When you see the letters and numbers on the report you get when you get a blood test, sometimes a little question comes to mind, right? 'What do these CBC , RDW, and MCV mean?' Many people ask about this value, especially the RDW value. So today, let's talk about what this RDW means and what it says about our health in a very simple way.
Let's first see, what is this RDW?
Simply put, RDW, or Red Blood Cell Distribution Width , measures the variation in the size of the red blood cells in your blood. Although it says "width," this does not measure the width of a cell, it measures the range of cell sizes.
Think of it this way: the red blood cells in our bodies are like little trucks that deliver oxygen. They pick up oxygen from the lungs and carry it to all the other parts of the body. A protein that helps with this job is called hemoglobin . Normally, a healthy person's red blood cells should all be about the same size. If there is a big difference between their sizes, it means that there may be a problem.
When you go to a doctor, they usually give you a report called a complete blood count (CBC), right? RDW is one part of that CBC report.
Is RDW looking at it alone? What else is important in the CBC report?
A doctor will never make a diagnosis based on the RDW value alone. It is like one piece of a puzzle. You need the other pieces to see the whole picture. There are several other important measurements of red blood cells in the CBC report. We call them Red Blood Cell Indices. RDW is one of those indices.
| Index | What does it mean simply? |
|---|---|
| MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) | It measures the average size of your red blood cells. |
| MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin) | It measures the amount of hemoglobin normally contained in a red blood cell. |
| MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration) | The concentration of hemoglobin in a red blood cell is measured. |
Your doctor will take all of these values together to get an accurate idea of your health status.
Who should be especially concerned about this RDW value?
The RDW value is usually measured in everyone who has a CBC test, but a doctor will pay special attention to this value if they suspect you have anemia .
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells. Check to see if you have any of these symptoms:
- Constant fatigue
- Difficulty breathing even when walking a short distance
- Feeling unusually cold
- Dizziness
- Lifeless body
- Pale or dry skin
- Frequent headaches
- Heart palpitations
If you have these symptoms, your doctor will look at the RDW value to try to find the cause of your anemia. In addition, the RDW value is also important in the following situations:
- If someone in the family has hereditary blood diseases such as thalassemia or sickle cell anemia.
- If you have chronic diseases like diabetes or Crohn's disease.
- If your diet is low in iron and other minerals.
- If you suffer from a long-term infection.
- If a large amount of blood has been removed from the body due to an accident or surgery.
What do the numbers in the RDW report mean?
Okay, now let's see what it means to have this RDW value at a high, low, or normal level.
High RDW value
A high RDW value means that there is a large variation in the size of your red blood cells. This means that some cells are small and some are large. This can be a sign of anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia, in particular, increases the RDW value. It can also be caused by a deficiency in nutrients such as vitamin B12 or folate.
Low RDW value
A low RDW value means that all of your red blood cells are about the same size. This is a very good situation. There is nothing to worry about at all.
RDW value being normal
A 'Normal' RDW value (usually between 12% - 15%) means that there is no significant difference in the size of the red blood cells. However, this does not mean that everything is good. Sometimes, even if the RDW is normal, the red blood cells can all be small (the MCV value is low). This can be a symptom of a hereditary disease such as thalassemia .
The most important thing is that you cannot make a diagnosis based on the RDW value alone. The doctor will compare this value with the MCV value and other test results to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.
This can be further explained in the table below.
| RDW value | MCV value (average cell size) | Often suspicious situation |
|---|---|---|
| High RDW | Low MCV | Iron deficiency anemia |
| Normal RDW | Low MCV | Anemia due to Thalassemia or chronic disease |
| High RDW | High MCV | Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency |
| High RDW | Normal MCV | It could be an early case of anemia or liver disease. |
Is there a 'dangerous' level of RDW value?
To put it bluntly, there is no such thing as a 'dangerous RDW value.' This is like a warning bell. It just means that something needs to be checked out inside the body. So don't be unnecessarily afraid of an elevated RDW value.
The best thing you can do is to take your report and talk to your doctor about it. He or she will do further tests if necessary, find the exact cause of the illness, and prescribe the treatment you need.
Take-Home Message
- RDW is just one part of your complete blood count (CBC).
- This measures the variation in the size of your red blood cells.
- An elevated RDW value can often be a sign of anemia, such as iron deficiency.
- A low RDW value is a very good condition. There is no reason to worry about it.
- You can't diagnose any disease by looking at the RDW value alone. The doctor compares it with other values like MCV.
- If you have any questions or doubts about the values in your report, the best and safest thing to do is to talk to your doctor about it.
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