Thick blood is what the disease is called. Why is human blood thick? Thick human blood: symptoms, why is it dangerous? What does thick blood mean in humans? How to thin the blood in the human body. Why does it happen?

It is blood that is the real “river of life” in the human body, and from it normal composition Almost all processes occurring in the body depend on it. 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 those resulting from 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 and etc.);
regulate the flow of water and electrolytes into the tissue;
provide work 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 required delivery blood into all tissues of the body.

(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.
Increased hematocrit due to imbalance shaped 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 insufficient intake of vitamins, minerals, decreased levels of enzymes and hormones, consumption large quantity salty, sweet, smoked, meat and canned products;
imbalance between blood cell mass and plasma in tumors of hematopoietic tissue (for example);
dehydration is the loss of the liquid part of plasma due to excessive loads, temperature exposure, intake, and poor absorption of water.

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 character;
with loss of coordination of movement;
muscle weakness;
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 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;
and sometimes).

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

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 reasons, but also external or internal factors:

Which doctor should I contact?

Some medications may lead to blood thickening.

When frequent dizziness, aching headaches, dry skin and other signs of blood thickening, you need to contact a therapist who will prescribe necessary tests, reflecting the state of its composition - coagulogram and

Blood is a biological medium that ensures human life. Thanks to work of cardio-vascular system, it supplies tissues with the necessary nutrients and oxygen for normal cell division and growth. At the same time, blood helps cleanse the organs of metabolic products and carbon dioxide, followed by removal from the body by the kidneys and lungs during respiration.

Important physical property In order to carry out redox processes, blood fluidity is considered - the ability to move freely through the vascular system. Blood thickness depends on many factors and affects the functioning of all body systems. Very thick blood causes development severe complications such as myocardial infarction, thrombosis blood vessels, brain stroke.

Clinical manifestations

An increase in blood density may be asymptomatic, and changes in its rheological properties are detected when diagnostic examination for other diseases. The most revealing laboratory research, which can be used to check the fluidity of blood, are:

general analysis blood - quantitation cellular elements (erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes);
study of hematocrit - an indicator that is characterized by the ratio of the liquid part of the blood (plasma) and its cellular composition;
biochemical analysis blood to detect the content of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides;
test for coagulation ability (coagulogram) - includes indicators of fibrinogen, prothrombin, thrombin and prothrombin time.

Laboratory testing may reveal signs of blood thickening

In most cases, symptoms of thick blood occur, which are nonspecific in nature, which means they can occur in many diseases. Clinical manifestations pathological process include:

weakness, fatigue, decreased ability to work;
marbling of the skin, coldness of the extremities, feeling of numbness in the fingers;
headaches, dizziness;
decrease in mental functions (memory, speed of mental reactions, thinking);
emotional depression depressive states;
dry skin, mucous membranes, feeling of thirst;
the appearance of subcutaneous nodules on the legs, which are thrombosed veins.

If you consult a doctor promptly if the above symptoms appear and undergo annual preventive examinations, can be significantly improved general state and prevent the development of complications.

Causes of pathology

As you know, blood consists of 90% of the liquid part - plasma - and 10% of the dry residue, which includes blood cells, biologically active (enzymes, hormones) and nutrients. A decrease in plasma or an increase in cellular composition leads to its thickening. Platelets and erythrocytes, the most numerous blood cells, have the greatest influence on the rheological properties of blood. Also of no small importance is the tone and integrity of the vascular endothelium, the functional viability of the myocardium, which ensure the unhindered movement of blood throughout the body.

A child’s blood tends to thicken even in the case of slight loss of fluid due to fever, poisoning, overheating, or insufficient drinking. This is due to the greater physiological hydrophilicity of tissues in childhood compared to adults.

Men due to hormonal characteristics and large volume muscle mass are more likely to suffer from plasma thickening than females.

Danger of the pathological process

To understand why thick blood is dangerous, you need to understand the essence of the pathological process. When the rheological properties of blood decrease, blood flow slows down, especially at the level small vessels– arterioles, venules, capillaries. As a result of stagnation of blood in tissues, metabolic processes deteriorate - oxygen supply decreases and nutrients, under-oxidized products and free radicals are retained. These processes lead to hypoxia and disruption of homeostasis in the body.

