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Low white cell count?
Quote | Reply
Ron in AZ
Jan 29, 13 12:48
Post #1 of 12 (13045 views)
Yea..I know dont ask for medical opinions ... looks like my white blood cell count is low (I'll have to find actual #'s) for the second year in a row -- is it possible that endurance training creates a lower level/impacts counts?? -- working with my doc on what to do after some more testing - but trying to figure out if this might be standard (or at least an occurrence) among endurance folks??...it could be as simple as my bad allergies...my training...or a bigger deal....just trying to find some info to discuss with doc.

Thanks!
-Ron
I have deceptive speed...I'm slower than I look.
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Ron in AZ] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
rmg
Jan 29, 13 13:01
Post #2 of 12 (13031 views)
try a pub med search using stress, cortisol and thymic suppression
that might be a good place to start

RG
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Ron in AZ] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
lcreswell
Jan 29, 13 22:33
Post #3 of 12 (12957 views)
White blood cell counts are often low in endurance athletes.

One great reference on this issue is:

Horn PL et al. Lower white blood cell counts in elite athletes training for highly aerobic sports. Europe J Appl Physiol 2010;110:925-932.

If you PM me with your email address, I'll email you a copy of the article.

.
Larry Creswell
http://www.athletesheart.org, @athletesheart
Last edited by: lcreswell: Jan 29, 13 22:34
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Ron in AZ] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
iron_mike
Jan 29, 13 23:06
Post #4 of 12 (12936 views)
past a point, endurance training does some harm.

this often comes as a surprise to us slowtwitchers, for whom fitness is next to godliness.

-mike
____________________________________
https://lshtm.academia.edu/MikeCallaghan

http://howtobeswiss.blogspot.ch/
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Ron in AZ] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
michael_runs
Jan 30, 13 11:45
Post #5 of 12 (12844 views)
Ron in AZ wrote:
Yea..I know dont ask for medical opinions ... looks like my white blood cell count is low (I'll have to find actual #'s) for the second year in a row -- is it possible that endurance training creates a lower level/impacts counts?? -- working with my doc on what to do after some more testing - but trying to figure out if this might be standard (or at least an occurrence) among endurance folks??...it could be as simple as my bad allergies...my training...or a bigger deal....just trying to find some info to discuss with doc.

Thanks!
-Ron

Funny timing, this thread. Had my annual physical a few weeks ago. My WBC was low (4.3) and doc wanted me to come back a couple of weeks later to double-check. Second visit it was still low (3.6). He's not too alarmed as I'm in the peak of my marathon training while still aggressively cross-training swim/bike. I had worked out the morning of both visits.
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Ron in AZ] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
tryguy67
Jan 30, 13 13:09
Post #6 of 12 (12817 views)
Are you on any antiinflamitory drugs like celebrex or sulfa?
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Ron in AZ] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Pedalhead
Jan 30, 13 14:40
Post #7 of 12 (12790 views)
Ron in AZ wrote:
Yea..I know dont ask for medical opinions ... looks like my white blood cell count is low (I'll have to find actual #'s) for the second year in a row -- is it possible that endurance training creates a lower level/impacts counts?? -- working with my doc on what to do after some more testing - but trying to figure out if this might be standard (or at least an occurrence) among endurance folks??...it could be as simple as my bad allergies...my training...or a bigger deal....just trying to find some info to discuss with doc.
Thanks!
-Ron

If you are going to ask for a medical opinion (against your own advice not to), at least throw out some numbers so we armchair docs have something to play with.

There is a big difference between "low, but in normal range" and "below normal." Heavy endurance training by itself doesn't usually cause a subnormal total WBC count or change the differential WBC count. However, don't worry unless you have frequent infections and trouble fighting off an infection.
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Pedalhead] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Ant-R
Jan 31, 13 0:21
Post #8 of 12 (12732 views)
Pedalhead wrote:
Ron in AZ wrote:
Yea..I know dont ask for medical opinions ... looks like my white blood cell count is low (I'll have to find actual #'s) for the second year in a row -- is it possible that endurance training creates a lower level/impacts counts?? -- working with my doc on what to do after some more testing - but trying to figure out if this might be standard (or at least an occurrence) among endurance folks??...it could be as simple as my bad allergies...my training...or a bigger deal....just trying to find some info to discuss with doc.
Thanks!
-Ron


If you are going to ask for a medical opinion (against your own advice not to), at least throw out some numbers so we armchair docs have something to play with.

There is a big difference between "low, but in normal range" and "below normal." Heavy endurance training by itself doesn't usually cause a subnormal total WBC count or change the differential WBC count. However, don't worry unless you have frequent infections and trouble fighting off an infection.

