Polycythemia, whereby excessive amounts of red blood cells are produced, is a condition that leads to thickening and slow movement of blood. Blood clots, heart attacks, or strokes are some of the serious dangers that this condition can cause if left untreated. For effective management, it is important to know about various polycythemia types, as they have different care and treatment requirements. Early recognition of this disease would prevent other health complications and enhance health in general. To know polycythemia vs polycythemia vera, let’s start by understanding what polycythemia is.
What is Polycythemia?
In its simplest terms, polycythemia is a condition characterised by elevated red blood cell count in the blood. This increase can be due to various reasons and it is important to distinguish between the primary and the secondary type of polycythemia.
Polycythemia Types
There are two main polycythemia types: primary and secondary. Primary polycythemia, also known as polycythemia vera, is a condition that affects the bone marrow and is characterised by the overproduction of red blood cells. Few people think that polycythemia vera is not cancer– but this is wrong. PV or polycythemia vera is a slow-growing blood cancer. Secondary polycythemia, on the other hand, is caused when something else (external factor) triggers the production of red blood cells, for instance, living at high altitudes or having a disease that lowers the oxygen level in the blood.
Polycythemia Causes
Polycythemia causes differ based on the type of the disease. In polycythemia vera, the main cause is a JAK2 gene mutation that results in increased production of red blood cells. This mutation is not hereditary and often occurs in later stages of a person’s life.
In secondary polycythemia, the causes are linked to external factors, such as:
Chronic hypoxia:
Conditions such as COPD, sleep apnea, or high-altitude exposure decrease the oxygen concentration, and hence, the body produces more red blood cells.
Kidney problems:
Some kidney tumours are known to secrete erythropoietin hormone that promotes the production of red blood cells.
Smoking:
Smoking heavily reduces the oxygen level in the body, causing secondary polycythemia.
Polycythemia Symptoms
It is important to identify the polycythemia symptoms early so that one can seek treatment before complications develop. Some common polycythemia symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Blurred vision or visual disturbances
- Itching, especially after a warm shower or bath
- Fatigue
- Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
Some people with polycythemia vera may also have reddening of the face or other parts of the body due to an increased number of red blood cells.
Polycythemia Diagnosis
Polycythemia diagnosis is done through blood tests and physical examination accompanied by the patient’s medical history. The first test that is often done is the full blood count (CBC), which determines the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in the blood. In addition, for people who may be having polycythemia vera, the doctors may recommend genetic tests to determine if the patient has the JAK2 mutation. Other tests that may be conducted are blood tests and bone marrow biopsy to check the status of bone marrow and determine if there is an overproduction of blood cells.
Polycythemia Treatment
Polycythemia treatment is aimed at decreasing the concentration of red blood cells in order to prevent the development of complications. The treatment plan depends on the polycythemia types and the general health of the patient. For polycythemia vera, treatments may include:
Phlebotomy:
This is one of the most frequent therapies in which blood is taken out of the body on a regular basis in order to reduce the amount of red blood cells.
Medication:
Hydroxyurea, a drug, may be administered to decrease the activity of bone marrow and, hence, the production of blood cells.
In secondary polycythemia, it is important to address the root of the problem. If the polycythemia causes are due to chronic hypoxia, for instance, then correcting the hypoxia through oxygen therapy or treating the underlying lung disease can help correct the condition.
Conclusion
Living with polycythemia could be done through some methods such as visits to doctors, being engaged in physical activities and refraining from smoking. One way to mitigate complications is by adhering to a correct polycythemia treatment and continuous follow-up guidance, particularly for polycythemia vera patients. Polycythemia vera needs continuous management to eliminate serious health risks as well as enhance the patient’s life quality in general.
