Dense blood disease as it is called. “I have thick blood ...”. Unconventional blood thinners

The phenomenon, which is popularly called thick blood, and in medicine - hypercoagulation, leads to the fact that the internal organs, including the brain, do not receive a sufficient amount of nutrients and oxygen. However, before looking for ways to thin the blood, it is necessary to identify the source of this problem.

Causes

The causes of thick blood are completely different, but the main one is very commonplace and easily eliminated: lack of water. For normal functioning, the body needs water, and if there is a lack of it, it begins to extract it from the blood, as a result of which its liquid part decreases. However, there are other factors that contribute to the increase in viscosity.

As a result of these violations, the balance between plasma and cell mass is distorted, as a result, increased hemoglobin and high blood viscosity are observed. An examination by a doctor will help to identify the causes of this phenomenon. The very same hypercoagulation is not a separate diagnosis, but acts as a syndrome of one of the pathologies.

Signs

It is rather difficult to determine by individual symptoms that the blood has become thicker. However, there is a set of signs by which you can determine an increased level of viscosity. First of all, these are headaches, increased fatigue, weakness and drowsiness. The person may have memory impairment and even develop depression. Dry mouth and high blood pressure are prominent symptoms of thick blood.

Often, veins bulge out on the lower extremities or venous networks appear. However, similar signs can appear in other diseases, which is why a person rarely associates poor health and high hemoglobin. In some cases, there are no symptoms at all and hypercoagulation is detected by chance, after donating blood for tests. Therefore, regular check-ups are very important.

To confirm the presence of too thick blood, the following tests are taken: complete blood count, blood coagulation analysis and duration of bleeding, coagulogram, hematocrit. The latter is the sum of all blood elements, which include erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, relative to the total blood volume.

Is it worth fearing

An increased level of viscosity leads to the fact that the blood flow slows down the blood flow, which provokes oxygen starvation and a violation of the trophism of organs. Answering the question of why thick blood is dangerous, first of all it is necessary to mention the formation of blood clots.

If the symptoms are missed and the causes are not removed, very serious consequences can occur, for example, heart attack, stroke, thrombosis. The risk of getting a myocardial infarction, in principle, increases in men after 50 years, and if, in addition to old age, increased hemoglobin is added, a heart attack can occur at the slightest factor favorable to it.

Most often, increased blood viscosity occurs in older men, in women and young people, this pathology is much less common. Today there is a tendency to rejuvenate this problem. The risk of getting myocardial infarction is increased in young men, whose tests show high platelets, red blood cells and high hemoglobin. Understanding how dangerous thick blood is, it is necessary to take action to normalize its consistency.

What to do if the blood is too thick

With thick blood, the doctor may prescribe Aspirin

To eliminate the thickening of the blood, doctors prescribe a quarter of the Aspirin tablet. Pregnant women may be prescribed a drug such as Curantil. As for pregnancy, often the reasons for unsuccessful IVF lie in too thick blood plasma, so it must be diluted at the planning stage. The normal consistency of plasma is the key to successful bearing of the fetus and successful childbirth.

Drink plenty of water

Most people drink very little plain water, replacing it with coffee, tea, coffee, juices, and worse, sweet soda water. An adult needs to drink about 2 liters of liquid per day, and the main volume should be pure water. Water is consumed much faster in the heat, so the demand for it in summer increases. It is very important to teach children to drink water, explaining to them that the human body consists precisely of liquid.

Change your diet

If the tests reveal the syndrome described above, the doctor will definitely advise products that help dilute the plasma. A diet with thick blood involves the rejection of fatty, fried foods, smoked meats, canned food and marinades. It is better to give up sugar and other sweets. Print out and hang on the refrigerator a list of foods that cause blood clots.

Viscosity increasing products:

meat broth;
fat meat;
sausage;
jelly;
bananas;
cabbage;

mango;
cream;
chokeberry;
White bread;
viburnum;
grape juice;
lentils;
buckwheat;
rose hip.

Do not be upset when you see this list. There are many delicious foods that can thin the blood and eliminate hypercoagulability. Also, some of the following foods can lower cholesterol, which is also important for the health of blood vessels.

Viscosity-lowering products:

garlic;
ginger;
beet;
raspberries;
blueberry;
strawberries;
Apple;
plum;
Cherry;
Orange;
lemon;
grapefruit;
cucumbers;
Garnet;
tomatoes;

zucchini;
Bulgarian red pepper;
artichokes;
sprouted wheat;
sea fish;
cocoa;
bitter chocolate;
sunflower seeds.