In turn, the slow flow of blood through the vessels increases the permeability of their walls, disrupts the integrity of the inner lining (endothelium), which causes the preconditions for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Blood stagnation leads to settling and sticking of platelets together and causes the formation of blood clots. This threatens the emergence of severe complications: myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, thromboembolism of the system pulmonary artery, – reducing the quality of life, social adaptation patients, in severe cases leading to death.

In conditions when the heart muscle needs to push thick plasma through the vascular system, it is depleted functional abilities. At the initial stage of the pathological process, hypertrophy (thickening) of the myocardium appears, and then its atrophy (thinning), which leads to heart failure. Hypoxia of all body systems causes dysfunction and leads to early mortality.

Diet and treatment

To prevent disturbances and restore normal rheological properties of blood, it is necessary to pay attention to nutrition, especially for older people in whom plasma thickening occurs due to age-related changes in organism. In this case, the diet should contain sufficient quantity fluids, on average 1.5-2 liters/day depending on body weight, physical activity, temperature environment. More water required in the hot season, when engaging in heavy physical labor or sports, in at a young age.

Products that can thin the blood include:

garlic, onion;
sea fish, seafood;
tomatoes, bell pepper, zucchini, cucumbers, beets;
sprouted wheat grains;
cocoa products, dark chocolate;
strawberries, blueberries, raspberries;
pomegranate;
orange, grapefruit, lemon;
ginger;
flaxseed, sunflower, olive oil;
dietary meat (rabbit, chicken).

These products make the blood fluid, reduce blood clots, and improve metabolic processes in tissues.

Aspirin drugs reduce the formation of intravascular blood clots

Blood thickening products include:

smoked sausages, canned food;
fatty varieties meat and broths based on them;
buckwheat;
aspic;
cream, high fat milk, butter, margarine;
lentils, cabbage;
White bread, flour sweet products;
mango, chokeberry, viburnum, bananas;
medicinal herbs(St. John's wort, corn silk, valerian).

Products that contribute to blood thickening must be limited or completely eliminated from the diet while the normal rheological properties of plasma are restored.

The pathological process can be treated with aspirin-based drugs, which have a thrombolytic effect. They are presented as follows medicines, such as Thromboass, Cardiomagnyl, Aspirin-cardio, Cardiopyrin and should be prescribed by a doctor after a comprehensive examination. To prevent the pathological process, it is prescribed biologically active additives(dietary supplements) containing dihydroquerticin, a substance that improves the rheological properties of blood. Flavit or Capilar is prescribed in monthly courses, subject to diet. Of no small importance for improving the condition is regular physical activity(physical education, sports), abstinence from alcohol and nicotine addiction.

Increased blood viscosity is not a disease, but a pathological symptom that occurs when exposed to external or internal factors. To prevent the development of complications associated with impaired rheological properties of plasma, it is necessary to undergo annual medical examinations and promptly consult a doctor if your general condition worsens.

We know well that prevention is necessary cardiovascular diseases, strengthen the heart muscle, and very often we do not pay attention to the condition of our blood. But the state of the entire cardiovascular system, and ultimately the health of the entire body, largely depends on the state of the blood.

Blood– this is the main living environment, on the quality of which all processes occurring in organs and cells depend.

Blood consists of two parts: plasma (the liquid part) and the formed elements suspended in it (erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets).

The main function of blood is the transport function. It involves the blood transporting respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), hormones, minerals and many other substances to organs and tissues.

If the quality of blood is impaired, primarily thickening, acidification, increased cholesterol, blood sugar, etc., its transport function is hampered, which leads to disruption of redox processes throughout the body, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and etc. This is why it is so important to maintain blood quality within optimal homeostasis.

Causes of blood thickening

Very often, the main cause of thick blood is a lack of water in the body. If the body does not have enough water for its vital functions, it extracts it from the blood, which leads to a decrease in the mass of the liquid part of the blood and it becomes more viscous.

Can lead to blood thickening diabetes, drinking alcohol, smoking, hypothermia and even stress.

How does a person feel if his blood is thick?

Increased blood viscosity does not differ in any way characteristic symptoms. Blood thickening is often accompanied general weakness, drowsiness, headache, memory loss, confusion, fatigue, depression. Many people experience dry mouth, increased arterial pressure. Venous nodules may appear on the legs, and the extremities are constantly cold.

Such symptoms can appear in many other diseases and we rarely associate our bad feeling with the presence of thick blood.

Sometimes there are no symptoms at all and hypercoagulation is discovered by chance during blood tests. This is why annual physical examinations are so important.

