High White Blood Cell Count: What It Means and What to Do Next
A high white blood cell (WBC) count means your body is making more of the cells that fight infection and inflammation. Quest's adult range is 3.8–10.8 thousand cells per microliter, but go by the range printed on your report. Most mild elevations have an everyday explanation: an infection, inflammation, physical or emotional stress, smoking, or steroid medications such as prednisone. The differential on your CBC shows which type of white cell is high, and that points to the cause. A count that stays clearly high with no explanation, or with abnormal or immature cells, needs to be evaluated for a blood disorder.
What Causes High White Blood Cell Count?
Infection
The most common cause. Bacterial infections mainly raise neutrophils; viral infections can raise lymphocytes. The count usually returns to normal within a few weeks of recovery.
Inflammation
Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, injuries, burns and recent surgery raise the white count, often together with CRP and sed rate.
Stress and Exercise
Intense exercise, severe emotional stress, pain and even a hard workout the day before can release white cells from storage and raise the count for hours.
Smoking
Smokers commonly run a mildly high white count because of ongoing airway inflammation. It falls gradually after quitting.
Medications
Corticosteroids such as prednisone are the classic cause, raising neutrophils within hours. Lithium, some asthma inhalers and epinephrine can also raise it.
Allergies and Asthma
Allergic conditions, asthma and some parasite infections raise eosinophils, a type of white cell shown on the differential.
Other Everyday Factors
Pregnancy, obesity and having had your spleen removed are all linked to a mildly higher white count.
Leukemia and Bone-Marrow Disorders
Rarely, the marrow overproduces white cells. Very high counts, immature cells (blasts) or abnormal red cells or platelets on the same CBC point toward this, and a hematologist confirms it.
Associated Symptoms
What to Do Next
1. Retest to confirm
A single abnormal result should be confirmed with a repeat test. Temporary factors like stress, illness, or medications can affect results.
2. Related tests to consider
3. When to see a doctor
If your White Blood Cell Count is significantly abnormal, if you have severe symptoms, or if repeated results confirm the abnormality, consult a healthcare professional for appropriate evaluation and treatment.
Related Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider for interpretation of your results.
Content reviewed for accuracy by the JustLabs editorial team.