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Should you be concerned about polycythemia? Is this disease life threatening? What is the treatment of polycythemia? Is treatment based on medication? What other treatments for polycythemia can be used? The question is answered by the drug. Katarzyna Darecka.
Should you be concerned about polycythemia?
Hello and welcome. I would like to ask you for information whether polycythemia is dangerous? My mother was diagnosed with polycythemia. Mom is 65 years old and has never had any major health problems. At one point, her morphology showed very high red blood cell counts, and further tests confirmed that her mother was suffering from polycythemia. I did not talk to the doctor, and my mother, after hearing that she was suffering from polycythemia, did not ask the doctor about everything that worried her and, frankly speaking, she did not even remember much about this visit.
The next one is only a few days away, and I’m worried if polycythemia is really life-threatening? I am particularly worried that polycythemia is a cancer disease, and my mother has only received a prescription from the doctor for the medications she is supposed to take. Is it really enough in treatment of polycythemia? Or should we reckon with the fact that the treatment of polycythemia will have some other stages? I’m worried about my mother, she’s starting to panic a little too, so I’d appreciate some specific information on the treatment of polycythemia and the prognosis for recovery. Thanks in advance for any help.
The doctor explains the dangers of polycythemia
Polycytemia, also known as erythrocytosis or hyperaemia, simply means that the amount of red blood cells in the blood is higher than expected. It is very important polycythemia level – whether it is increased significantly or only slightly.
There may be pseudohemicor polycythemia due to dehydration, obesity, increased alcohol consumption or increased protein loss. Other causes include secondary polycythemia, occurring in lung diseases and cyanosis of the heart, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, diseases of the kidneys and renal vessels, in endocrine disorders, in smokers and as a result of staying at high altitudes. Therefore, polycythemia does not necessarily have to be associated with the presence of polycythemia vera neoplasm, i.e. Polycytemia Vera, and its confirmation requires a Hb result> 16g / dl in women AND a bone marrow trepanobiopsy result indicating the proliferation of the erythropoietic line AND genetic or hormonal criteria.
In order to diagnose cancer, the GP would need to refer the patient to a specialist in hematology. Therefore, for the next visit, go easy, the doctor must consider all possible causes of erythrocytosis and wait for the test results to be repeated.
Due to the high amount of red blood cells in the blood, the blood becomes more viscous which slows down its flow and can cause symptoms such as: headaches, blurred vision, reddening of the skin, especially of the face, fatigue, high blood pressure, nosebleeds, easy bruising, itchy skin.
Due to the increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, it is worth seeing a doctor immediately if symptoms such as pain, swelling, redness and tenderness of one of the lower limbs occur; severe breathlessness, feeling short of breath, pain in the chest or upper back, haemoptysis, fainting. Polycytemia also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
– Lek. Katarzyna Darecka
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