How can you confirm your fears that your blood is thick?

In order to determine whether your blood is really thick, you need to take the following tests: a general blood test, a test for blood clotting and bleeding duration, a coagulogram, hematocrit (the sum of all blood elements - red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, in relation to the total blood volume ).

Why is thick blood dangerous?

Thick blood leads to a slowdown in blood flow, which leads to oxygen starvation and disruption of organ trophism. The most dangerous consequence of increased blood viscosity is the formation of blood clots.

If you do not pay attention to the symptoms in time and do not eliminate the causes of blood thickening, very unpleasant consequences can occur.

Thick blood can cause hypertension, heart failure, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, heart attack and stroke.

More often, thick blood occurs, of course, in older people, but there is a tendency to increase the number of young and middle-aged people with this pathology. Increased blood viscosity is more common in men than in women. The risk of myocardial infarction is very high in young men with increased amount red blood cells and hemoglobin, which do not pay attention to their health. But by eliminating the causes of blood thickening, they could avoid it.

What to do if you have thick blood

To solve the problem of thick blood, doctors usually prescribe Aspirin (1/4 tablet per day) and other drugs based on it (Aspirin-cardio, Cardiopyrin, Cardiomagnyl, ThromboASS), as well as Coumadin (Warfarin).

I want to tell you on the prevention of blood thickening and treatment with folk remedies .

Many people drink very little clean water, replacing it with tea, coffee, sweet soda. An adult should drink 2 - 2.5 liters of liquid per day, of which at least 1 liter should be clean water. Even more so in hot weather. Teach your children to drink water. Natural water is very powerful tool against blood thickening and thrombosis.

Follow a diet for thick blood

If you have thick blood, you need to watch your diet. Eliminate fatty and fried foods, smoked foods, canned foods and marinades from your diet. Sugar and any other sweets are not recommended.

Blood thickening foods should be limited. Here is a list of them: meat broths, fatty meats, sausages, jellied meat, bananas, mangoes, cabbage, cream, white bread, chokeberries, viburnum, lentils, grape juice, rose hips, buckwheat.

But don’t be upset, there are a lot of delicious foods that, on the contrary, will help thin the blood.

Blood Thinning Products: garlic, beets, ginger, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, cherries, plums, lemon, orange, grapefruit, pomegranate, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, red bell pepper, artichoke, sprouted wheat grains, sea fish, cocoa, dark chocolate , sunflower seeds.

To thin the blood, products containing the amino acid taurine are recommended. Most taurine is found in seafood (fish, shellfish, shrimp, etc.). These products must be consumed at least 2 – 3 times a week. Please note that when cooked, the amount of taurine in food is significantly reduced. Therefore, to obtain the required dose, you should take high-quality dietary supplements with taurine.

Eat seaweed regularly. Dry seaweed can be ground in a coffee grinder and eaten instead of regular salt.

Additional source of Omega - 3 unsaturated fatty acids is linseed oil, which can be taken one tablespoon per day. Prostaglandins synthesized from these acids lower cholesterol levels and thin the blood. Olive oil(unrefined, cold pressed) has the same properties.

Walnut increases blood viscosity, but in combination with other herbs it is used in the treatment of atherosclerosis, varicose veins, consequences of stroke, etc. The same applies to Sophora japonica.

Large amounts of salt increase blood viscosity.

Physical activity

Don't forget about motor activity. To support circulatory system V healthy condition, you need to move. This could be running, swimming, fitness, dancing, yoga - any sport that suits your taste.

Running is the simplest and most accessible of them. Many people think that you need to run in the morning, but this is not true. In the morning, blood viscosity is increased and it is difficult for the heart to push it through the vessels, even without a load. It is better to run in the evenings, and in the morning you can do a light warm-up.

Quit smoking and alcohol

They significantly increase blood viscosity.

Attention! Diuretic, hormonal and contraceptives, as well as Viagra - thicken the blood.

Medicinal herbs that thicken blood

These herbs include: plantain, shepherd's purse, knotweed, tansy, valerian, horsetail, St. John's wort, burnet, corn silk, nettle ( fresh leaves). Herbs should be taken in courses and in no case constantly.

Medicinal herbs that thin the blood

To thin the blood folk medicine used: wormwood, chicory, lungwort, meadowsweet, evasive peony, hawthorn, lemon balm, red clover, ginkgo biloba, Caucasian dioscorea, willow bark, mulberry, acacia, sweet clover, horse chestnut (but only its peel, the chestnut fruits themselves are very poisonous), aloe and kalanchoe juice.

