Sometimes we underestimate such an indicator of health as blood viscosity. Read more about the state of our blood, its structure and the reasons for thick blood...
The state of the blood is the state of the heart vascular system. Unfortunately, cardiologists go past hematology, go through the blood vessels, through the heart, and all the time try to strengthen the heart muscle. Everyone strives to dilate blood vessels, but in reality another process occurs.
What is thick blood and what can you do about it?
When blood quality is impaired, primarily due to thickening, acidification, increased cholesterol, etc., the main transport function of the blood becomes difficult, which leads to disruption of redox processes in all organs and tissues, including the brain and liver , kidneys, etc. Blood quality must be maintained within optimal homeostasis.
A change in the normal consistency of the blood becomes a “trigger” that starts the process of development (or exacerbation of existing) diseases, such as atherosclerosis, varicose veins and others.
There is no separate disease called “thick blood”, so it would not be correct to clearly name the symptoms of “thick blood”. These same symptoms can also appear with other problems in the body.
Thick blood has increased viscosity - this causes stagnation of blood in the vessels, increasing the risk of thrombosis.
Clinical manifestations of thick blood:
Increased arterial pressure;
- drowsiness;
- fatigue;
- general weakness;
- depressive states;
- dry mouth;
- headache;
- absent-mindedness;
- constantly cold extremities;
- heaviness in the legs;
- nodules on the veins.
This list can be continued, but the process sometimes occurs in a hidden form and is revealed only after donating blood for analysis.
A comprehensive blood clotting test is called coagulogram. This analysis gives an idea of the general state of hemostasis (shows a complete picture of blood coagulation, as well as the integrity of blood vessels).
Causes of thick blood
Why does blood thicken? There are a number important factors, affecting its consistency.
1. Lack of water. Blood is 85%, and blood plasma is 90-92% water. Therefore, a decrease in this indicator by just a few percent leads to blood thickening.
2. Intense water loss occurs not only in summer, but also in winter– dry indoor air “sucks water out of us like a sponge;
3. In athletes– playing sports is accompanied by burning energy, the body increases heat transfer to cool down;
4. For certain diseases, for example, diabetes.
5. Enzymopathy. A pathological condition in which there is insufficient activity of certain food enzymes or their complete absence. As a result, complete breakdown of food components does not occur and under-oxidized breakdown products enter the blood, which leads to its acidification.
6. Poor nutrition. Some food products (legumes, cereals, rice, eggs, etc.) contain thermostable specific protein inhibitors that form stable complexes with proteinases gastrointestinal tract, causing disruption of the digestion and absorption of food protein. Completely digested amino acid residues enter the blood. Another reason lies in excessive consumption carbohydrates, sugar, including fructose.
7. Environmental contamination of products. Pollution contributes to the suppression of enzymatic activity food products salts heavy metals, pesticides, insecticides and mycotoxins that interact with protein molecules, forming stable compounds.
8. Lack of vitamins and minerals. Water-soluble vitamins: C, group B and minerals are necessary for the biosynthesis of most enzymes, so their deficiency (vitamins) leads to incomplete digestion of food due to the lack of necessary enzymes.
9. Strong acids. Strong acids are the end product of the breakdown of animal proteins. If the kidneys cannot cope with removing acids, then they remain in the body and acidification of the blood occurs.
10. Damage to blood vessels. A healthy inner wall of blood vessels (intima), which consists of endothelium, has antithrombogenic properties.
11. Liver dysfunction. Every day, 15-20 grams of blood proteins are synthesized in the liver, which perform transport, regulatory and other functions; disruption of biosynthesis in the liver leads to changes in the chemical composition of the blood.
12. Hyperfunction of the spleen. Causes the destruction of blood cells.
Blood consists of two parts - formed elements and plasma. Plasma is the liquid part, and the formed elements are blood cells, which, in addition to their main functions, also make the blood thick. When there are more formed elements than plasma, the viscosity of the blood increases and it becomes thick. But, before we talk about how to thin the blood, it is worth examining in detail what thick blood is.
There is no such concept in medicine. Distinguish viscous blood and increased hematocrit number. Blood viscosity is determined by the amount of fibrinogen and the level of prothrombin, although blood viscosity can also increase due to an increase in other indicators, such as cholesterol, hemoglobin, glucose, and so on.
The hematocrit number is a general indicator of the ratio of plasma and formed substances, which ultimately also means increased viscosity or, conversely, fluidity of the blood.
Is blood clotting dangerous?
Undoubtedly. Blood is not just a fluid in the body that flows through circulatory system and transports nutrients or breakdown products, it, together with nervous system connects our body into a single whole. Increased blood viscosity means that not all of its cells will be able to perform their function, which means that some tissues will not receive enough nutrients, and some breakdown products will not be excreted.