Also, the treatment of high viscosity involves the use of foods high in taurine, for which seafood is most generous. It is enough to eat seafood 2-3 times a week. An alternative is possible in the form of dietary supplements with taurine.

Incredibly useful seaweed, you can eat dried, grinding it in a coffee grinder and adding to food.

High viscosity treatment

The most effective method is leech therapy - hirudotherapy. Injecting saliva with a high content of various substances, these creatures significantly improve the properties of the blood, due to which the ratio of plasma and erythrocytes is regulated. However, there are also pills that improve the consistency and composition of the most important body fluid. First of all, it is ordinary aspirin.

Anti-hypercoagulable drugs:

Heparin. The active substance of this drug is found in the mucus of leeches.
Warfarin. It acts as the second most popular remedy, is inexpensive and effective.
Dabigatran. An alternative to Warfarin, a thrombin inhibitor that allows you to achieve a normal level of anticoagulation.
Rivaroxaban.
Trental.
Curantil. A German blood thinner that prevents blood clots.

Aescusan. Promotes the restoration of blood circulation in the veins, preventing the release of moisture from the vessels, improving the elasticity of the vessel walls.
Aspeckard. Helps maintain normal platelets.
Phenilin. Rapid-acting tablets with a large number of restrictions and contraindications. The doctor prescribes this drug in exceptional cases.
Acetylsalicylic acid. Cheap and affordable blood thinning pills. It acts as a prevention of such a serious phenomenon as a heart attack.
Preparations of zinc, selenium and lecithin are designed to compensate for their lack in the blood.
Cardiomagnet and other magnesium preparations control the density of the blood.
Multivitamins are designed to improve the structure of blood vessels, they serve as the prevention of such a dangerous phenomenon as blood clots.

In no case should the above medications be taken without consulting a doctor. Otherwise, you can only harm yourself by causing internal bleeding. Correct treatment will help to improve the indicators within a month, returning hemoglobin to normal limits.

Thick, viscous blood is a big problem for human health. Often, a high level of blood density causes heart attacks, poor kidney function, blood clots on the walls of blood vessels and in the heart, and feeling unwell.

Almost all active processes that occur in the human body directly depend on the normal functioning of the blood. Deviation from the norm provokes its thickening and liquefaction. In both the first and second cases, this leads to undesirable results.

The reason for the high viscosity of blood is a significant level of stress on the vessels, "depositing" blood clots on their walls. You should constantly monitor your health, therefore, when the first symptoms of a deterioration in well-being are detected, it is imperative to find out the reason. In this article, we will tell you in detail about the causes of blood thickening, as well as what to do to avoid it and what foods to include in your diet.

Causes of blood thickening

The most common reasons are:

Violation of the diet.
The formation of malignant cholesterol that damages the walls of blood vessels.
Eating foods with a high starch content, as well as a significant amount of fatty foods.
Dysfunction of the liver, leading to a change in plasma and leading to blood viscosity.

90% of human blood is water. The consumption of chlorinated, dirty, highly carbonated water forces the body to spend a large amount of energy and effort to cleanse it. Of course, at an increased rate of work, the body lacks enzymes that affect the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. This causes insufficiently oxidized products to enter the bloodstream. Such products cause a disturbance in the blood of biochemical processes, due to which the red blood cells "stick together" and as a result, an insufficient amount of oxygen is formed in the blood. In short, the tissues and cells of the body experience oxygen starvation.

Blood clots have a number of reasons:

Obesity.
Excessive and constant consumption of sugar, as well as other foods that contain large amounts of light carbohydrates and sugar.
Malfunctioning of the spleen.
Low water consumption with high physical activity.
Permanent residence in ecologically polluted regions.
Accommodation in a region with a hot climate.
Not eating enough salt or avoiding it.
Long-term exposure.
Violation of the alkaline balance of the body.
Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body, primarily zinc, vitamin C, selenium.
Poor absorption of consumed water.
Frequent consumption of meat, canned, smoked, salty foods.

Signs of blood clotting

The first sign of increased blood density is high fatigue. Even after a good rest and healthy, full sleep, a person can still feel such fatigue, as if he worked tirelessly all day. In addition, the main causes of blood diseases include deterioration or loss of memory, high sleepiness, sudden and persistent headaches.