Traditional medicine recipes for thick blood

Much is known in folk medicine effective means, capable of replacing Aspirin. I will share some of them with you.

1. Meadowsweet (meadowsweet).

1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of meadowsweet into one glass of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. Strain and drink like tea. Meadowsweet decoction is indicated for various problems with blood and vascular system, tumors. It improves memory, cleanses blood vessels, and has a sedative effect. Can replace Aspirin.

2. Horse chestnut.

Fruit horse chestnut crush with a hammer and collect the brown peel. Throw away the fruits themselves (they are poisonous), and pour 50 g of the peel into 0.5 liters of vodka. Leave for 2 weeks in a dark place, then strain. Take 2 – 3 times a day, one teaspoon, mixed with ¼ cup warm water. Drink on an empty stomach. You can eat no earlier than 30 minutes after taking the tincture.

3. Nutmeg.

Grind the nutmeg. Pour 100 g of nutmeg into 0.5 liters of vodka. Leave in a dark place for 2 - 3 weeks, then strain. Drink 20 - 30 drops per ¼ glass of warm water, 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

4. Garlic, honey and lemon.

1/3 jar of finely chopped garlic and 2/3 vodka. Bank of any size. Infuse for 2 weeks in a dark place, shaking once every 2-3 days, then strain. Add honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice to the tincture in a 1:1:1 ratio. To stir thoroughly. Take one tablespoon 1 time per day before bed. Store in a cool, dark place.

Dietary supplements (BAA)

Flavit – dihydroquercetin powder (obtained from the wood of Siberian larch and Dahurian larch). For prevention, take one capsule per day.
Dihydroquercetin is made from the same raw materials. Take one tablet once a day.
Capilar is the same raw material. Reduces blood viscosity. Take 1 - 2 tablets 3 times a day.

To prevent blood thickening, these drugs are used in courses of 3 weeks. The break between courses is 7 – 10 days.

Hirudotherapy for blood thickening

The most effective method traditional medicine in the fight against high blood viscosity - hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches). Leeches, by injecting saliva containing many different enzymes (including hirudin), can significantly improve the properties of blood and reduce its viscosity.

General information

Blood contains plasma and formed elements. It is the latter that determine its density. The viscosity index (hematocrit number) is the ratio of the components. The blood becomes less thin if the levels of fibrinogen and prothrombin increase. Often, excess also leads to thickening:

glucose;
hemoglobin;
cholesterol;
red blood cells

Why is thick blood dangerous for people?

Excessive viscosity of blood prevents the cells it contains from performing all the functions assigned to them. At the same time, many
organs stop receiving nutrition, in turn losing the opportunity to get rid of accumulated toxins.

Besides:

it is much more difficult for the heart to push thick blood through the vessels;
blood clots form more easily in it.

Ultimately, the vital systems of the body begin to wear out at an accelerated pace. It is not difficult to detect excessive viscosity in the body - just take a general standard blood test. If there is a problem, it will show an increase in hematocrit.

Why does it happen?

The main reasons for increased blood viscosity are the following:

accelerated clotting;
excess red blood cells;
excess platelets;
increase in hemoglobin level;
chronic or episodic dehydration;
low absorption of water in the large intestine;
blood loss;
increase in acidity;
lack of enzymes;
hyperfunction of the spleen;
deficiency of minerals and vitamins;
abuse of carbohydrates and sugar.

Quite often, thick blood is caused by a whole complex of pathological (less often physiological) factors accompanying:

hypoxia;
food poisoning and toxic infections with diarrhea and vomiting;
polycythemia;
antiphospholipid syndrome;
different forms of diabetes;
certain types of leukemia;
ailments that provoke an increase in protein levels;
pancreatitis;
adrenal insufficiency;
thermal burns;
varicose veins;
cirrhosis of the liver;
thrombophilia;
hepatitis;
pregnancy.

How to tell if your blood is too thick

Thick blood moves in the veins and arteries much more slowly, and this, in turn, leads to the development of heart and vascular diseases.

In general, symptoms vary depending on the particular form of the disease that caused the problem. Often, symptoms appear for a certain time and disappear on their own when the underlying cause is eliminated. This, for example, happens with hypoxia or dehydration.

