Polyglobulia refers to an increase in red blood cells. It is associated with increased blood thickening as well as increased hematocrit, causing circulatory problems and various accompanying symptoms.
What is polyglobulia?
Polyglobulia is an increase in red blood cells. It is usually the result of a disease elsewhere and can be divided into two forms. Thus, on the one hand there is the primary form and on the other hand the secondary form. The distinction can be made only by a medical doctor, because the symptoms are similar. Polyglobulia is similar to polycythemia, but it occurs much more frequently. Polyglobulia can be treated well nowadays and prevention also turns out to be unproblematic.
Causes
Polyglobulia usually results from a lack of oxygen, as a consequence of which the erythrocyte content is increased. Especially when staying at high altitudes, the effect can therefore occur relatively quickly. The cause is an increased production of the hormone erythropoietin in the kidney. This hormone is the growth factor of red blood cells. It can be said that any condition that results in a prolonged lack of oxygen leads to polyglobulia. Thus, the organism triggers the effect itself in order to ensure the supply of sufficient oxygen. The symptoms are favored by clogged vessels. The cause is therefore often also to be found in an unhealthy lifestyle. People who exercise little and resort to caffeine and cigarettes favor polyglobulia. It also favors diseases of the heart and blood vessels, which often result in blood thickening.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Polyglobulia causes dizziness, ringing in the ears, and recurrent headaches. The skin of affected individuals itches all over the body, with itching becoming more severe on contact with water. Occasionally, there is also stabbing pain or sensory disturbances. Some patients also experience nerve pain, which in turn can result in restricted mobility. Externally, polyglobulia is manifested by severe facial flushing and blue discoloration of the mucous membranes as a result of the circulatory disturbances. The thickening of the blood also causes shortness of breath, heart cramps and pain in the limbs. The hypertension increases the risk of thrombosis, cerebral strokes and other serious complications. If polyglobulia is not treated, the impaired blood flow can lead to unconsciousness, stroke or heart attack. Furthermore, hearing problems may occur. Chronic high blood pressure also affects vision, the immune system and hormone balance. In the long term, untreated polyglobulia leads to organ damage. As a result of the permanent undersupply of the brain, certain brain areas die off, which can result in irreversible neurological damage. In the worst case, an increase in red blood cells can lead to death. With comprehensive treatment, symptoms disappear once the blood returns to its normal thickness.
Diagnosis and progression
Polyglobulia is manifested by several symptoms that are crucial for diagnosis. For example, by talking to the affected person, the physician can determine whether headaches occur as a result of the thickening of the blood, whether there is intermittent shortness of breath, or whether heart cramps occur. If there is already a suspicion, an accurate diagnosis can be made relatively quickly by taking the patient’s medical history. A prerequisite, however, is a measurement of the blood pressure. In this way, it can be determined whether polyglobulia is actually present. In addition, the physician can use other examination methods. For example, he checks the lung function, carries out a kidney sonography or performs an ultrasound examination of the heart. X-rays of the lungs can also provide information about a possible polyglobulia. If the treating physician does not come to a conclusion through the aforementioned examinations, polycythemia must be assumed. In this case, a bone marrow puncture is performed. The course of polyglobulia can be quite different. Mountain climbers, for example, often suffer from the symptoms, but usually have normal blood values within a few days after the descent. In this case, the course of the disease is harmless and late effects are not to be expected. However, if the blood thickening occurs as a result of a chronic disease, there are far-reaching accompanying symptoms.Those affected can develop problems with the blood vessels, suffer from thrombosis and generally feel very unwell. In addition, the heart is subjected to much greater strain, which increases the risk of heart disease. Last, polyglobulia can also limit mental abilities.
Complications
Because of polyglobulia, affected individuals usually suffer from significant thickening of the blood. This results in serious disturbances of blood flow, so that in the worst case, affected individuals may also lose consciousness and die from these symptoms. Polyglobulia also significantly increases the risk of stroke or heart attack. Thromboses can also occur and make the daily life of the affected person even more difficult. Due to the undersupply of oxygen, the skin also turns blue. If the undersupply continues, the internal organs and the brain are significantly damaged. This damage is usually irreversible. Hearing problems or headaches may also occur as a result of this disease. The treatment of polyglobulia depends on the underlying disease. It is usually not possible to universally predict whether complications may occur. It is also possible that affected individuals may require surgical intervention. In severe cases, transplantation of a heart may also be necessary to fully treat the symptoms of polyglobulia. The patient’s life expectancy may also be limited by polyglobulia.