In addition, pushing through an excessively thick mass requires an extremely powerful motor, which will eventually wear out much faster. That is, you need a healthy, strong heart, the rapid wear and tear of which does not bode well. And this is not to mention the possible formation of blood clots with all the ensuing consequences.
In the presence of viscous blood, nosebleeds are very common. Because of which? And this happens because if the blood is viscous, then the body has little oxygen, and because of this, the cells begin to “starve”, accordingly, the pressure inside the cells begins to rise. If the blood supply to the arms and hands, legs and feet is impaired, reddish spots will appear on the arms and feet, which if you touch, you can feel how cold they are.
What affects blood viscosity
Blood viscosity is affected by vascular damage, distortion of liver function, affecting chemical composition and increasing plasma viscosity, negative changes in the state of the membranes of red blood cells and platelets, leading to vigorous adhesion of these cells.
The viscosity of blood is also affected by the ratio of cell mass to the liquid part of the blood. Like all indicators of the body, this one should not be high, not low, but normal.
The danger of high blood viscosity is the increased risk of blood clots in the heart and blood vessels.
The cause of a blood clot is viscous blood
Due to problems with thyroid gland the stomach malfunctions: bile and pancreatic enzymes enter the duodenum late, when all the food has already moved into the intestines. At this time, the pressure in the empty stomach drops, and in the intestines into which the food has gone, it rises. Due to the pressure difference, bile and pancreatic enzymes (this is a very powerful alkali in quality) enter the stomach, where hydrochloric acid is contained. As a result of the reaction between them, hydrochloric acid is neutralized, which is produced after eating only to dissolve the blood.
If this happens after each meal, then the concentration of chlorine in the blood is not restored and the blood increases its viscosity. This causes the formation of blood clots (thrombophlebitis - lack of chlorine in the blood). When thrombophlebitis appears, viscous blood begins to “glue” small vessels - capillaries, which are most abundant on the extremities: arms, legs, and head. Blood circulation is disrupted: hands become numb, cold, and sweaty.
The most serious is a violation of microcirculation vessels of the head, since the head is a microprocessor responsible for all other organs and unconditioned reflexes. As a result, memory deteriorates, fatigue increases, drowsiness and lethargy appear.
Not only the brain itself suffers, but also the eyes. The eye muscle is constantly in motion and must receive oxygen in a large volume, which is impossible when small vessels are glued together, so it spasms, resulting in myopia, farsightedness or astigmatism. Over time, when large vessels begin to “seal”, a stroke or heart attack occurs.
Let's take a closer look at what human blood is and its functions, what thick blood is and the reasons that contribute to increased blood viscosity.
Human blood is an opaque, red liquid consisting of:
Pale yellow blood plasma;
- Formed elements suspended in it: erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), platelets (blood platelets)
Blood viscosity test: blood plasma proteins prothrombin and fibrinogen are not critical.
Blood viscosity is a very important blood indicator that determines maximum term heart and vascular services. The higher the viscosity of the blood, the faster the heart wears out. And by increasing blood pressure, the heart tests the strength of blood vessels and their resistance to heart attack and stroke.
It is traditionally believed that blood viscosity is determined only by the blood plasma proteins prothrombin and fibrinogen. Those. to assess blood viscosity, they are guided by the level of prothrombin, which should be at the lower limit of the normal range of 70-100%, and the amount of fibrinogen within the range of 2-4 g/l.
However, an equally important indicator is the erythrocyte sedimentation reaction (ERS), or as it was previously called the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Those. the ability of blood cells to settle, forming plasma above the blood column. The reaction is assessed within 1 hour. The lower the ESR (ROE), the higher the blood viscosity. And many rejoice when they receive ROE (ESR) of 1-3 mm per hour!
And at the same time, the viscosity of the blood is very high and the heart is forced to pump viscous blood with significant overload!
When a traditional blood viscosity test is performed, they usually only analyze the level of prothrombin and the amount of fibrinogen in the blood - i.e. rely on only part of the blood components, which determine the rheological properties or fluidity of the blood plasma, and not the blood as a whole! ROE (ESR) is also occasionally taken into account.
Prothrombin and fibrinogen are the most abundant proteins in blood plasma. And blood plasma represents approximately 50% of blood volume. And by assessing only these two components, only part of the factors determining blood viscosity is revealed.
The amount of albumin proteins also affects blood viscosity. Although albumins do not take part in the work of the blood coagulation system, they play an important role - they bind various toxins and promote their transfer to the main excretory organs - the liver and kidneys. Those. promote self-cleansing of the body, cleansing the blood of various toxins. The amount of albumin in the blood affects not only blood viscosity, but also the tendency to allergic diseases, activity of nonspecific immunity.