The main symptoms indicating high viscosity are:

persistent dry mouth;
increased fatigue;
absent-mindedness;
drowsiness;
weakness;
hypertension;
depression;
quite severe headaches;
cold extremities;
heaviness in the legs;
venous nodules;
numbness in those areas where circulation is most impaired.

Quite often, high blood viscosity does not manifest itself in any way, and it is discovered completely by accident.

What does increased blood density lead to?

This syndrome is not considered as an independent disease, but with the development of other serious illnesses it often leads to dangerous complications. The latter should include a tendency to thrombosis. Peripheral vessels are mostly clogged, but sometimes obstruction also occurs in coronary arteries, and in those that lead to the brain. This type thrombosis is the cause of acute necrosis and subsequent strokes or heart attacks.

Among the diseases that arise as a result of blood thickening, it is worth mentioning the following:

atherosclerosis;
hypertension.

How to thin blood that is too thick

At complex treatment Doctors, first of all, begin to fight the manifestations of the underlying disease that has caused an increase in blood viscosity.

The following drugs are prescribed directly for liquefaction:

Cardiopyrin;
Thrombo ACC;
Aspirin;
Cardiomagnyl;
Magnecard.

If the problem is caused by excessive blood clotting, then additionally give:

Fragmin;
Heparin;
Warfarin.

Diet

Persons suffering from increased viscosity blood, you should adjust your diet. The emphasis is on the following products:

lean meat;
fish;
eggs;
cabbage vegetables;
dairy products;
olive and linseed oil;
seaweed.

Surely this will help:

garlic;
artichokes;
cinnamon;
ginger;
cucumbers;
celery;
sunflower seeds;
beet;
bitter chocolate;
cocoa;
tomatoes;
nuts;
currants (white and red);
citrus;
cherry;
peaches;
apples;
red grapes.

fatty meat;
salt;
lard;
butter;
buckwheat;
legumes;
offal;
red pepper;
radishes;
red cabbage;
bananas;
wheat bread;
white grapes;
dill;
pomegranates;
parsley

It is important to maintain a drinking regime - lack of moisture is the main cause of the problem in question in completely healthy people. Moreover, the daily norm (2 liters) implies the consumption of pure water - teas and other drinks are not included in this volume, since they are recognized by the body as food.

Smoking and drinking alcohol contribute to increased blood viscosity - you should get rid of these harmful addictions as soon as possible.

Folk remedies

A tea based on a collection taken in equal proportions gives a good effect:

clover;
meadowsweet;
yellow sweet clover;
valerian (roots);
narrow-leaved fireweed;
lemon balm;
hawthorn berries.

Tinctures from:

willow bark;
nettle;
horse chestnut;
nutmeg.

The state of a person's blood is the most important indicator functioning of the cardiovascular system. The quality of all processes occurring in the organs and cells of the body depends on blood, because it is their main living environment. Thick blood, the causes of which vary, indicates a violation of its composition. The main function of blood, transport, is hampered. This negatively affects the processes of oxidation and reduction in all tissues and organs: brain, kidneys, liver, etc. For this reason, blood quality should not go beyond normal limits. It is necessary to periodically analyze it and, if necessary, adjust the blood composition.

What is thick blood?

Two components of blood: formed elements - blood cells, along with their main functions, giving it thickness, and plasma - its liquid part. If the amount of formed elements exceeds the content of plasma, the viscosity of the blood and its thickness increase. Viscosity is determined by the level of fibrinogen and prothrombin, but can also increase due to an increase in other indicators, such as cholesterol, glucose, hemoglobin, etc. General indicator The ratio of the amount of plasma and formed substances is called the “Hematocrit number”.

Increased viscosity indicates that not all blood cells are able to perform their function. This means that some organs will not receive enough nutrients and not all waste products will be excreted. In addition, in order to push through too thick a mass, the heart requires great effort and enormous power, which means it will wear out faster. Not to mention the threat of blood clots with all the ensuing consequences.

General analysis through which it was revealed increased density blood, which in itself is not a disease, should alert the doctor, who will help in a timely manner to prevent the occurrence of a whole bunch of diseases. The fact is that thick blood (hypercoagulation) has poor permeability in veins and vessels, especially in small capillaries. As a result, the blood supply to all organs is disrupted, causing stagnation, leading to the development of varicose veins and the formation of blood clots. At the slightest violations in the blood supply to the brain there is a feeling of lethargy, weakness, performance decreases, and memory deteriorates. In combination with a sedentary lifestyle, there is a risk of developing or exacerbating existing, sometimes even fatal diseases: varicose veins, stroke, heart attack, thrombophlebitis and atherosclerosis.

