Facts To Know About Phlebotomy For Polycythemia

Every microliter of blood should contain about 4.2 to 5.4 million and 4.7 to 6.1 million red blood cells in women and men, respectively. According to the National Health Service (NHS), too many red blood cells can result in the thickening of the blood, which may cause problems, such as clotting, in the circulatory system. In fact, this condition is a rare type of blood cancer called polycythemia. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD, at least 40 out of every 100,000 Americans suffer from this condition. Currently, phlebotomy is one of the most effective and widely used treatment options for polycythemia. Here’s some more information on this topic.

What is Phlebotomy?

Simply put, phlebotomy is a medical procedure that involves drawing blood from the body through a needle inserted in a vein. This procedure is aimed at reducing the number of cellular elements, mainly red blood cells, and this helps to reduce blood viscosity. Depending on the severity of the condition, you may undergo several phlebotomy procedures at intervals of, say, a week or month, until your hematocrit reaches acceptable levels. While some patients recover after a few sessions, those with chronic polycythemia may require this procedure for many years to keep the condition in check.

Alternative ways to phlebotomy for polycythemia, although phlebotomy is the most effective way of treating polycythemia, you can practice healthy lifestyle habits to reduce the number of sessions required. Some of the recommended habits include, among others:

• Drinking a lot of fluids — Staying hydrated can help a great deal in preventing your blood from thickening. However, this does not reduce the number of red blood cells in your blood, and hence, it is only a way to manage your condition as you undergo treatment.

• Avoiding smoking — According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smokers are more prone to cardiovascular diseases because nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict. Since polycythemia impairs blood circulation, ensure you keep them dilated by quitting smoking.

• Regular body massage — One of the benefits of massage is improved blood circulation, and this is necessary for patients with polycythemia. Therefore, ensure you undergo regular massage to enhance circulation, although you should always consult your doctor before engaging in anything.

Conclusion

Since drawing blood helps a great deal in reducing blood viscosity, phlebotomy for polycythemia treatment remains a useful procedure in the medical industry. While there’s nothing you can do to prevent primary polycythemia, avoiding activities that may deprive you of oxygen can help a great deal in preventing secondary polycythemia.

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