Effect on blood viscosity of other components of blood plasma
Blood plasma also contains other substances that promote the adhesion (agglutination) of red blood cells and determine blood viscosity. These include cholesterol, glucose, and protein digestion products. The level of cholesterol, the content of which in the blood serum depends on the condition of the liver. As well as the ability of the pancreas to control blood sugar levels by moving glucose into cells for metabolism. And also the ability of the liver to process the products of protein digestion and transform them into protein molecules that are unique to you.
The remaining 50% of the blood is occupied by blood cells themselves - red blood cells (approximately 99% of the volume of all blood cells), as well as platelets and leukocytes.
The cellular composition of the blood also affects the rheological (fluidity) properties of the blood. In assessing blood viscosity, both the number of red blood cells (increases in professional athletes, with regular fitness classes, in the gym, in pathologies of the respiratory system, heart and circulatory system) and the degree of red blood cell agglutination and platelet aggregation are important. Those. the ability of the most numerous blood cells to stick together.
Environmental influence on blood viscosity
In recent years, the human ecological environment has changed significantly, and the number of natural products nutrition. Which significantly affected the balance sheet antioxidant system the body and the amount of free radicals that are formed in the body of a modern person. Blood, occupying a strategically important position in the body, connects the system barrier organs, through which various xenobiotics from environment. And the work area (the cell itself), where during any work the formation of waste products ("waste") and the production of free radicals occur.
Why does blood viscosity change?
Being at the intersection of two powerful flows of toxins (ecology on the one hand and work intensity on the other), the state of the blood reflects the contribution of each component to the rheological properties of the blood. Or rather, the individual characteristics of the human body, the ability to withstand the environment around it.
If your body's antioxidant potential (the ability to produce and accumulate antioxidants) is high, the blood will be more fluid and such a person is prone to longevity. And the most numerous blood cells in this case, when analyzing a living drop of blood, are located separately.
If the body's antioxidant potential is low, the most numerous blood cells, erythrocytes, agglutinate among themselves, forming bizarre structures resembling coin columns or tiles. Blood viscosity increases and many risks increase.
Increase or decrease in the number of red blood cells in tests. ESR
Red blood cells and their significance in tests: decrease and increase in the number of red blood cells in general analysis blood and analysis and urine. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and its meaning.
Erythrocytes (red blood cells, rbc) are the most numerous blood cells that perform the function of transporting oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs. Red blood cells contain large amounts of the red pigment hemoglobin, which is able to bind oxygen in the lungs and release it in the body tissues.
- A decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood is a sign anemia.
- An increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood may be observed at severe dehydration , and with erythremia.
- The appearance of red blood cells in the urine can be observed for inflammation of the urinary system(kidneys, bladder).
What are red blood cells?
Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, are the most numerous blood cells. Red blood cells have a regular disc-shaped shape. At the edges of the red blood cell, it is slightly thicker than in the center, and on a section it looks like a biconcave lens, or dumbbell. This structure of the red blood cell helps it to be maximally saturated with oxygen and carbon dioxide when passing through the human bloodstream.
The formation of red blood cells occurs in the red bone marrow, under the influence of a special kidney hormone - erythropoietin. Mature red blood cells circulating in the blood do not contain a nucleus or organelles, and cannot synthesize hemoglobin and nucleic acids.
Characteristic of erythrocytes low level metabolism, which determines their long lifespan, an average of 120 days. Over the course of 120 days from the moment red blood cells leave the red bone marrow and enter the bloodstream, they gradually wear out. At the end of this period, “old” red blood cells are deposited and destroyed in the spleen and liver.
The process of formation of new red blood cells in the red bone marrow is ongoing, therefore, despite the destruction of old red blood cells, total red blood cells in the blood remains constant.
Red blood cells consist mainly (2/3) of hemoglobin - a special protein containing iron, the main function of which is the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Hemoglobin is red, which determines the characteristic color of red blood cells and blood.
Basic functions of red blood cells- this is the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs, they also perform nutritional and protective functions and maintain acid-base balance in the blood.
Red blood cells
The total number of red blood cells in human blood is enormous. For example, in the blood of a person weighing 60 kg total number red blood cells equals 25 trillion. If such a number of red blood cells are stacked one on top of the other, you will get a column more than 60 km high!
However, it is much more convenient and practical to determine not the total number of red blood cells in the human body, but their content in a small volume of blood (for example, 1 cubic millimeter, µl). The content of red blood cells in 1 cubic mm (µl) is an important indicator that is used in determining general condition patient and in the diagnosis of many diseases.
