Why is thick blood bad

Rh factor is another type of antigen. Blood is either Rh positive or Rh negative. If a person gets the wrong type of blood, his or her immune system will react to it. This is a serious condition that can cause severe symptoms such as fever, muscles aches, and trouble breathing.

It can sometimes be fatal. These people can donate blood to anyone, and are known as universal donors. Different medical problems may need different types of blood transfusions. For example, after surgery you may need just RBCs.

You might need plasma if you have a severe infection. A person being treated for cancer may need platelets. Your healthcare provider can tell you why you need a blood transfusion, and which type is best for you. An allergic reaction. This can be mild or severe. Mild symptoms can include itching or rash. Severe symptoms can include trouble breathing, chest pain, or nausea. These symptoms may start soon after your blood transfusion or within the next 24 hours.

This can happen within a day of the blood transfusion. Destruction of red blood cells by the body hemolytic reaction. A hemolytic reaction happens when your body attacks the donated RBCs.

Donated blood goes through a very careful matching process, so this reaction is very rare. If it does happen, it can cause chills, fever, kidney damage, and other serious symptoms. Symptoms can happen during the blood transfusion or in the next several hours. A delayed hemolytic reaction can also happen. This can happen even if you got the right blood type.

This may take days or weeks to happen. If you think you may have a blood clot, seek immediate medical treatment. One of the most potentially deadly effects of thick blood is pulmonary emboli, which are blood clots that block one or more of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs.

The symptoms of this condition include shortness of breath, chest pain, and a cough that may have blood present. You should seek emergency medical treatment if you think you could have pulmonary emboli. According to the Cleveland Clinic , there is currently no data to suggest that thick blood affects life expectancy.

However, if your family has a history of the condition, you may want to consult your doctor about possible risks. A complete blood count, or CBC, measures several components of your blood and can help diagnose a broad range of conditions, from anemia and to cancer.

Learn about a blood smear, including why it's done, what to expect during it, and how to interpret its results.

Sputum is a mixture of saliva and mucus. Sometimes you may cough up blood-tinged sputum. Learn about causes like bronchitis , prevention, and more. If left untreated, a blood clot can reach your organs and cause potentially life threatening conditions, such as pulmonary embolism, stroke, or a….

A fibrinogen activity test is used to determine the level of fibrinogen in your blood. Learn more here. Bleeding diathesis means a tendency to bleed or bruise easily.

Bleeding disorders often occur when blood doesn't clot properly. Learn about common…. Find out what to do in case of hemorrhage, or bleeding. Aspirin can have side effects, including bleeding in the stomach and intestines. For this reason, take aspirin only as your doctor recommends. If your PV causes itching, your doctor may prescribe medicines to ease the discomfort. Your doctor also may prescribe ultraviolet light treatment to help relieve your itching.

Researchers are studying other treatments for PV. An experimental treatment for itching involves taking low doses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs.

This type of medicine is used to treat depression. Imatinib mesylate is a medicine that's approved for treating leukemia. In clinical trials, this medicine helped reduce the need for phlebotomy in people who had PV. This medicine also helped reduce the size of enlarged spleens.

Researchers also are trying to find a treatment that can block or limit the effects of an abnormal JAK2 gene. Polycythemia vera PV develops very slowly. It may not cause signs or symptoms for years. If you have PV, the sooner it's diagnosed, the sooner your doctor can begin treating you. With proper treatment, you can prevent or delay complications.

Moderate physical activities, such as walking, can safely increase your heart rate and improve blood flow to your body. Improving blood flow lowers your risk of blood clots.

Leg and ankle stretching exercises also can help improve your blood flow. PV may cause itching all over your body.

It's important not to scratch and damage your skin. If bathing or showering causes you to have severe itching, try using cooler water and gentler soap. Carefully and gently dry your skin after baths, and use moisturizing lotion on your skin.

Starch baths also may help ease itchy skin. PV causes poor blood flow in your hands and feet. As a result, you may be more prone to injuries from cold, heat, and pressure. If you have PV, avoid long-term exposure to extremes in temperature or pressure. For example:. If you have PV, you'll need lifelong medical care for the disease. Ask your doctor how often you should schedule followup visits. Routine care will allow your doctor to detect any changes with your PV and treat them early, if needed.

You may need periodic blood tests to show whether the disease is getting worse. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials.

Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research.

Polycythemia Vera. What Is - Polycythemia Vera. Overview Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body. Outlook PV is a serious, chronic ongoing disease that can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated. Other Names - Polycythemia Vera. Causes - Polycythemia Vera. Primary Polycythemia Polycythemia vera PV also is known as primary polycythemia. Secondary Polycythemia Another type of polycythemia, called secondary polycythemia, isn't related to the JAK2 gene. Risk Factors - Polycythemia Vera.

Screening and Prevention - Polycythemia Vera. Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Polycythemia Vera. Polycythemia vera PV develops slowly. The disease may not cause signs or symptoms for years. The signs and symptoms of PV include: Headaches, dizziness, and weakness Shortness of breath and problems breathing while lying down Feelings of pressure or fullness on the left side of the abdomen due to an enlarged spleen an organ in the abdomen Double or blurred vision and blind spots Itching all over especially after a warm bath , reddened face, and a burning feeling on your skin especially your hands and feet Bleeding from your gums and heavy bleeding from small cuts Unexplained weight loss Fatigue tiredness Excessive sweating Very painful swelling in a single joint, usually the big toe called gouty arthritis In rare cases, people who have PV may have pain in their bones.

Polycythemia Vera Complications If you have PV, the thickness of your blood and the slowed blood flow can cause serious health problems. Diagnosis - Polycythemia Vera.

Specialists Involved If your primary care doctor thinks you have PV, he or she may refer you to a hematologist. Diagnostic Tests You may have blood tests to diagnose PV. The CBC measures many parts of your blood.

The body produces large amounts of the antibody protein called immunoglobulin M. This can cause the blood to become thick, resulting in a range of symptoms. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, 1. Common symptoms include:. Systemic lupus erythematosus SLE is an inflammatory disease that happens when the immune system attacks healthy tissues as if they were diseased. It can affect the blood in many ways , including increasing the risk of clotting.

Thrombosis — a blood clot blocking a blood vessel — is relatively common in the first year of living with SLE. This may result from increased disease activity, including high levels of inflammation and other factors. This results from a genetic change that increases the risk of blood clots, especially in deep veins. In most people, a protein called activated protein C regulates the activity of the clotting factor called factor V.

The body produces natural anticoagulants, such as proteins C and S and antithrombin. Some people have low levels of these substances, leading to a higher risk of blood clots. This may result from an inherited health issue or develop over time. The first sign of this issue is often a blood clot. The doctor may find this during a test.

If a clot forms in a deep vein, the doctor may diagnose deep vein thrombosis DVT. If a clot breaks off and travels to block a blood vessel that supplies blood to the lungs, this is called a pulmonary embolism PE , and it is life threatening.