What if the lymphocytes in the blood are raised?

Lymphocytes are a special kind of leukocytes, which provide our body with immune protection. In cells of lymphocytes there are special receptors that instantly react to foreign substances. When entering the blood leukocyte group, lymphocytes have some differences. They are able to easily penetrate into the tissues and return to the blood again. Life expectancy of lymphocytes is much greater than in all other leukocytes. If the white blood cells live only a few days, the cells of lymphocytes are "long-livers" in comparison with them. Lymphocytes can live for several months and even up to twenty or more years. In the human blood, the lymphocyte content ranges from twenty to forty percent.

The main function and purpose of lymphocytes is immune defense and surveillance. It is not by chance that lymphocytes are called the "army" of our immunity.

As in any army are different groups of troops, and lymphocytes are different. Among them, T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, NK-lymphocytes, the so-called "natural killers". Each of these types of lymphocytes plays an important role in providing immune protection.

The normal content of lymphocytes in 1 μl of blood is 1200-3000. In the case where the lymphocyte count in the blood exceeds 4000 (on a general blood count card this is recorded as> 4,000 / μL or> 4,000 / mm3 or> 4.0 x 10 (9) / L), this is called lymphocytosis. That is, lymphocytosis is when the lymphocytes in the blood are enlarged.

The reason that the lymphocytes in the blood are increased, as a rule, are various infections. For example, common influenza, pertussis, measles, chicken pox and many others. However, there are also lymphocytosis, caused by non-infectious causes, for example, a disease such as chronic lymphocytosis.

Having learned that the lymphocytes in the blood are raised, it is necessary to find out the nature of this pathology. Depending on their origin, reactive and malignant lymphocytosis is secreted.

Reactive lymphocytosis is the reaction of an organism to an infection, this is a common phenomenon for the immune system of our body. A characteristic feature of reactive lymphocytosis is a decrease in the lymphocyte count in the blood to their normal value on the second to third day after the exacerbation of the disease.

In some cases, post-infection lymphocytosis is observed. The infectious disease that caused the increase in lymphocytes is already stopped, and the lymphocyte content in the blood is still at a fairly high level.

Malignant lymphocytosis is a serious blood disease, it is usually accompanied by various kinds of leukemia. With this disease, lymphocytes in the blood are constantly elevated.

On the basis of only one blood test, of course, malignant lymphocytosis is difficult to detect. Therefore, if there are suspicions on the development of this serious disease, it is necessary to constantly observe the specialist - the hematologist, as well as undergo a comprehensive medical examination. You should not save money on good drugs, which will allow you to recover as soon as possible.

Lymphocytes in the blood are increased not only with the development of infectious diseases, but also with chronic diseases, such as tuberculosis, syphilis, viral hepatitis.

In some cases, high lymphocytes in the blood may be due to other causes. For example, the cause of an increase in the level of lymphocytes in the blood can be:

• Endocrine diseases (thyrotoxicosis, Addison's disease, ovarian hyperfunction and others);
• bronchial asthma;
• Hypersensitivity to individual drugs and drugs;
• starvation;
• neurasthenia;
• Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis;
• Anemia caused by a lack of vitamin B-12.

All these reasons are basic and, as a rule, because of them, there is an increase in the permissible level of lymphocytes. But if you follow your way of life, then the appearance of the disease can be easily prevented.