Thick blood: causes, symptoms

It is blood that is the real “river of life” in the human body, and almost all processes occurring in the body depend on its normal composition.

The main problem that arises when the composition of this fluid environment of the body is disturbed is blood thickening, which leads to the work of many organs and systems in emergency mode. The most life-threatening consequences in such cases are heart attacks and strokes, which are a consequence of increased thrombus formation.

A little about the main functions of blood

The main function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen to the cells of the whole body.
All the tasks that the body sets for the blood are carried out thanks to the coordinated work of its following components:

plasma – the liquid non-cellular part of blood;
erythrocytes, platelets, represented by various elements leukocytes - cell mass (or suspended formed elements of blood);
ions of various micro- and macroelements, enzymes, hormones and other substances entering the blood.

All of the above components perform the following functions:

transport substances necessary for life (hormones, enzymes, nutrients and “fuel” elements) and remove “waste” materials accumulated in the blood (carbon dioxide, etc.);
regulate the flow of water and electrolytes into the tissue;
ensure the functioning of the immune system when pathogenic objects (microorganisms, own mutated cells) enter the blood.

A parameter such as blood thickness is determined by the balance between the liquid (plasma) and cellular (formed elements) part of the blood. It is this property that allows it to penetrate the smallest vessels and capillaries. This ensures the necessary delivery of blood to all tissues of the body.

Anemia (or anemia) is accompanied by a decrease in those blood parameters that relate to red blood cells. It is these red cells that carry oxygen, and if their production is disrupted, hypoxia of the tissues of all body systems develops.

Hyperthickness syndrome

Thickening (or hyperviscosity of the blood) worsens the rheological properties of this part of the body. This means that blood begins to move (flow) more slowly through the blood vessels. The following parameters can cause such violations:

A joint increase in the density of both plasma and blood.
An increase in hematocrit due to a violation of the ratio of formed elements to the volume of blood as a whole. Normally, the hematocrit is 4:6 (4 – formed part, 6 – plasma). For men, this figure is always slightly higher.
Increased hemoglobin levels.
Reduced elasticity and ability to deform red blood cells.
Increasing the level of a protein responsible for blood clotting, fibrinogen.
Increased sticking of red blood cells (or aggregation).
Increased levels of paraproteins - pathological proteins released into the blood during diseases such as myeloma.

Blood density indicators are measured using a viscometer, which compares the speed of movement of this medium in relation to the same indicator of distilled water. Measurements are performed under the same conditions (i.e., same volume and temperature). Normally, blood flows 4-5 times slower than water, and blood viscosity is 1.050-1.064 g/ml.

Blood thickens due to the following factors:

fermentopathy – conditions leading to incomplete breakdown of food, contamination of the blood with under-oxidized substances that provoke its acidification;
disorders in the functioning of the liver, which are provoked by an insufficient supply of vitamins, minerals, decreased levels of enzymes and hormones, consumption of large amounts of salty, sweet, smoked, meat and canned foods;
imbalance between blood cell mass and plasma in tumors of hematopoietic tissue (for example, leukemia);
dehydration – loss of the liquid part of plasma due to excessive exercise, temperature exposure, taking diuretics, diarrhea, vomiting and poor absorption of water.

Causes of “thick blood”

Speaking in the language of specialists, blood thickening leads to a deterioration in its rheological properties. That is, blood flows slower and more difficult. It can become thicker for various reasons. As a rule, this condition is accompanied by:

violation of hematocrit;
increased hemoglobin;
an increase in the number of red blood cells;
decreased elasticity of red blood cells and their deformation;
aggregation (sticking together) of red blood cells;
acceleration of blood clotting (due to an increase in the amount of fibrinogen);
an increase in the amount of paraproteins (specific proteins that appear in the plasma during myeloma).

Common causes of blood thickening:

Coagulopathies. This is a group of diseases in which blood clotting occurs. These include autoimmune, genetic and coagulopathies of toxic origin.
Liver diseases. The liver is involved in the production of proteins responsible for blood clotting. And some diseases can increase or decrease the synthesis of these substances, which affects blood viscosity.
Oncological diseases. Malignant blood diseases cause an imbalance between the plasma and cellular components of the blood.
Dehydration. There can be many reasons leading to dehydration. The most common one is not drinking enough water. Diarrhea, severe and prolonged vomiting, taking diuretics, and poor absorption of water by the body also lead to dehydration. But regardless of the reason, the result is always the same - the substance in the vessels becomes thicker.

