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What is polycythemia vera (PV) and how does it affect you?
PV is a blood condition in which the body produces an abnormally large number of red blood cells. Blood thickens as a result of the increased red cells. The thicker blood takes longer to move through your body and may clot.
Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body to organs and tissues. The cells cannot transport enough oxygen if the blood travels too slowly or clots. This scenario has the potential to result in catastrophic consequences such as a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.
PV affects roughly 22 persons out of every 100,000. It is most typically diagnosed in men over the age of 60, according to doctors.
What are the signs and symptoms of PV (polycythemia vera)?
PV patients have a wide range of symptoms. Some folks don't show any signs or symptoms at all. Among the signs and symptoms are:
Weakness and exhaustion
Breathing problems when lying down
Expansion (bigger than normal) the spleen (the organ that clears blood cells from the body)
Double eyesight or hazy vision
Itchy skin, particularly after a hot bath
Bleeding gums and skin that is reddish or purple in color
Loss of weight
Tinnitus is a type of ringing in the ears (ringing in the ears)
Sweating, especially at night, is a common occurrence.
What are the polycythemia vera (PV) treatments?
Phlebotomy is a method used by Hematologist in India to treat PV. This treatment involves the removal of blood from the body. Iron is found in abundance in red blood cells. The generation of red blood cells by the bone marrow is slowed when the iron is removed from the body.
A health worker will inject a needle into a vein and drain blood through a tube into a container during phlebotomy. Phlebotomy is usually done once a week for people with a new PV diagnosis until their red blood cell level returns to normal. Following that, they may need a phlebotomy every three months to maintain normal levels.