When should you see a doctor?
Polyglobulia should always be evaluated by a physician. In the worst case, this condition can result in the death of the affected person. Self-cure does not usually occur. The doctor should be consulted in case of polyglobulia if there is a severe itching that occurs without any particular reason and also lasts for a long period of time. In this case, the itching can occur on the entire body and significantly reduce the patient’s quality of life. Furthermore, disturbances in sensitivity and severe headaches also occur over the entire body. Restrictions in movement or severe pain in the limbs also frequently indicate polyglobulia and must be examined by a physician. Furthermore, the disease can also lead to a heart attack or stroke, in which case an emergency doctor should be called or the hospital visited immediately. Polyglobulia can be diagnosed primarily by a general practitioner. However, further treatment is carried out by a specialist and depends on the exact severity of the symptoms. In many cases, the patient’s life expectancy is limited by polyglobulia.
Treatment and therapy
Depending on whether the polyglobulia is primary or secondary, different measures must be taken. In the secondary form, either obstructive lung disease or heart failure may be present. The latter condition is treated with the help of various drugs such as ACE inhibitors, beta blockers and diuretics. In addition, a pacemaker may be used. Heart transplantation may also be considered if treatment by medication is not effective. Polyglobulia usually disappears as blood thickness decreases. If the underlying disease cannot be treated, phlebotomy therapy can be initiated. This involves drawing blood from the patient at regular intervals and introducing fluid intravenously. This is intended to reduce blood thickening. The flow properties of the blood may also improve significantly with treatment.
Prevention
Polyglobulia can be well prevented. For example, a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and a balanced diet can greatly minimize the risk. In general, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent blood thickening. If you also avoid alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine, you can prevent polyglobulia. Toxins and harmful substances that accumulate in the veins and vessels promote the disease, which is why regular purification is advisable. Lastly, regular screening can only be positive with regard to polycythemia. Polycythemia cannot be prevented. However, the chances of cure increase if the disease is detected at an early stage. Therefore, one should also have the bone marrow examined at regular intervals.People whose jobs require them to tolerate greater elevation changes can counteract this by taking medications that thin the blood.
Aftercare
In most cases, the person affected by polyglobulia has very few measures of aftercare at his or her disposal, and in some cases these may even be completely limited. Therefore, the patient should seek medical attention at the first symptoms and signs of the disease to prevent further worsening of symptoms. Self-cure of polyglobulia cannot occur in most cases, so ideally an early diagnosis and subsequent treatment should take place. Most people affected by polyglobulia are dependent on taking various medications. The patient should always ensure that the medication is taken regularly and in the correct dosage in order to alleviate the symptoms permanently and, above all, correctly. Regular checks by a doctor are also very important in order to detect and treat further damage to the internal organs. In general, a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet also has a positive effect on the further course of the disease. In this case, the doctor can also prepare a diet plan for the patient. Possibly, this disease reduces the life expectancy of the affected person.
This is what you can do yourself
If polyglobulia occurs as a result of a chronic disease, both the polyglobulia itself and the underlying disease must be treated urgently. Otherwise, polyglobulia alone can lead to organ damage in the long term and may even be fatal if left untreated. Therefore, close-meshed medical treatment is urgently recommended. The goal is to cure the underlying disease of polyglobulia and thus also the polyglobulia itself. The patient can effectively support this with lifestyle measures. Affected individuals should exercise regularly and take plenty of physical activity overall. Patients with polyglobulia should not smoke or drink alcohol. Coffee is also said to have an unfavorable effect on the disease and should therefore be avoided. Purification and detoxification measures are recommended for a polyglobulia patient, because it is the toxins and pollutants that accumulate in the vessels and blood vessels and thus promote the disease. Regular sauna sessions or steam baths gently detoxify the organism. Further recommendations for the elimination and detoxification are given by naturopathic doctors or alternative practitioners. It is important to allow the body to rest during the detoxification process. This includes sufficient sleep at set times. A healthy diet rich in vitamins and fiber also helps with detoxification. Patients should avoid dark meat and increase their intake of fruits and vegetables.