Also, in addition to the above symptoms, you need to pay attention to a deterioration in mood. If a person has a depressed mood, chronic fatigue, unreasonable outbursts of aggression, depression, you should immediately contact a specialist, undergo an examination, donate blood for analysis - bioimpedance.

What can this lead to?

With increased blood density, its current changes in the capillary bed. Because of this, the blood is poorly saturated with oxygen, poorly excreted or not excreted carbon dioxide. This causes changes in skin color, frequent dizziness, and disruption of the functioning of many organs. With an increased density of blood in the vessels, the risk of acute strokes and heart attacks increases significantly.

At the initial stage of the formation of blood clots in the vessels located in the deep veins, edema of the arms (legs) appears, and precisely to the location of the blood clot. There is a high temperature in this area.

At the onset of the disease, muscles can hurt a lot, edema occurs, which appears with a prolonged stay in an upright position.

Acute pain in the region of the liver, and in certain cases, and vomiting with blood may be when blood clots appear in different parts of the veins.

In severe pathology, mesenteric thrombosis is the most severe. In this case, the disease develops very quickly with almost complete absence of symptoms.

What foods help thin the blood?

Before you name foods that thin the blood, you should learn about foods that you should refrain from using if you are susceptible to this disease, and it is better to exclude them from your diet altogether. They contain vitamin K.

The use of white sugar, sugar-containing, protein-rich and fatty foods, bananas, canned vegetables, soda water, smoked meats, sugary drinks, freshly baked white bread, potatoes leads to thickening of the blood. Also, herbs such as: nettle, St. John's wort, yarrow, basil. Even freshly prepared borscht will be harmful to people suffering from this disease.

Proper nutrition, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adherence to the drinking regime will help to avoid thickening of the blood. You should drink at least one and a half to two liters of purified, non-carbonated water per day. In addition to water, you should also drink vegetable, fruit juices, herbal teas, green tea. Also, according to doctors, the addition of coral calcium to drinking water contributes to blood thinning.

Freshly squeezed red grape juice is a great blood thinner. To thin the blood, you should include in your diet yogurt, kefir, chicken and quail eggs, sea fish, which is the main source of protein. Twice a week, you need to eat white chicken meat (without fat and skin), as well as dietary turkey meat.

To get rid of the disease, the use of products such as:

Garnet.
Fig.
Flaxseed and olive oil are excellent blood thinners.
Berries, primarily fresh cherries, cherries and red currants.
Almonds, walnuts. To achieve the result, you need to consume at least 30 pieces every day.
Lemons and oranges.
Mulberry.
Buriak.
Vitamin E-rich germinated wheat seeds. Up to two tablespoons of seeds should be eaten daily. Also, crushed seeds can be added to warm food.
Ginger root.
Onion and garlic. You should eat no more than half an onion and one clove of garlic per day.
Minor amount of cocoa.
Sunflower seeds.
Fresh grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
Red bell pepper (one piece per day).
Tomato juice and tomatoes are very good at thinning the blood.

Correct use of the above products will enrich the body with useful substances. Fruits and vegetables with dents or other damage should not be eaten.

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

An important physical property of blood for the implementation of redox processes is considered fluidity - the ability to move freely through the vascular system. The density of the blood depends on many factors and affects the functioning of all body systems. Very thick blood causes the development of severe complications such as myocardial infarction, blood vessel thrombosis, and cerebral stroke.

Clinical manifestations

An increase in blood density may be asymptomatic, and a change in its rheological properties is detected during diagnostic examination for other diseases. The most indicative laboratory tests that can check the fluidity of blood are:

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

Lab tests can show signs of thickening of the blood

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

weakness, rapid fatigability, decreased ability to work;
marbling of the skin, cold 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, thirst;
the appearance of subcutaneous nodules on the legs, which are thrombosed veins.

If you consult a doctor in a timely manner when the above symptoms appear and undergo preventive examinations every year, you can significantly improve the general condition and prevent the development of complications.

Causes of pathology

As you know, blood is 90% liquid part - plasma - and 10% 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 great importance is the tone and integrity of the vascular endothelium, the functional viability of the myocardium, which ensure the unhindered movement of blood through the body.

The child's blood is prone to thickening even in the case of a slight loss of fluid during fever, poisoning, overheating, and insufficient drinking regime. This is due to the greater physiological hydrophilicity of tissues in childhood compared to adults.

Men, due to hormonal characteristics and a large volume of muscle mass, are more likely to suffer from plasma thickening than female representatives.

