R.D.W in Mayuri Nagar Welfare Association, Hyderabad

Red blood cells (RBCs), the most common type of blood cells, are responsible for delivering oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues. The tissues turn oxygen into usable energy and release carbon dioxide.

The red blood cells also help transport the released carbon dioxide back to the lungs, which exhale it the out of the body.

RBCs develop and grow in the soft tissues of the bones, also known as the bone marrow. They contain a distinct protein known as hemoglobin, which helps transport oxygen. Once the RBCs mature, bone marrow releases them into the bloodstream. If your red blood cell count is extremely low or extremely high, it can lead to several medical conditions.

So, if your RBC count is low, you may suffer from:

• Anaemia
• Bone marrow disorder
• Blood loss
• Cancer

This could happen due to:

• Lack of vitamins like iron, B9 and B12
• Ongoing cancer treatment like chemotherapy
• Malnutrition
• Pre-existing medical issue

If your red blood cells count is high, you might suffer from the following medical ailments:
Congenital heart disease

• Hypoxia
• Polycythemia Vera
• Lung disease

The following might be responsible for the high red blood cell count:

• Consistent smoking
• Intake of performance-enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids
• Pre-existing medical conditions like lung or heart disease
• Living in a high elevation region
• Dehydration

If your red blood cells count is abnormal, you will experience a plethora of symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Lack of energy
• Weakness in muscles
• Blurry vision
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Cold feet and hands

If your healthcare practitioner suspects that your red blood cells are not at the optimum level, they can order an R.D.W. test, also known as the red cell distribution width test. This test helps measure the accurate size and volume of your erythrocytes or red blood cells. It often takes place as part of the complete blood count (CBC) test.

Generally, in a healthy state of being, the size of your red blood cells will be more or less the same. But, if your R.D.W. is high, it will indicate a significant difference between your largest and smallest red blood cells.

Your doctor may specifically order the R.D.W. test if you:

• Display symptoms of anaemia – dizziness, weakness, cold feet and hands, and pale skin
• Suffer from a chronic illness like diabetes, Crohn’s disease or AIDS/HIV
• Have long-term infections
• Come from a family line of sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, or any other inherited blood disorders
• Have a diet of insufficient minerals and iron
• Have recently suffered extreme blood loss due to some injury or surgery

Getting this test will help:

• Identify if you are suffering from anaemia, wherein the red blood cells in your body cannot carry requisite amount of oxygen throughout your body
• Diagnose if you have thalassemia, which can lead to severe anaemia
• Decide an effective treatment to cure your blood disorders

Apollo 24|7 offers a comprehensive R.D.W. test which can be booked easily through their website.