Diagnosis and symptoms of increased density

To determine the degree of hypercoagulation, the following tests will be needed:

complete blood count and hematocrit (the sum of all formed elements - red blood cells, platelets, leukocytes, in relation to the total blood volume);
analysis of blood clotting and bleeding duration,
coagulogram is a method for studying the state of the hemostatic system, giving an idea of its general condition, blood coagulation, as well as the integrity of blood vessels and APTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) - an indicator for measuring the effectiveness of the internal and general coagulation pathway.

Since there is no disease called “thick blood”, it is not entirely correct to describe the signs accompanying it as symptoms, because they can also occur against the background, but nevertheless clinical symptoms, which are characteristic of hypercoagulation, are as follows:

high blood pressure (blood pressure),
general weakness,
drowsiness,
dry mouth,
absent-mindedness,
heaviness in the legs,
fatigue,
depressive state
headache,
constantly cold extremities,
nodules on the veins.

The list goes on, but sometimes there are no symptoms at all? the so-called latent form, the result of which hypercoagulation is detected only after donating blood for analysis.

Causes of thick blood

The thickness of the blood is influenced by a number of factors, the most common of which are:

excess red blood cells, platelets and hemoglobin,
lack of enzymes,
acidification of the body,
irradiation,
deficiency of minerals and vitamins involved in the production of enzymes and hormones,
increased blood clotting,
hyperfunction of the spleen,
dehydration due to insufficient water intake or if colon doesn't absorb it well
consuming excess carbohydrates and sugar.

As a rule, one of the listed causes prevails, the symptoms of which are temporary.

Thick blood during pregnancy

Thick blood during pregnancy may be caused by the fact that a woman’s body experiences additional stress that it cannot always cope with. Sometimes this phenomenon is provoked by a complex of factors, such as: blood diseases, large blood loss, pain shock or even iron supplements taken by mommy to increase hemoglobin levels.

Most often, doctors notice this feature of the blood of a pregnant woman during blood sampling from a vein, when the hole of the medical needle is clogged or even excessive blood thickness is visually noticeable. In any case, if abnormalities in blood clotting are suspected, the doctor will refer expectant mother on a detailed coagulogram.

What are the dangers of thick blood during pregnancy?

This disease is most dangerous because of the possibility of blood clots, which can lead to blockage of blood vessels in the uterus, deterioration of the baby’s blood supply, and then to miscarriage.

In some cases, blood thickening may simply be a feature of physiology and return to normal immediately after childbirth. Therefore, in order to avoid troubles, do not worry ahead of time after receiving blood results in which abnormalities have appeared - your attending physician will decide for himself what needs to be done in a particular case.

As for the use of drugs for rapid blood thinning, during this wonderful period they are prohibited and, often, the doctor is limited to prescribing a diet.

Diet for thick blood

If the analysis shows that the density of your blood exceeds the norm, whatever the reasons for this, you need to monitor your diet. You should exclude fried, fatty foods, canned food, marinades, smoked foods and be sure to include low-fat foods in your diet. dairy products. Eating sweets and sugar is generally not recommended. You should also avoid buckwheat, potatoes, bananas, alcoholic and carbonated drinks.

If the reasons for a person’s hypercoagulability lie in his age, along with excess weight, and if, in addition, he leads sedentary lifestyle life, then he is at greater risk of stroke, which can lead to varying degrees of disability and even death.

There are many products containing substances that thin the blood. This impressive list includes a lot of tasty things, among which everyone who is faced with a problem will find those that suit his tastes:

Treatment of the disease

Taking aspirin will help solve the problem of thick blood. There is also a special drug, Thrombo ACC, which is based on the same aspirin.

Well-known and effective folk remedies. One of them is meadowsweet (meadowsweet). Tinctures and preparations based on it can become a complete replacement for aspirin; they are often prescribed for diseases of the circulatory system.

One of the recipes is as follows: meadowsweet is brewed by preparing a decoction at the rate of 1 tablespoon of herb per glass of boiling water. After pouring boiling water over the herb, the decoction is left to steep for half an hour, then filtered and drunk as tea.

Whatever the reasons for the thick blood, the means to combat it great amount and everyone will choose the right one for themselves.