Vitamin C is thought to increase the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting infections. Almost all citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. With such a variety to choose from, it’s easy to add a squeeze of this vitamin to any meal.

Calabrese says. In addition, stress decreases the body’s lymphocytes — the white blood cells that help fight off infection. The lower your lymphocyte level, the more at risk you are for viruses, including the common cold and cold sores.

Foods to eat

• Dairy: all pasteurized milk and dairy products, such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and sour cream.
• Starches: all breads, cooked pastas, chips, French toast, pancakes, cereal, cooked sweet potatoes, beans, corn, peas, whole grains, and fries.
• Vegetables: all cooked or frozen vegetables.

How many white blood cells (WBCs) someone has varies, but the normal range is usually between 4,000 and 11,000 per microliter of blood. A blood test that shows a WBC count of less than 4,000 per microliter (some labs say less than 4,500) could mean your body may not be able to fight infection the way it should.

Low white blood cell count. Cancers that affect the blood and bone marrow can also lower the count. These types of cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Hemoglobin, the substance that gives color to red blood cells, is the substance that allows for the transport of oxygen throughout the body. Low hemoglobin levels lead to anemia, which causes symptoms like fatigue and trouble breathing.

Typical symptoms of low hemoglobin include:

• weakness.
• shortness of breath.
• dizziness.
• fast, irregular heartbeat.
• pounding in the ears.
• headache.
• cold hands and feet.
• pale or yellow skin.

Sustained stress is another cause of anaemia. Excessive stress hinders the manufacture of hydrochloric acid in your body, which is very important for integration of iron and proteins. Deficiency of iron is equal to lack of haemoglobin and thus, anaemia.

Most people start to feel better within a few days of beginning treatment. Even though you feel better, you will need to keep taking the pills for several months to build up your iron stores. Sometimes it takes up to 6 months of treatment with iron supplements before iron levels return to normal.

Common signs and symptoms include tiredness, pale skin, feeling short of breath, and dry and damaged hair and skin. If you think you have symptoms of iron deficiency, talk to your doctor.

In general, patients with iron deficient anemia should manifest a response to iron with reticulocytosis in three to seven days, followed by an increase in hemoglobin in 2-4 weeks.

Background: Equilibration of hemoglobin concentration after transfusion has been estimated to take about 24 hours, but some studies have shown that earlier measurements reflect steady-state values in persons who have not bled recently.