What is polycythemia? It means your blood has an increase amount or concentration of red blood cells. If the proportion of these cells is significant, it can cause your blood to be thicker and flow slower. As a result, blood clots may form or your organs may fail to receive adequate oxygen. This producer of thrombosis and hypoxia can put you at risk for heart attack, heart failure, angina or stroke.
One cause for polycythemia is chronically low oxygen levels, as seen with:
- heart failure
- sleep apnea
- heart disease
- being in high altitudes
- pulmonary hypertension
- hypoventilation syndrome
- persistent carbon monoxide exposure ~ smoking
- lung disease ~ COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis
Some of its other causes include gene mutation, liver cancer, kidney cancer, uterine cancer, adrenal adenoma, high testosterone level and fluid loss (burns, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, hyperhidrosis).
Also, a bone marrow disorder can cause an excessive production of erythrocytes, which is referred to as polycythemia vera. With this type of polycythemia your leukocyte and platelet numbers may increase as well.
Polycythemia Symptoms
Often, polycythemia progresses slowly and a blood test may the way you discover it. Yet, an excess of red blood cells can cause these symptoms:
- fatigue
- pruritus
- dyspnea
- clubbing
- cyanosis
- arthralgia
- dizziness
- headache
- weakness
- nosebleeds
- night sweats
- red face coloring
- intestinal bleeding
- excessive bleeding
- double, blurry vision
- enlarged spleen causing fullness feeling
Polycythemia treatment focuses on reducing the concentration of red blood cells to improve oxygen delivery and reduce your clot risk. Phlebotomy and hydration therapy helps with this by decreasing viscosity, thus improving blood flow. If possible, identifying and treating the cause is important to prevent future health problems.
To help with some of your symptoms, you may be advised to take an antihistamine to relieve itching and analgesic for joint pain. And aspirin may be recommended to reduce your risk of blood clots while your red blood cell count is being brought down.