Our Body's Defense Force: All About White Blood Cells

Do you often feel tired and lethargic? Or does it take a long time for even a small wound to heal? You may think that this is just something else. But behind all this may be some small, but very powerful guards in your body. Today we are talking about these white blood cells, which are a major part of our immune system.

Simply put, what are these white blood cells?

White blood cells, or in medical terms, leukocytes, are a special type of cell that protects our body from diseases. Just like our country has an army, there is also a special army to protect our body. These white blood cells are the soldiers of that army. They are everywhere in our blood and tissues, ready to fight against any infection, injury, or harmful germ that enters the body.

Although they only make up 1% of our blood, the work these white blood cells do is no small feat.

How do these security guards work?

This is a very strange process. Imagine a bacteria or a virus entering your body.

1. Exploration: First, our white blood cells travel throughout the body through the blood vessels, as if on patrol.

2. Signaling: As soon as an infection is detected somewhere, the first white blood cells to arrive at the site act like commanders, sending chemical signals to other white blood cells saying, "There's a problem here, come quickly."

3. Attack: Then, a large army of white blood cells gather at the site of the infection. The next step is to destroy the invading germ. Some white blood cells directly engulf the germ. Another type, called antibodies, makes special proteins that attach to the germ and destroy it .

How are these formed? Where are they located?

White blood cells are mainly produced in our bone marrow. This soft part inside the bones is the factory that makes many of the cells in our blood. The stem cells in this bone marrow are what develop into the different types of white blood cells.

In addition, a special type of white blood cell called lymphocytes also develops in places like the thymus gland and lymph nodes. Once formed, these join our circulatory system and travel throughout the body.

There are several types of white blood cells.

Just as our army has different regiments, the white blood cell army also has specialists for different tasks. There are mainly 5 types.

What happens if the white blood cell count increases or decreases?

A healthy person's white blood cell count should normally be between 4,000 and 11,000 cells per microliter of blood. If this number changes, it can be a signal that something is wrong with our body.

• Low white blood cell count (Leukopenia):This means that your body's defenses are low. This means that even a small germ can easily attack your body. This means that you are more likely to get sick more often .
• Leukocytosis: This means that your body has more white blood cells than it should. This usually happens when your body is fighting an infection . But sometimes, a serious medical condition like leukemia can cause the white blood cell count to increase uncontrollably.

Signs that may raise suspicion about this

If you have a change in your white blood cell count, you may experience the following symptoms. If you continue to have one or more of these, it is very important to see a doctor.

How do you check these?

The simplest and most common test to check your white blood cell count is a complete blood count (CBC).. In this, a small sample of your blood is taken and the white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in it are counted. This report can tell your doctor a lot about your health.

Causes of low and high white blood cells

There can be a variety of reasons for these changes in size. Your doctor will be the one to determine the exact cause.

Possible causes of low white blood cells (Leukopenia)

• Bone marrow failure (Aplastic Anemia)
• Cancerous conditions such as leukemia
• Chemotherapy for cancer
• Nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B12
• Immune-weakening diseases such as HIV/AIDS

Possible causes of increased white blood cells (leukocytosis)

• Bacterial or viral infections (Sepsis)
• Inflammation in the body
• Physical injury or extreme mental stress
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma
• Severe allergies (Allergies)

How do we keep our white blood cells healthy?

There are things we can do to keep our security forces strong.

• Stay clean: You can prevent infections by washing your hands regularly and eating clean food and drinks.
• Eat a healthy diet: Include vegetables, fruits, and greens in your diet that are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C and zinc. These strengthen the immune system.
• Manage other medical conditions: If you have other medical conditions, such as diabetes, manage them properly, as such conditions can also weaken your immune system.
• Follow medical advice: If you have any symptoms, talk to your doctor about them and get the necessary tests and treatment.