Dear Pat, An average normal Red Blood Cell (RBC) count value for men is 15, and an average normal value for women is 13-14. When the Hgb/Hct falls below normal range, a patient is referred to as anemic. Severe anemia generally refers to Hgb values below 8 g/dL. If the Hgb falls patients may start experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. Other symptoms that patients describe include lightheadedness, difficulty with memory or clear thinking, and less clear vision. In normal individuals, the total white blood cell count is approx. 4,000-11,000/mm. An ANC of less than 500/mm is severe neutropenia. The risk of developing a life-threatening infection increases as the ANC decreases, and the risk is especially high with an ANC below 500/mm. A patient with neutropenia who develops a fever should consider it a medical emergency because the body’s immune system may not be able to fight infection. If you experience signs and symptoms of a low hemoglobin or white blood cell count, make an appointment with your doctor. I hope this helps.
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