Things you can do to help manage your low red blood count:

Blood is a specialized body fluid. It has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Bone marrow failure happens when the marrow doesn’t produce enough red cells, white cells or platelets, or the blood cells that are produced are damaged or defective. This means the body can not supply itself with the blood it needs. Aplastic anemia, MDS and PNH are bone marrow failure diseases.

Certain diseases — such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, Crohn’s disease and other acute or chronic inflammatory diseases — can interfere with the production of red blood cells. Aplastic anemia. This rare, life-threatening anemia occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells.

When you have a low blood count, this means your bone marrow is not making enough of one type of blood cells. Doctors call a low blood count cytopenia .

1. Rest between activities.
2. Plan ahead and save your energy for the most important activities.
3. Avoid or stop activities that make you short of breath or make your heart beat faster.
4. Ask others for help.
5. Eat a diet with adequate protein and vitamins.

A normal RBC count would be: men – 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microlitre (cells/mcL) women – 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL.

A high red blood cell count is generally considered to be anything above 6.1 million red blood cells for men, 5.4 million for women, and 5.5 for children. Additional tests will help your doctor determine the cause of your high red blood cell count and next steps in your care.

The benefits of a transfusion may last for up to 2 weeks but vary depending on circumstances. There are various types of transfusion that may provide an individual with specific elements of blood, such as plasma or red blood cells.

It happens if your body attacks the red blood cells in the blood you’ve received. This normally takes place during or right after your transfusion, and you’ll experience symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, or pain in your chest or lower back.

There are also no restrictions on activities before or during the transfusion, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the IV if the line is already placed. After the first 15 minutes of the transfusion, you can eat and drink or work on your phone or laptop.