White Blood Cells

Your blood also contains white blood cells. White blood cells circulate throughout your body like an army. They protect you from an attack by germs.

White blood cells are larger than red blood cells. They have funny shapes and can attach to the germs they find in your blood. Your body needs to have enough white blood cells so you can fight off infections and stay healthy. If you don't have enough white blood cells, it is easier for you to become sick.

When you get sick, like when you have a sore throat, your number of white blood cells goes up higher than normal. This is because your body makes more white blood cells to help you get well. A high amount of white blood cells is a sign that there is an infection in the body.

Some types of white blood cells fight the germs. Other kinds of white blood cells tell your body that it's under attack. A third kind of white blood cell remembers what kind of germs attacked you so that your body can be ready to fight them if they try to attack your body again.

White Blood Cell Count

The measurement for white blood cells is expressed in the number per cubic millimeter. The normal adult range is 4,500 to 11,000 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. This count is challenging because there are many different types of white blood cells. An increase in white blood cells is a sign that there is an infection in the body. Technicians use smears of blood to determine the white blood count. A blood smear is made when a drop of blood is put onto a glass slide and covered with another smaller piece of glass. It is then placed under a microscope so it is easy to see the tiny cells. White blood cell counts are done by counting the number of cells in one small section and then doing some multiplication.

Normal White Blood Cell Count This sample has a white blood cell count of 7,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter. This is within the normal rangefor an adult male. White blood cells remain at a normal level in a healthy person. By avoiding tobacco products a person can reduce their risk of developing infections that would raise their white blood cell count to an abnormal level.

High White Blood Cell Count This sample has a white blood cell count of 13,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter. This is above the normal range for an adult male and indicates that there is an infection in the body. Something very serious like cancer or other less serious infections such as bronchitis could cause this increase in white blood cells. Many of these infections are brought about by tobacco use. Since it is common for a tobacco user to get these types of infections, their white blood cell count may often be high.

Continue to compare a healthy and unhealthy white blood cell count.