U healthy people the normal total content of red blood cells in one volume unit of blood (norm) fluctuates within rather narrow limits. We also add that the norms for the content of red blood cells depend on the person’s age, gender, and place of residence.
Determination of the number of red blood cells is carried out using a general (clinical) blood test.
Normal number of red blood cells in the blood in men ranges from 4 to 5.1 million in 1 µl (from 4 to 5.1x10¹² in 1 l), among women– from 3.7 to 4.7 million in µl (from 3.7 to 4.7x10¹² in 1 l).
Red blood cell count The child has depends on age:
- On the first day of life, in a newborn child – from 4.3 to 7.6x10¹²/l
- At 1 month from 3.8 to 5.6x10¹²/l
- At 6 months – from 3.5 to 4.8x10¹² /l
- At 12 months from 3.6 to 4.9x10¹² /l,
- From 1 year to 12 years from 3.5 to 4.7x10¹² /l
- The content of red blood cells in the blood of children over 13 years of age corresponds to that of adults and ranges from 3.6 to 5.1x10¹² / l.
The high content of red blood cells in the blood of newborn children is explained by the fact that during intrauterine development the child's body needs more red blood cells to ensure a normal supply of oxygen to tissues in conditions of relatively low oxygen concentrations in the mother's blood. Immediately after birth, the newborn baby's red blood cells begin to break down and are replaced by new red blood cells. Increased breakdown of red blood cells in the first days after birth is the cause of the development of jaundice in newborns.
Red blood cell levels during pregnancy
The number of red blood cells during pregnancy can decrease to 3.5 and even 3.0 x10¹² / l, and many researchers consider this to be the norm.
The decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood during pregnancy (compared to the levels of red blood cells in the blood of non-pregnant women) is explained, on the one hand, by dilution of the blood due to water retention in the body of a pregnant woman, and on the other hand, by a slight decrease in the formation of red blood cells due to iron deficiency, which occurs in almost all pregnant women.
Changes in the content of red blood cells in the blood and their interpretation
What does an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood mean?
An increase in the number of red blood cells per unit volume of blood is called erythrocytosis. In general, an increase in the content of red blood cells in the blood is observed quite rarely.
A physiological increase in red blood cells occurs in people living in the mountains, during prolonged physical activity in athletes, under stress, or with significant dehydration.
A pathological increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood occurs when:
- Increased production of red blood cells in the red bone marrow (in blood diseases such as erythremia); In patients with erythremia, a bright red discoloration of the skin of the face and neck can usually be seen.
- As a result of increased synthesis of erythropoietin in the kidneys with insufficient oxygen in the blood in diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems (for example, in patients with heart failure or COPD). In such cases, an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood is preceded by long story heart or lung disease.
Decreased number of red blood cells in the blood
A decrease in the number of red blood cells per unit volume of blood is called erythropenia.
The main reason for the decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood is different kinds anemia(anemia), which can develop as a result of impaired formation of red blood cells in the red bone marrow, as a result of their increased destruction of red blood cells, for example with hemolytic anemia, as well as in case of blood loss.
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Most often observed Iron-deficiency anemia, in which insufficient formation of red blood cells occurs due to iron deficiency due to its insufficient intake into the body from food ( vegetarian diet), malabsorption or an increase in the body's need for iron (often during pregnancy, in children during periods of intensive growth).
On the background iron deficiency anemia Not only is there a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood, but other symptoms of this disease may also be noticed.
Less commonly, a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood occurs with a lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid. In such cases, in addition to anemia, patients experience disturbances in gait and sensitivity (tingling and pain in the arms and legs).
Increased destruction of red blood cells, or hemolysis, as a reason for a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood occurs when hereditary diseases as a result of a violation of the structure of the erythrocyte membrane (microspherocytosis, ovalocytosis), hemoglobinopathies (thalassemia, sickle cell anemia); acquired causes of hemolysis - Marchiafava-Micheli disease, mechanical damage red blood cell membranes (artificial heart valve, gigantic spleen in patients with cirrhosis), toxic damage to the red blood cell membrane (poisonous mushrooms, snake bite, heavy metal salts).
A decrease in the number of red blood cells also occurs during acute massive blood loss(as a result of bleeding due to injuries, operations, stomach ulcers), chronic blood loss lead to iron deficiency anemia.
The number of red blood cells in the blood is determined during a general (clinical) blood test.
Nutrition for high blood viscosity
Blood thinning is facilitated by diet and a special drinking regime. You should drink at least 1.5 liters of fluid per day. Most useful green tea or herbal teas(on the recommendation of the attending physician), natural vegetable and fruit juices, water. It is especially recommended to drink natural juice from red grapes. Because of high content bioflavonoids, it is considered a balm for the cardiovascular system.
