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. But that doesn’t always mean you’re in perfect health.
Why is high RDW bad?
Red cell distribution width (RDW) has recently been associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. The underlying mechanisms remain unresolved, but high levels of RDW may be caused by inflammation or poor nutritional status.
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.
How do you treat high 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.
How can I lower my RDW naturally?
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 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.
What does a High RDW level mean?
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 causes elevated RDW?
Another cause of a high RDW level and a low MCV level is thalassemia intermedia. Thalassemia intermedia is another type of blood disorder in which there is impaired production of one or more of the elements that make up hemoglobin. These numbers can be associated with a wide variety of conditions.
What are the symptoms of High RDW?
Symptoms related to anemia like numbness,pale skin or dizziness
What is RDW in blood test and what does a High RDW count mean?
Interpretation. RDW can be used as a guidance for flagging samples that may need manual peripheral blood smear examination, since elevated RDW may indicate red cell fragmentation, agglutination, or dimorphic red blood cell populations.
