18 Hidden Causes of High Neutrophil Counts That Doctors Want You to Know

8. Stress

Stress is a significant cause of reactive neutrophilia. This is because stress hormones in the body, which increase when individuals are experiencing stress, cause the release of a higher than normal amount of neutrophils from the individual's bone marrow. Reactive neutrophilia is more likely to occur in response to chronic stress rather than a single day or a few hours of an individual dealing with more stress than usual. Chronic stress puts significant pressure on an individual's body for an extended period and makes it hard for them to function normally. Symptoms of chronic stress include frequent headaches, constant fatigue, increased irritability, low self-esteem, appetite changes, sleeping problems, and concentration issues.