The blood is the life force of the body. People cannot survive without blood, and any disorder or disease of the blood will have serious complications. The blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. The white blood cells are part of the immune system and help fight disease. The platelets allow the blood to clot when there is a wound. There is a delicate balance of all these cells in the blood, and when there is an excess of any of these cells, there is a problem.
Polycythemia Vera
Polycythemia vera is a disease in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells. It is also possible for this disease to allow the body to produce too many white blood cells or platelets, as well. The problem lies in the overproduction of red blood cells. This will cause the blood to become too thick and serious complications will follow. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease usually develops slowly and is very rare.
Jaundice
The body rids itself of old blood cells each day. Medline Plus states that in a normal body, approximately one percent of all red blood cells die off each day in order to be replaced by new ones. The old red blood cells are taken into the liver, where bilirubin is left as a by-product after the old red blood cells are disposed. When there are too many red blood cells in the body, the liver becomes overloaded trying to break them down. Because the liver is taking on so many red blood cells, there is an excess amount of bilirubin in the blood. The bilirubin is a yellowish brown pigment, and when there is an excess amount, the skin and eyes become yellow.
DVT and Blood Clots
Deep venous thrombosis, or DVT, is a serious, sometimes fatal condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein that is deep inside the body. It occurs when the blood is too sticky and contains too many red blood cells. DVT usually affects the lower legs and thighs. Drugs.com states that this disease is most dangerous when the clots break free from the vein and move through the blood stream. The clots can travel to the brain, which can cause a stroke. These clots can also travel to the heart, causing a heart attack and possible death. When the dislodged clots make it inside the lungs, the area of the lungs that is blocked from blood flow will become permanently damaged.