Additional source of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids is linseed oil, which can be taken 1 tbsp. spoon a day. Prostaglandins synthesized from these acids reduce cholesterol levels and thin the blood.
Another important source of fat is unrefined olive oil cold pressed, containing a large number of biologically active substances.
How to determine (thin) blood viscosity at home
In Russia we have effective remedy:meadowsweet. Take 1 teaspoon, pour a glass of boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes. Drink half a glass 3-4 times a day before meals. Tavologa helps specifically to improve cerebral circulation. This is Viktor Kosterov's recipe. He also suggests using it as a blood thinner. sweet clover (yellow). Take 1 teaspoon per 200 ml. boiling water, leave for 10 minutes and drink 100 ml 3-4 times a day before meals.
A person himself at home can determine whether his blood is thick or not by the following method: put on medical gloves, wipe everything with alcohol, release the 4th finger, treat it with alcohol, and pierce it with a disposable sterile needle, the same one used when taking blood tests. We take 2 drops of blood on the glass. Spread a thin layer on the glass. Blood tends to form a film after some time. We look at the blood on the glass every 30 seconds. If this film has formed after 5 minutes, then it is normal. If up to 5 minutes, then coagulability is increased.
Most quick way blood purification: Suck 1 tablespoon in your mouth every morning vegetable oil until white clear liquid, then spit it out, do not swallow it under any circumstances. Toxins that accumulate in the body overnight are eliminated. And so every day. It can be up to six months or longer.
It is necessary to cleanse the blood twice a year, in spring and autumn. To do this, take 2 cups of honey, add 1 cup of dill + 2 liters of hot water, 1 tablespoon of valerian roots, put in a thermos for a day. We filter. Place in the refrigerator, drink 1 tablespoon three times a day until the composition runs out.
We must remember that our blood is what we eat; if the food is bad, then the blood is no good.
There is a faster way to purify blood: During the day you drink melt water, and in the evening you need to drink 1 liter of whey.
It is necessary to choose a diet that would help thin the blood. Vegetables fruits, vegetable fats. Think over a set of food so that it provides daily need vitamins of all groups, minerals. For proper and complete digestion of food, take combined foods. People say: “horseradish and radishes, onions and cabbage - they won’t allow anything bad to happen.” And the simpler our meal, the better for the body.
If you want to be healthy, be ascetic, including in food. To normalize blood composition you need to eat zucchini, eggplant.
Salad for consumption several times a week: Grate the celery and apple, cut the lettuce leaves, chop 2 cloves of garlic, season with olive oil, a little honey, and lemon. We eat without salt. It greatly improves blood composition.
Eat a clove or two of garlic every day.
An important role in the body is associated with the acidity of the body.
For example:
- if pH 7.35–7.45 is normal, the blood is slightly alkaline reaction;
- if the pH is less than 7.35 - yes increased acidity body. You can start taking soda;
- if the pH is less than 7.25, the acidity is greatly increased;
- if the pH is less than 6.8, the most severe form of acid-base imbalance is present. Very possible serious problems with health. published .
The materials are for informational purposes only. Remember, self-medication is life-threatening; be sure to consult a doctor for advice.
P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet
The condition of the blood affects the functioning of all systems of the body, since it is not only a connecting link between them, but also ensures the viability of each. The flow rate depends on its viscosity. If it is elevated, the organs do not receive the necessary elements for normal operation. Thick blood, causes and treatment in women during pregnancy is of particular importance, as it can harm the health of both mother and baby.
Why does the blood become thick?
Plasma containing microelements, ions, proteins, hormones and others active substances and blood cells that perform various biological functions- these are the two components that make up the main biological fluid body. The ratio of cell mass and plasma normally ensures the free flow of blood through the vessels. In analyzes it is estimated as a hematocrit number. An upward change indicates an increase in viscosity.
It thickens due to an increase in the blood
- red blood cell count;
- hematocrit;
- hemoglobin.
Viscosity is also affected by the concentration of proteins - fibrinogen and prothrombin. The increase causes red blood cells to stick together, which has dangerous consequences in the form of thrombosis.
A decrease in the volume of the liquid part of the blood can occur due to:
- General dehydration of the body due to factors: reduced volume of fluid drunk; elevated temperature bodies due to infection or in hot climates; increased vomiting, diarrhea; diabetes; kidney dysfunction.
- Regular use of medications: diuretics, NSAIDs, oral contraceptives, for the treatment of impotence, for the treatment of diseases of the adrenal cortex.
- Pathologies of metabolic processes. At the same time, the blood is saturated with under-oxidized products, which provokes the transfer of part of the water from the plasma into the surrounding tissues.
