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What does a higher than normal count mean?

You have erythrocytosis if your RBC count is higher than normal. This may be due to:

cigarette smoking
congenital heart disease
dehydration
renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer
pulmonary fibrosis
polycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that causes overproduction of RBCs and is associated with a genetic mutation
When you move to a higher altitude, your RBC count may increase for several weeks because there’s less oxygen in the air.

Certain drugs like gentamicin and methyldopa can increase your RBC count. Gentamicin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections in the blood. Methyldopa is often used to treat high blood pressure. It works by relaxing the blood vessels to allow blood to flow more easily through the body. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you take.

A high RBC count may be a result of sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis, and other conditions that cause low oxygen levels in the blood. Performance-enhancing drugs like protein injections and anabolic steroids can also increase RBCs. Kidney disease and kidney cancers can lead to high RBC counts as well.

Red Blood Cell Count (RBC): Purpose, Procedure, and Preparation