What is RDW in your blood count?
A red cell distribution width (RDW) test measures the differences in the volume and size of your red blood cells (erythrocytes). Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body. Your cells need oxygen to grow, make new cells, and stay healthy.
What is RDW in blood test is low?
A low RDW means your red blood cells are all about the same size. 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.
How is high RDW treated?
How to lower RDW
- Eating a balanced diet: A nutritious diet can help prevent deficiencies of iron, folate, and vitamin B12, which contribute to raised RDW levels.
- Stopping smoking: People who smoke have elevated RDW .
- Avoiding alcohol: Excessive alcohol can damage RBCs and decrease vitamin B12 and folate absorption.
How do you control RDW in blood?
How can I increase my 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 is high RDW SD treated?
Can Covid cause high RDW?
Based on Topaz et al.’s study, RDW >14.5% is a predictive index of poor outcomes in hospitalized influenza patients [19]. Also, in a recent report from China, elevated RDW was associated with severe COVID-19 [3].
What is the normal range for RDW SD?
Since the RDW-SD is an actual measurement, it is not influenced by the MCV and more accurately reflects the red cell size variance. The normal RDW-SD range for adults is 40.0 – 55.0 fL.
Why does my RDW keep rising?
A high RDW has been associated with some types of anemia, including iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, mixed anemias, sickle cell disease, myelofibrosis, and cold agglutinin disease. It has also been linked to certain conditions unrelated to blood, such as sleep apnea and lupus.