Table of Contents
What is dangerously high RDW?
A high RDW (over 14.5%) means that the red blood cells vary a lot in size. A normal RDW is 11.6 to 14.6%, but researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that patients with a RDW level greater than or equal to 12.9% had an increased risk for depression.
Is a high RDW bad?
A high red blood cell distribution width (RDW) may be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure and risk of death, and cardiovascular events in people with previous myocardial infarction.
What is the treatment for high RDW?
If your test results indicate you have a chronic blood disorder, such as anemia, you may be put on a treatment plan to increase the amount of oxygen that your red blood cells can carry. Depending on your specific condition, your doctor may recommend iron supplements, medications, and/or changes in your diet.
Why would someones RDW be high?
High RDW count It can indicate: Macrocytic anemia. This is characterized by red blood cells that are larger than average. Macrocytic anemia is linked to a deficiency of folate or vitamin B-12.
Should I worry about high RDW?
High results If your RDW is too high, it could be an indication of a nutrient deficiency, such as a deficiency of iron, folate, or vitamin B-12. These results could also indicate macrocytic anemia, when your body doesn’t produce enough normal red blood cells, and the cells it does produce are larger than normal.
What level of RDW is low?
A low RDW means your red blood cells are all about the same size. A high RDW means you have both very small and very large red blood cells. You may also have a “normal” RDW. A normal RDW range is 12.2%–16.1% for women and 11.8%–14.5% for men.
How do you reduce RDW?
1) Eat a Balanced Diet Eat a healthy and nutritious diet in order to prevent nutrient deficiencies. It is important that your diet includes enough iron, folate, and vitamin B12 [8, 11, 12]. Correcting nutritional deficiencies can help improve red blood cell production and decrease RDW levels.
What does high RDW mean during pregnancy?
The unexpected rise in the RDW during the last 4-6 weeks leading up to the onset of labor suggests increased bone marrow activity. The stimulus is unknown, but as RDW changes are highly significant there may well be a useful indicator of impending parturition.
Is low RDW CV bad?
A low RDW is desirable since it is a sign that your RBCs are uniform in size. A low RDW is not a cause for concern. But even if you have a low RDW, still you may have a blood disease.
What causes High RDW counts?
High RDW levels can also be caused due to the use of performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids or protein injections. Dehydration can also be another factor that contributes to high RDW. In such a case, the plasma gets decreased and as a result the count of red blood cells increases.
What are the symptoms of High RDW?
While some of the diseases with RDW show no symptoms, there are certain symptoms that should be left unattended. Some of the common symptoms associated with high RDW are mentioned below. Symptoms related to anemia like numbness, pale skin or dizziness. Weakness due to the deficiency of vitamins or iron.
What does elevated RDW mean?
Elevated RDW and low MCV. High RDW levels can mean that you have an iron deficiency if your MCV readings are lower than normal. Elevated RDW and high MCV. If both your MCV levels and RDW levels are too high, then this could be caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies, anemia, or chronic liver disease.
What is the normal RDW range?
RDW is a measure of the variation in the size of red cells. The normal range is 11.5 to 14.5. An RDW of 12 is within the normal range, which means the red cells are more or less of the same size.