Danger of a pathological process

To understand why thick blood is dangerous, it is necessary to understand the essence of the pathological process. With a decrease in the rheological properties of blood, blood flow slows down, especially at the level of small vessels - arterioles, venules, capillaries. As a result of stagnation of blood in the tissues, metabolic processes deteriorate - the supply of oxygen and nutrients decreases, 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, violates the integrity of the inner membrane (endothelium), which causes the prerequisites for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Blood stasis leads to the deposition and adhesion of platelets among themselves and causes the formation of blood clots. This threatens with the emergence of severe complications: myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery system, reducing the quality of life, social adaptation of patients, in severe cases leading to death.

In conditions when the heart muscle needs to push thick plasma through the vascular system, its functional abilities are depleted. 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 disruption of vital functions and leads to early mortality.

Diet and treatment

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

Foods that can thin the blood include:

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

These products make the blood flowing, reduce thrombus formation, and improve metabolic processes in tissues.

Aspirin drugs reduce the formation of intravascular blood clots

Blood thickening foods include:

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

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

The pathological process can be treated with drugs based on aspirin, which have a thrombolytic effect. They are represented by such drugs as Thromboass, Cardiomagnyl, Aspirin-cardio, Cardiopyrin and should be prescribed by a doctor after a comprehensive examination. For the prevention of the pathological process, biologically active additives (dietary supplements) are prescribed containing dihydroquerticin, a substance that improves the rheological properties of blood. Flavit or Kapilar is prescribed in monthly courses, subject to the diet. Regular physical activity (physical education, sports), rejection of alcohol and nicotine addiction are of great importance for improving the condition.

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

Blood is the river of life in our body. The processes in the human body and the cardiovascular system as a whole depend on it. Viscous blood, the reasons for which are very different, indicates a violation of its composition. The transport function of blood in such conditions is difficult. This negatively affects many processes in our body. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the quality of blood, take periodic tests, and know that all indicators are normal.

Sometimes it is possible to understand that something is wrong in the body only when the state of health has deteriorated dramatically. Unfortunately, sometimes an increase in blood density does not make itself felt until it becomes very bad, and in rare cases, too late. In order not to waste precious time, it is very important to take a blood test on time.

A general blood test can also show an increased density of blood. Any doctor can suspect something was wrong and send you for an additional examination, which, as a result, can prevent a whole bunch of unwanted diseases.

Blood tests for thick blood.

To determine the degree of blood density, your doctor may order additional tests that will help determine the degree of blood viscosity:

general blood test with counting of corpuscular elements (platelets, erythrocytes, leukocytes);
analysis for the duration of bleeding and blood clotting;
coagulogram - a comprehensive analysis (shows the general state of blood clotting).

If you have been assigned these analyzes - do not delay the trip to the laboratory!

Why does a person have thick blood, reasons.

Excessive blood viscosity can be caused by both chronic and acute pathological processes. They become the actual cause of a violation of blood viscosity and an increase in the boundaries of its normal parameters.

The reasons may be:

Food intoxication of the body;
Antiphospholipid syndrome;
Erythremia (polycythemia);
Hypoxia;
Leukemia (some of its forms);
Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia;
decreased work of the adrenal glands;
Myeloma;
Diabetes;
Amyloidosis;
Cirrhosis of the liver;
Thrombophilia;
Thermal burns;
Pregnancy;
Varicose veins;
Pancreatitis;
Hepatitis.

Among the reasons can also be hereditary and genetic. You are at risk if: a relative has had problems with blood clots, you have had unexplained miscarriages, or you have already had a history of recurrent blood clots.

What are the symptoms of thick blood in the human body.

In medicine, there is no such disease as thick blood, so it will not be correct to describe the symptoms of such a disease. Signs and symptoms of hypercoagulability are still there, but they can occur through other disruptions in the body.

The list goes on and on, however, you must also remember that hypercoagulability sometimes does not show signs at all, and the patient learns about his problem only after a blood test.

Why is thick blood in humans dangerous?

Human blood thickens with age, so elderly people are at risk. However, recently this process has become very young and young people also face problems with blood viscosity. Excessive blood viscosity can lead to serious consequences and even death.

The most dangerous consequence of an increase in blood density is blood clots. The active formation of blood clots occurs through the action of a blood-clotting protein (fibrin). The blood becomes thicker and less fluid.