- Respiratory pathologies. A decrease in the supply of oxygen to the blood leads to a deterioration in the condition of blood cells.
- Violations lipid balance. The entry of excess cholesterol and other lipids into the blood makes the blood viscous.
- Inflammatory processes. Causes appearance in the blood large quantity immune cells.
- Chronic stress. They lead to an increase in the content of glucose and cholesterol in the blood, which worsens its condition.
- Thermal burns, diseases of the liver, pancreas, blood (erythremia, leukemia, myeloma), blood vessels ( varicose veins), poor nutrition, obesity, smoking, exposure to polluted atmosphere, alcohol abuse.
Increased blood viscosity may be genetically determined.
Thick blood: symptoms in women
There are no specific symptoms of blood thickening; the symptoms of the disease that caused this condition are most clearly manifested. But we can identify a number of signs caused by difficulty in blood circulation:
- a feeling of fatigue, drowsiness, and a tendency to depression are associated with a decrease in blood flow in the microvessels of the brain;
- coldness of the skin of the extremities, numbness, goosebumps and tingling are explained by deterioration of blood circulation in the skin capillaries;
- headache appears in response to a compensatory increase blood pressure in small vessels of the brain;
- dry mucous membranes, poor urination are signs of dehydration;
- disturbances in the functioning of the heart - signs of angina pectoris, heart failure, hypertension, rhythm disturbances are caused by overload during blood pumping increased viscosity, and impaired blood circulation in small vessels of the myocardium.
Diagnostics
During a survey and examination, it is impossible to clearly determine the pathology, since its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. That's why accurate diagnosis only gives laboratory test. If you suspect that a patient has thick blood, what tests show abnormalities:
- general analysis reveals an increase in the number of red blood cells and other cells, high hemoglobin;
- hematocrit - determines the shift in the ratio of the amount of plasma and cell mass;
- the coagulogram reflects the state of the coagulation system;
- determining the APTT indicator allows you to assess how prone the blood is to rapid clot formation
- biochemical analysis, sugar tests, urine analysis are carried out to clarify the cause of blood thickening.
Dangerous consequences
First of all, the load on the heart increases, since viscous blood must be pushed through the vessels with greater strength. The heart muscle first hypertrophies and then, when exhausted, compensatory mechanisms, becomes thinner and loses the ability to adequately contract. Heart failure develops.
The slow flow of blood leads to red blood cells sticking together, oxygen starvation of tissues occurs, and lack of nutrition. The walls of blood vessels are damaged, which facilitates the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and large blood clots. As a result, deadly complications arise -
- heart attacks;
- strokes;
- thromboembolism.
Treatment
Eliminating problems associated with increased blood viscosity must begin with identification and treatment primary cause such a state. In addition, it must be comprehensive, regular and adequate. It should only be carried out under medical supervision with periodic checks. laboratory parameters.
Chronic causes require constant correction of metabolic disorders, and acute conditions can be stopped by influencing the underlying mechanism that caused blood clotting.
Drug effects
To thin the blood and reduce the risk of blood clots, anticoagulants are used:
- Heparin,
- Warfarin,
- Fraxiparine,
- Fenilin.
Another group of drugs are antiplatelet agents:
- Magnecard,
- Aspirin,
- Cardiomagnyl,
- Chime,
- Cardiopyrin.
Drugs from these groups cannot be combined in treatment.
Diet
It has great importance for blood composition. In order to eliminate increased viscosity, it is recommended to reduce or exclude from the usual diet
- milk and its products, cream,
- meat products, especially canned ones,
- fatty, spicy, salty,
- egg yolk,
- yeast bread,
- chocolate,
- coffee,
- lentils,
- grape,
- bananas,
- buckwheat,
- sugar and sweets.
Foods rich in taurine help make blood thinner. ascorbic acid and omega-3 fatty acids:
- sea fish, shrimp, mussels, other seafood;
- seaweed;
- citrus fruits, apples, pomegranates;
- plums, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries;
- beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, ginger, nuts, seeds;
- cocoa;
- linseed, olive oil.
The drinking regime should also be adjusted. You should drink an average of about 2 liters of water during the day. Tea, coffee and sweet drinks are not taken into account.
Physical activity
Inactivity contributes to an increase in blood density, so it is worth establishing a moderate regime physical activity. It is better to exercise in the evening, since in the morning a person’s blood is more viscous.
Herbal medicine
Traditional medicine recommends wormwood, sweet clover, chicory, meadowsweet, lungwort, lemon balm, peony, hawthorn, red clover, acacia, ginkgo biloba, willow bark, Caucasian dioscorea, mulberry, aloe juice and kalanchoe to thin the blood. horse chestnut(peel, flower decoction), nettle. You can learn more about herbal treatment.
