What does the a high number of red blood cells indicate?
Polycythemia, or erythrocytosis, is a condition in which the red blood cell count is greater than normal. This can be due to a number of factors, including:* Increased production of red blood cells by the bone marrow. This can be caused by a number of conditions, including:
* Polycythemia vera, which is a rare type of blood cancer
* Chronic kidney disease
* Hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the blood)
* High altitude living
* Decreased destruction of red blood cells. This can be caused by a number of conditions, including:
* Splenectomy (removal of the spleen)
* Liver disease
* Iron deficiency
* A combination of increased production and decreased destruction of red blood cells.
A high red blood cell count can lead to a number of problems, including:
* Increased blood viscosity, which can lead to problems with blood flow
* An increased risk of blood clots
* Heart disease
* Stroke