Video: The Great Migration: Definition & Causes. The economic conditions of World War I led to a massive movement of African Americans from the South to the North, known as the Great Migration. Examine the causes and effects of this phenomenon.
Physicians may want to look closer at WBC levels when obtaining the tests for other reasons, Manson notes. However, infections can cause a high white blood cell count that may make it appear that a patient is at high risk for heart disease when she is not. Therefore, routinely giving everyone the test to screen for heart disease is premature. More research needs to be done..
Smoking is well documented to increase the white cell count especially neutrophils. Although a higher than 11,000 white cells/mcl of blood is considered high, in leukemias the white blood cell counts can reach 100,000. An elevated ESR, LDH or CRP would be helpful and would make inflammatory changes more likely although not conclusive.