If your neutrophils are at or above 1 (which may be 'low normal' or 'below normal' depending on lab reference ranges, which can be different from lab to lab), then +1 on the 'dont worry unless troubled' advice. Especially as it's 'second year in a row'.
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Ron in AZ] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
kathy_caribe
Feb 1, 13 14:11
Post #9 of 12 (12653 views)
FWIW, i have run between 2-4 for many many years now. no infections chronic, no HIV (tested) and only cervical lymph nodes enlarged (but lots of dental issues) so I'm going with that number is normal for me. Mine ran low before and after dropping 30kg and athletics.
http://harvestmoon6.blogspot.com
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/katasmit


Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [kathy_caribe] [ In reply to ]
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Kmck27
Feb 3, 19 11:45
Post #10 of 12 (6295 views)
Any new insights on low WBC count and endurance. My pcp referred me to oncologist bec WBC lowered over 3 yrs. WBC was 3.87, 3.56, 3.07 over the last 3 yrs. When I went to a specialist, he doesn't think its bec of endurance training. My Nuetrophils were lowest at 1.2, he said if it was low from endurance training it would be my lymphocytes that are low not Nuetrophils. He said this could just be the way I am or I may have mild leukemia, but to just monitor it for now. I feel fine, no symptoms. I get sick very rarely, but after learning this and thinking back, the few times that I was sick, it took a longer to normal time to get better. For example in 2015, I had a chest. Old that lasted for 5 weeks. Anyway, I see some people have been diagnosed with same issue and just want to see if anyone has any experience with this. Thanks!
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [Kmck27] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
dktxracer
Nov 19, 19 11:10
Post #11 of 12 (4948 views)
Kmck27 wrote:
Any new insights on low WBC count and endurance. My pcp referred me to oncologist bec WBC lowered over 3 yrs. WBC was 3.87, 3.56, 3.07 over the last 3 yrs. When I went to a specialist, he doesn't think its bec of endurance training. My Nuetrophils were lowest at 1.2, he said if it was low from endurance training it would be my lymphocytes that are low not Nuetrophils. He said this could just be the way I am or I may have mild leukemia, but to just monitor it for now. I feel fine, no symptoms. I get sick very rarely, but after learning this and thinking back, the few times that I was sick, it took a longer to normal time to get better. For example in 2015, I had a chest. Old that lasted for 5 weeks. Anyway, I see some people have been diagnosed with same issue and just want to see if anyone has any experience with this. Thanks!

Any updates? I'm actually going through a similar issue. My WBC was 4.3 in 2015, then 3.2 last year and 2.9 at my most recent physical. My primary doc just referred me to a hematologist/oncologist.

I started doing triathlon in 2017. Like you, I traditionally rarely got sick and, when I did, I would recover quickly. I have noticed that I get colds more often the last 2 years and it takes longer to get over them.

I'm obviously going to lean on professional medical advice but, like you, would be curious if anyone has experienced a similar drop in WBC.
Quote Reply
Re: Low white cell count? [dktxracer] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Kmck27
Nov 19, 19 12:01
Post #12 of 12 (4921 views)
dktxracer wrote:
Kmck27 wrote:
Any new insights on low WBC count and endurance. My pcp referred me to oncologist bec WBC lowered over 3 yrs. WBC was 3.87, 3.56, 3.07 over the last 3 yrs. When I went to a specialist, he doesn't think its bec of endurance training. My Nuetrophils were lowest at 1.2, he said if it was low from endurance training it would

Any updates? I'm actually going through a similar issue. My WBC was 4.3 in 2015, then 3.2 last year and 2.9 at my most recent physical. My primary doc just referred me to a hematologist/oncologist.

I started doing triathlon in 2017. Like you, I traditionally rarely got sick and, when I did, I would recover quickly. I have noticed that I get colds more often the last 2 years and it takes longer to get over them.

I'm obviously going to lean on professional medical advice but, like you, would be curious if anyone has experienced a similar drop in WBC.

I've been back to the oncologist and my levels did not go any lower. I am now to follow up with PCP for complete blood panel every six months and have been told to go to the hospital if I get a fever. I looked even further back and found a test from 2012 that also showed a low wbc, so that made me feel a little better and made me think maybe this is just familial. I was going to do a bone marrow biopsy bec the oncologist said I may have mild leukemia or lymphoma but ultimately decided not to because even if I do have it, there is no treatment for it until it gets worse, so I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. Been doing some solid training and feel great. It was definitely scary news and I still dont really have an answer but I will keep monitoring and will post if anything changes or try to help answer any questions. Best of luck to you, keep us posted.
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