Hypoxia... With a high density of blood, tissues and organs do not receive such necessary nutrients. Thick and slow blood, fragile blood vessels, the formation of blood clots lead to dangerous problems with the blood supply to the entire body.

Problems with heart... These problems arise in the forefront with an increase in blood density. A person suffers from heart failure, angina pectoris, strokes and heart attacks can develop. This is because the heart takes a tremendous amount of effort to pump thick blood. It is believed that cholesterol is less harmful to the body than viscous blood.

Ischemic stroke. This is a dangerous consequence when blood enters the vessels of the brain.

High pressure(hypertension).

VSD syndrome.

Thromboembolism... Pieces of detached blood clots get into the blood vessels of a person, which can lead to blood clots entering the blood vessels of the brain. Unfortunately, the consequences of embolism can lead not only to functional disorder, but also to death.

What if a person has thick blood?

As soon as a person hears that he has viscous blood, the question immediately follows: “What should I do ?!”. The doctors give an unambiguous answer to this - "Liquefy". In medicine, there is no such thing as blood thinning, and a decrease in the level of viscosity is often bad for clotting. The patient must understand that blood thinning is nothing more than the normalization of its viscosity. That is, you must bring your blood to its normal physiological state so that clotting does not suffer. First of all, you need to consult a doctor who will give you specific recommendations.

How to thin the thick blood of a person?

In order to bring the blood back to normal, you need to reconsider your diet. It must be balanced. You must also adhere to a drinking regime that is optimal for your weight (30 ml of water per kilogram of your weight).

In addition to a balanced diet, the doctor may prescribe medications. In each case, the doctor gets acquainted with the anamnesis and only then prescribes medications.

Strictly follow your doctor's orders! Do not self-medicate! Do not prescribe the drugs yourself! This can only lead to worsening health problems!

Nutrition with thick blood in humans.

As mentioned above, patients with hypercoagulation need a healthy and balanced diet. This does not oblige you to give up familiar foods and delicacies, but everyone who is faced with this unpleasant situation should reconsider their menu. Water is also the main factor in human nutrition. You need to drink as much liquid as possible. Even any diet says that you need to drink at least 2 liters of water per day. I would also like to note that soups, teas and other liquid dishes do not replace water.

Diet with thick blood in humans.

If the increased blood viscosity is not caused by serious illnesses, it will be enough for a person to monitor their diet and without the medications offered by the pharmaceutical industry. However, in each case, medications can also be prescribed.

It is also worth giving up smoking and alcohol.

First of all, your diet should be balanced so that your body receives the right dose of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, as well as all the useful macro- and microelements.

For some, the word diet sounds like a sentence, but you don't have to starve yourself, you just have to focus on the following foods:

garlic;
onion;
celery;
artichokes;
tomatoes;
beet;
skinless cucumbers;
cinnamon;
ginger;
figs;
cashew nuts;
seeds;
almond;
bitter chocolate;
cocoa;
grape;
berries (currants, strawberries, cherries and others);
citrus;
peaches;
apples;
seaweed and lean sea fish;
lean meat (rabbit, turkey, skinless chicken);
linseed and olive oil;
vinegar.

As you can see, from the list presented, you can make a wide variety of menus and it is not necessary to prejudice yourself in food.

Folk methods and recipes for thinning thick blood.

All means are good in the fight for your health. Therefore, do not forget about the traditional methods of treating excessive blood viscosity.

Before using traditional recipes, consult your doctor.

Ginkgo biloba tincture... This tincture is used in the treatment of VSD, and also prevents the formation of blood clots. Take 50 grams of ginkgo biloba leaves, pour 1 liter of vodka over them and leave for 2 weeks. You need to take the tincture in courses (we drink a month, 2 weeks off) a teaspoon 3 times a day before meals.

Melilot grass... A popular remedy for hypercoagulation. A tablespoon of herbs is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water, then insisted for 2 hours (preferably in a thermos), filtered and drunk 1/3 cup 3 times a day. The course of admission is one month.

Tincture on chestnut peel... Take 50 grams of chestnut peel, fill them with half liters of vodka and leave for 2 weeks. Then strain the tincture and drink 30 drops 2 times a day with water. The tincture is taken for 3 weeks.

White willow bark decoction... Take 1 spoonful of bark into a glass of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes, then filter, dilute with boiled water to the initial volume and take 2 tbsp. before meals for 10 days.