Hirudotherapy
Leech treatment is effective and natural way combating blood thickening.
To prevent complications and exclude side effects, treatment by any method should only be carried out under the supervision of a physician.
Thick blood: causes and treatment in women during pregnancy
The pregnancy period requires female body tension of all forces. An increase in blood viscosity in expectant mothers is a physiological phenomenon. This is how nature protects a woman from possible large blood loss during childbirth. This becomes a problem when laboratory parameters significantly deviate from the norm.
Pathological thickening of blood during pregnancy may be due to
- insufficient intake of water from food;
- deficiency of vitamins, microelements, minerals, since the formation of the fetus requires them in large quantities;
- enzyme deficiency;
- increased work of the spleen;
- taking iron supplements;
- excess protein and carbohydrates in the diet.
In addition, pathology of the liver, kidneys, intestines, blood loss, increased coagulability, severe pain also contribute to blood thickening and can lead to miscarriages.
Lack of attention to excessively viscous blood during pregnancy is dangerous
- the formation of thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes, varicose veins mother's veins;
- fading of pregnancy, its premature termination, delayed fetal development, hypoxia.
Healthy blood is the key to the healthy functioning of the entire body, so it is extremely important to maintain its condition within normal limits. In case of any deviation, you should definitely consult a doctor and carry out the necessary treatment.
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 triggered by a complex of factors, such as: blood diseases, large blood loss, pain shock, or even iron supplements taken by the mother 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.
The quality of blood best reflects the state of human health. Changing the ratio of white blood cells to red ones can play a cruel joke on a woman’s health.
What is “thick blood”, symptoms in women, what is this condition called?
Blood thickening is a pathological condition that is caused by an imbalance between the liquid part of the blood (plasma) and the blood cells (blood cells). IN medical practice this indicator is called hematocrit. U healthy woman it ranges from 0.36 – 0.46. In absolute numbers, this means that 1 liter of blood should contain from 360 to 460 million cells. For men and children, this figure is slightly higher.
Warning symptoms pathological condition are fatigue, constant blush on the face, cold extremities, pallor, shortness of breath.
Among doctors, blood thickening is called a “disorder of the blood coagulation and anticoagulation system.” White and red blood cells play an important role in the development of this condition. An imbalance in the presence of these cells can cause a change in the properties of the blood towards increased or decreased clotting. Thanks to many medications, as well as studying the mechanism of development of this condition, it is possible to quickly and practically painlessly get rid of thick blood for the body.
Causes of thick blood in humans
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In order to understand how to treat thick blood in women, you need to know the reasons for its appearance. Currently, most of the reasons for this change are known:
- Dehydration of the body. The loss of fluid for our body is always stressful situation. It may arise due to food poisoning, excessively elevated ambient temperatures, banal restrictions in water consumption during the day, increased consumption of protein foods and salt, which draw water molecules from the cells.
- Decrease in the volume of circulating blood in the vascular bed. More often, a decrease in the amount of blood leads to hypoxia, which is corrected by the body by the release of blood cells from the depot. Unfortunately, the amount of fluid in the body is limited, so a condition occurs in which there are many blood cells and little plasma. This condition can also occur with various infectious diseases due to infectious-toxic shock.
- Diseases that are accompanied by chronic inflammatory processes(chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic arthritis, chronic bronchitis, etc.). In such conditions, the vascular bed always contains a large number of immune response cells, which can also cause the “thick blood” symptom. More often, such symptoms occur in women during pregnancy, as the volume of circulating blood increases, anemia occurs, and the body compensatory releases many blood cells into the vascular bed.
- Oncological diseases. Not only malignant diseases blood may cause blood clotting. Even new skin formations can cause a pathological immune response, which is most often expressed in changes in blood characteristics.
How does thick blood develop, what symptoms occur in women, how to choose treatment?
Changing the qualitative composition of the blood gradually leads to changes in the body:
- In most cases, an increase in some type of cell in the blood leads to an increase in its viscosity. The blood becomes heavy. A large number of small blood clots form in it, which worsen the poor circulation, clog the smallest vessels, preventing normal blood flow in them. Due to such changes, a person feels numbness and coldness on the skin of the extremities, and slight swelling occurs, especially in the evening.
- Due to lack of blood circulation in small vessels, the skin becomes dry, nails become brittle, and hair tends to become thin and fall out.
- Blood circulation in the capillaries is impaired internal organs. This leads to deterioration digestive function intestines, nutritional deficiencies. The result of this pathology is exhaustion of the body, instability to viral and bacterial pathogens.
