of drugs or complications from medical procedures such as cancer treatments. MayoClinic.com defines leucopenia, or low white blood cell count, as a...
A low white blood cell count, generally below 3,500 white blood cells per blood microliter, is a lowered level of disease-fighting cells in your blood, according to MayoClinic.com. Infections, autoimmune disorders, bone marrow-damaging diseases...
Low white blood cell count, also called leukopenia, is a condition that can be caused by a number of diseases and medical conditions. Because white blood cells (leukocytes) defend the body against infections, it is important to determine the...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, function to protect the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Five major types of white blood cells exist, each performing important functions in the immune system. An adult's normal...
Low white blood cell counts leave you vulnerable to infection. Exercise improves immune function and increases a healthy person's resistance to infection, especially once a moderate routine is established. However, too much exercise can adversely...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, help the body fight infection. Five types of white blood cells -- each with a unique disease-fighting purpose -- exist in varying amounts in the blood. The five types are basophils, eosinophils,...
Low white blood cell counts, a condition known as neutropenia, can be a serious medical condition leading to chronic or fatal infections. White cell levels can reach low levels in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, as many chemotherapeutic...
Vitamin deficiency is normally not the main cause of a low white blood cell count. Powerful infections such as AIDS or cancer are the main culprits. Having certain vitamin deficiencies can lower the white blood cell count a little and seriously...
Having a low white blood cell count means your blood contains too few disease-fighting cells, according to MayoClinic.com. Your count may be low if you have a health problem that damages your bone marrow, you take certain drugs, you have a severe...
White blood cells are responsible for identifying and destroying bacteria, fungi, viruses and toxic substances in your body. They help prevent infections that cause illnesses and diseases such as salmonella, influenza, genital herpes and the...
Potassium is an essential nutrient that plays a role in regulation of heart rate, muscle contractions and digestion of food. Too many or too few infection-fighting white blood cells, according to Medline Plus, can indicate the presence of...
Low white blood cell counts rarely occur by inherited diseases. A low WBC count generally arises from decreased production of white blood cells due to drugs, vitamin B12 deficiency or infection. The condition can also occur from peripheral...