Table of Contents
- 1 What causes polycythemia?
- 2 What polycythemia means?
- 3 What is the symptoms of polycythemia?
- 4 What is the cure for polycythemia?
- 5 Can polycythemia be cured?
- 6 Can you recover from polycythemia?
- 7 What is the medical definition of polycythemia?
- 8 Is polycythemia the opposite of anemia?
- 9 What are the treatment options for polycythemia?
What causes polycythemia?
What causes polycythemia vera? Polycythemia vera is caused by a genetic change (mutation) that develops during your lifetime. It is not an inherited genetic disorder. In most cases it is not known why this happens.
What polycythemia means?
Polycythaemia, also known as erythrocytosis, means having a high concentration of red blood cells in your blood. This makes the blood thicker and less able to travel through blood vessels and organs.
What is the most common cause of polycythemia?
Hypoxia from long standing (chronic) lung disease and smoking are common causes of polycythemia. Therefore, smoking can be a significant risk factor for polycythemia. Chronic carbon monoxide (CO) exposure can also be a risk factor for polycythemia.
What is the symptoms of polycythemia?
More-specific symptoms of polycythemia vera include: Itchiness, especially after a warm bath or shower. Numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness in your hands, feet, arms or legs. A feeling of fullness soon after eating and bloating or pain in your left upper abdomen due to an enlarged spleen.
What is the cure for polycythemia?
There’s no cure for polycythemia vera. Treatment focuses on reducing your risk of complications. These treatments may also ease your symptoms.
What are the types of polycythemia?
There are two types of polycythemia, which have different causes.
- Primary polycythemia. Primary polycythemia is also called polycythemia vera (PV).
- Secondary polycythemia. Secondary polycythemia can occur if the increase in red blood cells is not due to the myeloproliferative disease of PV.
- Risk factors.
Can polycythemia be cured?
Can you recover from polycythemia?
Is polycythemia a form of leukemia?
In rare cases, polycythemia vera may eventually progress into a form of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia.
What is the medical definition of polycythemia?
medical Definition of polycythemia. : a condition marked by an abnormal increase in the number of circulating red blood cells; especially : polycythemia vera — compare erythrocytosis.
Is polycythemia the opposite of anemia?
MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information. Polycythemia: Too many red blood cells. The opposite of anemia. polycythemia formally exists when the hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC) count, and total RBC volume are all above normal.
How does polycythemia vera affect the body?
It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots. Polycythemia vera is rare. It usually develops slowly, and you might have it for years without knowing.
What are the treatment options for polycythemia?
Treatment for polycythemia will depend on the underlying cause of the condition. In people with secondary polycythemia resulting from causes such as obstructive sleep apnea, treating the underlying cause should help resolve the high red blood cell count. PV, however, is a chronic condition that has no known cure.