Overview
High numbers of red blood cells may indicate:
- Cigarette smoking
- Low oxygen tension in the blood
- Congenital heart disease
- Cor pulmonale
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Polycythemia vera
- Dehydration (such as from severe diarrhea)
- Emphysema
Review Date 10/16/2022
Updated by: Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Monsey, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.