What are the signs that indicate that the blood is thick?

Headache and dizziness may be manifestations of blood thickening.
When the blood thickens, the following changes in well-being are felt:

aching headaches;
dizziness with loss of coordination of movement;
muscle weakness;
decreased tolerance to stress;
noise in ears;
fainting conditions;
dry skin;
paresthesia in the legs and arms: crawling, tingling, burning, numbness;
blue discoloration (cyanosis) of the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes and areas of the skin;
increased sensitivity to low temperatures;
drowsiness;
frequent yawning;
heaviness and pain in the legs;
anxiety;
depression;
sleep disorders;
absent-mindedness;
slow bleeding after cuts;
constipation and flatulence (sometimes).

When the blood is thick, women tend to have repeated miscarriages. In addition, blood tests often reveal elevated hemoglobin levels. Patients with blood hyperviscosity syndrome often exhibit one of the following syndromes:

chronic fatigue,
irritable bowel,
candidiasis.

Why is condensation dangerous?

Blood viscosity often increases in pregnant women. In this case, this process plays a natural role of protection against possible bleeding and miscarriage. Also, the fluid in the vessels of women becomes thicker immediately before childbirth. This is how nature protects the expectant mother from severe blood loss. But excessive thickening during pregnancy can be dangerous both for the woman (promotes thrombosis, thrombophilia, varicose veins, leukemia) and for the fetus (damage to the vascular bed).

As for newborns, their blood is much thicker than that of adults. But that shouldn't be a concern. The baby needs time to adjust to life in a new environment. In the first hours after birth, hemoglobin in the baby’s body can reach 200 g/l. But already in the first few days of life, these numbers will begin to decline. Almost half of the hemoglobin will be destroyed in the first day and the thickness of the baby’s blood will decrease.

It’s a different matter for adults whose blood has become thick for various reasons. They should not expect the indicators to return to normal on their own. This condition can be dangerous to health.

Often, thickening is accompanied by increased formation of blood clots, which can clog blood vessels, preventing normal blood flow. If a blood clot blocks a vessel in the heart or brain, a heart attack or stroke may occur, possibly with death.

If the substance has become viscous, but the number of platelets has decreased, this condition leads to circulatory problems in the body and increases the risk of bleeding. In some cases, hypercoagulability syndrome accompanied by a reduced platelet count is a symptom of cancer.

If increased viscosity is not treated, this condition can provoke hyperosmolar coma and intracerebral hemorrhage, which has a high risk of death.

Why does blood thicken?

Hyperviscosity of the blood can be caused by hereditary or genetic reasons:

there is a history of predisposition to the formation of blood clots;
the history reveals cases of unjustified miscarriages.

Excessive blood thickening can be caused not only by hereditary causes, but also by external or internal factors:

Aging. In all people, with age, the blood becomes thicker, and the vessels become more rigid and calcified.
Smoking. Substances contained in tobacco smoke thicken the blood and increase the risk of blood clots.
Overweight. Metabolic disorders in obesity lead to atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels and blood composition. As a result, it becomes more viscous.
Alcohol abuse. Alcohol not only speeds up the removal of fluid from the body, but also thickens the blood.
Dehydration. With a lack of water, the vessels begin to narrow, and this moment slows down the flow of blood, leading to its thickening.
Prolonged bed rest. Conditions after long-term operations, illness or injury may lead to prolonged bed rest, which disrupts blood flow in organs and areas of the body. Stagnation in blood circulation leads to blood thickening.
Pregnancy. The growth of the uterus as the fetus matures causes compression of the pelvic veins and leads to blood stagnation, which can result in the formation of blood clots.
Use of contraceptives or hormone-based medications. This effect on the blood often leads to an increased risk of thrombosis and requires mandatory monitoring of the blood coagulation system while taking the drug.
Men over 45. Such age-related changes lead to increased production of platelets, which can form blood clots.
Physical inactivity (long sitting in a car, in an office, at another workplace, on an airplane, etc.). This problem is more relevant for megacities and older people, and the reasons for the formation of blood clots and blood thickening are the same as with long-term bed rest.
Heavy metals, radiation, some toxic compounds. Mercury and other factors contained in predatory marine fish or old dentures can cause blood to thicken.
Stressful situations. The release of stress hormones leads to vasoconstriction, slowing blood circulation and thickening the blood.
Microorganisms: fungi, viruses, bacteria and parasites. Infectious and parasitic diseases are accompanied by a number of changes (fever, poisoning of the body with toxic waste products), which lead to blood thickening. The degree of such hyperviscosity of the blood depends on the nature and impact of the infectious or parasitic agent.
High blood cholesterol levels. This factor can be provoked by insufficient intake of Omega 3 into the body or by incorrect preparation of your daily menu.
Organ transplantation and implantation of various devices (valves, venous catheters, dialysis shunts, etc.), operations on blood vessels or their injuries. Impact on the walls of blood vessels or the heart leads to the formation of various irregularities. As a result, the risk of increased blood clots increases.
Temperature effects: burns and hypothermia. Such factors lead to various consequences - dehydration, stress reactions to pain, disturbances in the functioning of the hematopoietic organs, which causes blood thickening.
Inflammatory processes. Any chronic inflammation causes an increase in the level of leukocytes, proteins, fibrinogen and cholesterol. As a result, the blood becomes more viscous. A variety of diseases and conditions can lead to such changes: foodborne illnesses, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, hypoxia, pancreatitis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, adrenal dysfunction, leukemia, ischemic stroke and many others.
Taking diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs based on estrogen and phytoestrogen leads to blood thickening due to various effects of medications on the composition of the blood and hematopoietic organs.

Who's at risk

Any of the above factors can cause blood thickening. But also people suffering from the following diseases are at increased risk:

hepatitis;
cirrhosis of the liver;
pancreatitis;
food poisoning;
varicose veins;
hypoxia;
myocardial infarction;
thrombophilia;
atrial fibrillation;
heart failure;
stroke;
diabetes;
antiphospholipid antibody syndrome;
amyloid dystrophy;
leukemia;
myeloma;
bone marrow cancer;
polycythemia;
adrenal dysfunction.

The development of hypercoagulability syndrome is facilitated by long-term use of diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as drugs containing estrogen or phytoestrogen.

Which doctor should I contact?

Some medications can cause blood to thicken.
If you experience frequent dizziness, aching headaches, dry skin and other signs of blood thickening, you need to contact a therapist, who will prescribe the necessary tests that reflect the state of its composition - a coagulogram and a general detailed blood test. To find out the reasons for such deviations, consultations with other specialists may be necessary: an endocrinologist, hepatologist, etc. After identifying the causes of blood thickening, appropriate treatment for the underlying disease is prescribed or the cause of changes in its parameters is eliminated.

Blood is the main source of nutrients for our body. It introduces them into tissues and removes from there harmful components that accumulate after the completion of physiological processes. A variety of external and internal factors can change its composition and influence the rheological properties, the effects of which should be stopped.

To determine blood density indicators, you should regularly take a general blood test. The frequency of such monitoring studies performed for preventive purposes is determined by age and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Preparations without acetylsalicylic acid

Patients over 18 years of age who do not have problems with the gastrointestinal tract are safely prescribed medications containing aspirin. Especially if the duration of use does not exceed 5-7 days. In other cases, it is recommended to avoid consuming large doses of acetylsalicylic acid, especially in older patients.

The list of antiplatelet agents that do not contain aspirin includes:

Curantil with the active ingredient dipyridamole.

Ticlid, whose action is based on ticlodipine.
Plavix, blood thinners thanks to cropidogrel.
Brilint, which is based on the active ingredient ticagrelor.
Efficient, working thanks to prasugrel included in the composition
Pletax with the active ingredient cilostazol.
Trental, whose action is due to pentoxifylline.

A wide selection of drugs allows a competent doctor to select an individual course of therapy for each patient, based on possible side effects and the presence of chronic diseases in the patient.