- Failure small vessels in the gas exchange apparatus in the lungs leads to oxygen starvation most cells in our body. Brain cells are especially affected. People with this diagnosis often experience absent-mindedness, sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
Diagnosis of the symptom of blood thickening is not difficult. It is enough to take it several times within 10 days. Repeated testing will help to reliably determine a person’s blood parameters, excluding one-time changes in the blood that can occur due to anxiety, poor nutrition, or eating large amounts of fatty or carbonated foods.
In order to choose an effective and quick treatment method, it is necessary to determine main reason blood density and act directly on it.
Algorithm of action if you suspect a blood clot:
- Avoid alcohol and smoking until the circumstances are clarified.
- Increase the amount of plain water consumed during the day.
Assume a possible exacerbation of a chronic disease. The symptoms will be especially clear in women 60 years of age and older, because by this time estrogen protection against cardiovascular disease has dried up. Therefore, many symptoms of heart pathology arise, which, if treated poorly, can cause the “thick blood” symptom. If you have a chronic disease, you must urgently seek medical help and carry out full examination state of the body.
It is important to change your diet. To improve blood properties, it is necessary to limit the consumption of fatty, fried meat, yeast dough and sweets.
If you follow the above rules, all functional (one-time) changes in the blood will go away within 3-4 days; if your health does not improve, you should contact medical institution. There they will conduct an examination for the presence of diseases:
- Diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus.
- Pathology of the thyroid gland.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system, chronic and acute.
- Chronic diseases of the digestive tract.
- Benign and malignant neoplasms.
- Pathology of the musculoskeletal and joint apparatus.
These are the main diseases that can cause organic changes in the qualitative and quantitative properties of blood.
A good treatment that is often used in the medical practice of blood thickening is the use of warfarin. This drug is an innovation recent years in the fight against blood clotting. Its use is quite dangerous, as it can cause the opposite effect, but if all recommendations are followed and the blood properties are carefully checked every 2-3 months, the effect of warfarin is completely justified compared to its possible side effects.
Is there a way to prevent blood clotting?
Thick blood causes symptoms in women that make life worse. Reviews about this disease indicate that it is difficult to treat. Therefore, in order to prevent blood thickening, it is recommended to use ordinary gymnastics several times a week.
In pregnant women, the risk of developing blood pathologies increases, so they are strongly recommended to practice yoga. You don't have to spend a large amount Money For an individual trainer, video lessons are enough.
If there are at least a few signs of blood thickening, you should immediately consult a doctor, because our blood is the most important medium that ensures the viability of the human body. Any change in it indicates the presence of pathology in the body, which can lead to a significant deterioration in health.
The most important functions of the blood are inhibited when the relationship between formed elements, substances dissolved in the blood and plasma water is disturbed. If the cell number or concentration is biologically important substances prevails over the liquid component of the blood, its density, or viscosity, increases.
The causes of this pathological condition lie in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory organs, regular stress, poor nutrition, the presence of foci of infection in the body, long-term use medicinal substances. It requires immediate correction from outside.
Thick blood flows more slowly through the vessels and saturates the body’s tissues with oxygen. At the same time, the concentration of dissolved hormones, electrolytes, cholesterol, and coagulation factors in the blood increases.Let's watch a story about thick blood
Blood consists of plasma and blood cells. The dry part of plasma is a collection of proteins, hormones, fats, sugars, enzymes and ions. The rest of the plasma is water.
Causes of blood thickening
Dehydration
Excessive fluid loss occurs when:
- insufficient water consumption;
- kidney diseases;
- diabetes mellitus;
- profuse sweating with fever or in hot climates;
- uncontrollable vomiting;
- repeated diarrhea due to food poisoning.
Dehydration is at risk for people with chronic diseases in which the bulk of the fluid leaves the body with urine (diabetes mellitus, acute and chronic pyelonephritis).
Ask your question to a clinical laboratory diagnostics doctor
Anna Poniaeva. Graduated from Nizhny Novgorod medical academy(2007-2014) and Residency in Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (2014-2016).
Inflammatory processes are accompanied by an increase in body temperature, dehydration of the body due to increased sweating and an increase in the amount of urine. These mechanisms, aimed at reducing temperature, are based on the removal of excess heat with the liquid.More information about thick blood in simple language
Use of synthetic drugs
Some medications, when used for a long time or irrationally, lead to loss of the liquid part of the plasma and thickening of the blood. These include
- adrenal cortex preparations (Aldosterone, Hydrocortisone, Cortisol);
- oral contraceptives;
- diuretics;
- drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (Viagra).
Violation of protein, fat, carbohydrate metabolism
Many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas are the cause of the entry of under-oxidized metabolic products from the intestines into the blood. This promotes blood thickening due to a large amount of formed elements, glucose and cholesterol.
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