Blood thickening health information: causes of thickening of the blood?
What is Polycythemia Vera?
Polycythemia Vera, more commonly referred to as primary polycytemia, is a rare blood disorder, which causes a person’s bone marrow to produce an excess of red blood cells. In most people, this blood thickening condition leads to the overproduction of other types of blood cells, like the platelets and the white blood cells. However, the excess of red blood cells in the blood stream could lead to excessive thickening of the blood and cause several other concerns, which have been associated with Polycytemia Vera. This condition develops slowly and a person may suffer from it for years, without noticing a single sign or symptom. In fact, most people only realize that they are suffering from polycytemia when they go in for a blood test for other causes. While this condition cannot be cured, it can be controlled with treatment. It is important to identify the factors that lead to Polycethemia and blood thickening, so that the right treatment can be adopted.
Causes of thickening of blood
In order to understand what causes blood to thicken, it is important to know more about the composition of blood. There are three types of cells that float within the plasma, i.e., white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The body usually carefully monitors the number of cells of each type in the bloodstream, so that the ratio of all the cells matches one another. However, at times, the presence of a myeloproliferative disorder impairs the mechanism in the body, which controls the production of blood cells. When this happens, a person’s bone marrow starts producing an excess of one type of cell and not enough of another type. This usually leads to the thickening of blood in vessels.
Polycythemia symptoms and treatment
One of the main reasons why Polycythemia Vera is easy to miss is that there are no symptoms of thick blood that are seen in the beginning. However, as the condition progresses, there may be certain Polycythemia symptoms and signs that do become evident, which include:
- Fatigue
- Pain in the chest
- Difficulty in breathing, especially while lying down
- Added redness to the skin
- Dizziness
- Severe headaches
- Itchiness or a stinging sensation on the skin, which gets worse after a warm shower or bath
- Shortness in breath and palpitations
- Experiencing a tingling feeling, numbness, weakness or a burning sensation in the arms, hands, legs or feet
- A the sensation of bloating or over fullness in the upper abdominal region, which is generally because of an enlarged spleen
If left untreated, polycytemia can be life threatening. Therefore, as soon as a person notices any of the symptoms that point towards thickening blood, it is important to consult a doctor, without any delay. The reason for seeking immediate medical attention is that a blood thickening disease can also slow down the flow of blood to and from the heart. This increases the chances of blood clot formation and in case the clot forms within a person’s head, it could lead to a stroke. Hence, people are advised to seek emergency medical assistance, in case the symptoms of a stroke become evident, such as:
- Numbness or weakness that affects one side of the face or body
- Dizziness with loss of coordination and balance
- Difficulty in speaking or understanding what the other person is saying
- An unusual headache, accompanied by a stiff neck, vomiting, facial pain or a constant ache between the eyes
- Blurred vision, double vision or decreased vision
- Confusion, memory problems or disorientation
With the proper medical assistance and care, a person can overcome the blood thickening disorder to a great extent. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to pay heed to the various Polycythemia symptoms and seek treatment immediately. While there is no cure for Polycythemia Vera, it is possible to adopt certain treatment options, which balance the number of cells in the blood. In fact in some cases, the treatment options are so effective, that they not only decrease the signs and symptoms, but also eliminate the disease completely. The different ways to treat this blood thickening condition are:
- Phlebotomy: This is generally the first method that doctors use, for treating Polycythemia Vera. In this process, a certain amount of blood is drawn from the patient’s veins. This causes the blood volume, as well as the number of blood cells in the body to decrease, which allow a person to function normally for a while. The frequency at which a phlebotomy is conducted depends on the severity of the condition.
- Medication: At time phlebotomy may not be sufficient for reducing the symptoms of Polycythemia Vera. In such cases, doctors usually prescribe medicines that suppress the bone marrow’s ability to produce the normal number of blood cells. Medications that are prescribed in this case are hydroxyurea or anagrelide. Radioactive phosphorus can also be used to decrease blood cells in the body. A medicine like Interferon-Alpha could also be prescribed as it stimulates the immune system and enables it to fight the over production.
- Aspirin: Several doctors advise patients to take a dose of aspirin to combat the thickening effect of the blood and to reduce the risk of blood clots. This also helps alleviate many of the symptoms associated with the condition.
Apart from following the treatment for the condition, it is important to consult a doctor and get a list of blood thickening agents, foods, medication, vegetables and other such substances so that they can be avoided completely. In fact, it has been seen that certain lifestyle changes can be a very effective way of controlling Polycythemia Vera, which include:
- Exercising regularly
- Taking bath with cool water
- Avoiding temperatures that are extreme
- Cutting off unhealthy habits, like the use of tobacco or excessive drinking
Some factors and conditions could also lead to an excessive thinning of the blood, is just as serious as blood that is too thick. In such instances it is best to ask a doctor for options on how to thicken blood.
What is blood thickening? Polycythemia or blood thickening is a rare condition caused by the over production of red blood cells by the bone marrow. It can be caused as a reaction to low-oxygen levels, or rarely, a malignancy. This can also cause excess production of white blood cells and platelets. It leads to a condition in which the blood becomes thicker and stickier. Over an extended period, this can increase the load on the heart and increase the risk of high blood pressure and a heart attack. The thickened blood can also form blood clumps and form clots and can travel to the lungs.
What are the causes? There are various factors that result in blood thickening. It could be due to overproduction of 1gM immunoglobulins, which is called as hyper-viscosity. When this occurs, it gets harder for blood to flow through the tiny blood vessels. It can also occur when there is a huge loss of fluids from the body. This happens in conditions such as protracted diarrhea, vomiting, hemorrhage, or due to severe burns. Excessive smoking is another cause for blood thickening. It leads to a blockage of the carotid artery and stops blood supply to the brain cells. It can result in strokes, also known as cerebral thrombosis.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency may cause an increase in the levels of homocystein in blood and eventually cause blood thickening. Thrombocystosis is a condition wherein the platelets cause blood to thicken or form clots in the blood vessels.
Air pollution is yet another reason for blood thickening. Particulate matter thickens blood, boosts inflammation, and worsens respiratory problems. The rate of death of immune cells increase and exposure to pollutants heightens inflammatory activity.
Some of the symptoms of blood thickening are headache, dizziness, itching, poor circulation, and blurred or double vision.
What are the remedies? Although this is serious disease, it is fortunate that blood thickening can also be treated with natural remedies. You can try aloe vera, which helps in fighting infection and boosts the bone marrow. Burdock root helps in cleansing the body of toxins and stimulates bone marrow. It is also an antioxidant.
Eat a few garlic flakes every day as garlic is a powerful antioxidant and stimulates white blood cells in the bone marrow. Echinacea enhances the immune system, increase the white blood cell count, and stimulates the lymphatic system. Ginseng, licorice root, marshmallow, Oregon grape, and turmeric are very good in treating this condition by aiding immune system and increasing white blood cells. They are anti-inflammatory in nature and are great antioxidants. Green tea, olive leaf extract, and milk thistle are excellent remedies for blood thickening.
In addition to these home remedies, you should engage in moderate exercise, like walking, to increase blood flow and decrease blood clots. Leg and ankle stretch exercises are very beneficial. Quitting smoking and avoiding all forms of tobacco will help you in the long run. Bathe in cool water to avoid itching and avoid hot showers and hot baths. Keep your skin well moisturized. Wear clothes to suit the weather in order to avoid extreme temperatures. Follow a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids.