Tincture on porcini mushroom caps... Place 200 grams of porcini mushroom caps in a liter jar, after chopping them, fill the jar to the top with vodka. Leave for 10 days and then strain. Take the tincture half an hour before meals, 1 tsp.

A tincture from other herbal decoctions, such as meadowsweet, hawthorn fruit, lemon balm, nettle, valerian roots and others, is also widely used.

Remember that in this matter it is important not only to thin the blood, but also not to overdo it, since this is just as dangerous to health as thick blood! Be healthy!

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

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

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

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

In case of violation of the quality of blood, primarily thickening, acidification, an increase in cholesterol, blood sugar, etc., its transport function is hampered, which leads to a violation of redox processes throughout the body, including in 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 life, then 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.

Diabetes mellitus, alcohol intake, smoking, hypothermia and even stress can lead to blood clots.

What does a person feel if he has thick blood?

Increased blood viscosity does not differ in any characteristic symptoms. Thickening of the blood is often accompanied by general weakness, drowsiness, headache, memory impairment, absent-mindedness, rapid fatigue, depression. Many people experience dry mouth and high blood pressure. Venous nodules may appear on the legs, the limbs are constantly cold.

Such symptoms can manifest themselves in many other diseases and we rarely associate our poor health with the presence of thick blood in us.

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

How to confirm fears that you have thick blood?

In order to determine whether you really have thick blood, you must pass the following tests: general blood test, blood clotting test and bleeding duration, coagulogram, hematocrit (the sum of all blood elements - erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, in relation to the total blood volume ).

Why thick blood is dangerous

Thick blood leads to a slowdown in blood flow, which leads to oxygen starvation and disruption of organ trophism. The most formidable consequence of an increase in 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, then 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 elderly people, but there is a tendency towards an increase in the number of young people 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 an increased number of red blood cells and hemoglobin, who 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, Cardiomagnil, 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 pure water, replacing it with tea, coffee, and sweet soda. An adult should drink 2 - 2.5 liters of liquid per day, of which at least 1 liter should be pure water. Even more in the heat. Train your children to drink water. Natural water is a very powerful remedy against blood clots and blood clots. You can read more about the benefits of water.

Diet with thick blood

If you have thick blood, you need to monitor your diet. Eliminate fatty and fried foods, smoked meats, canned food and pickles 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 meat, sausages, jellied meat, bananas, mangoes, cabbage, cream, white bread, chokeberry, viburnum, lentils, grape juice, rose hips, buckwheat.

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

Blood thinning foods: garlic, beets, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, cherries, plums, lemon, orange, grapefruit, pomegranate, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, red bell pepper, artichoke, wheat germ, sea fish, cocoa, dark chocolate, seeds sunflower.

For blood thinning, products containing the amino acid taurine are recommended. Most taurine is found in seafood (fish, shellfish, shrimp, etc.). These foods should be consumed at least 2 to 3 times a week. Please note that cooking food will significantly reduce the amount of taurine in food. Therefore, to obtain the required dose, you should take high quality dietary supplements with taurine.

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

An additional source of Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids is flaxseed 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, the effects of a stroke, etc. The same applies to the Japanese Sophora.

Large amounts of salt increase the viscosity of the blood.

Physical activity

Don't forget about physical activity. To keep your circulatory system healthy, you need to move. It can be running, swimming, fitness, dancing, yoga - whatever sports you like.

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

Give up smoking and alcohol

They significantly increase the viscosity of the blood.

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

Blood thickening medicinal herbs

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

Blood thinning medicinal herbs

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

Traditional medicine recipes for thick blood

In folk medicine, there are many effective agents that can replace Aspirin. I will share with you some of them.

1. Meadowsweet (meadowsweet).

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

2. Horse chestnut.

Grind the fruit of the horse chestnut with a hammer and collect the brown rind. Throw away the fruits themselves (they are poisonous), and pour 50 g of the peel with 0.5 liters of vodka. Insist 2 weeks in a dark place, then strain. Take 2 - 3 times a day, one teaspoon, mixed with ¼ glass of 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 with 0.5 liters of vodka. For 2 - 3 weeks, insist in a dark place, 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 can of finely chopped garlic and 2/3 vodka. Bank of any size. We insist for 2 weeks in a dark place, shaking 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 bedtime. Store in a cool, dark place.

Biologically active additives (BAA)

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

For the prevention of blood thickening, these drugs are used in courses of 3 weeks. Break between courses 7 - 10 days.

Hirudotherapy for blood thickening

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