We all know that the blood in our body is not like water, but a liquid with a certain viscosity. But imagine, what happens if this blood becomes much thicker than normal, like thick mud? It becomes difficult for this thick blood to move through the fine blood vessels throughout our body. It is like thick mud getting stuck inside a pipe. In this way, the blood thickens like coconut milk, and the blood circulation in the body is impaired, which is what we call Hyperviscosity Syndrome in medicine. This is not just a small thing, but sometimes a very dangerous, life-threatening condition. Let's talk about this simply, in a way that you can understand.
Why is the blood suddenly so thick?
The first thing to understand is that Hyperviscosity Syndrome is not a disease in itself. It is a symptom of another underlying condition. Just like a cough is a symptom of a cold or pneumonia. Blood thickening is mainly caused by an excess of various types of cells or proteins in the blood.
Simply put, if the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, or serum proteins in the blood increases abnormally, the blood thickens.
The table below lists some of the main medical conditions that can cause this condition.
| Conditions that can cause blood clotting | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Waldenström's Macroglobulinaemia (WB) | This is the most common cause of hyperviscosity. This is a type of blood cancer that occurs in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissues. It is caused by the overproduction of an abnormal protein, which causes the blood to thicken. |
| Multiple Myeloma | This is also a type of cancer that affects plasma cells. The abnormal proteins produced by the cancer cells cause the blood to thicken. |
| Polycythemia Rubra Vera | This is a disease of the bone marrow. In this condition, red blood cells are produced in an uncontrolled manner. As the number of red blood cells increases, the blood's viscosity also increases significantly. |
| Leukemia | In leukemia, a blood cancer, there is an overproduction of white blood cells. These cells may be abnormally shaped. This can cause blood vessels to become blocked and the blood to thicken. |
| Connective tissue disorders | Blood clotting can sometimes occur in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, but this is very rare. |
| Other rare causes | There may be a number of other causes, such as cryoglobulinaemia (a disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels), chronic hypoxia (chronic lack of oxygen), and some cancer treatments (Retinoic acid therapy). |
How does it feel when your blood thickens? What are the symptoms?
Think about it, every organ in our body, from the brain to the tips of our fingers, is carried by blood, carrying oxygen and nutrients. So when this blood flow is blocked, those organs do not get what they need. That is why symptoms appear. These symptoms can vary from person to person, and they can also vary depending on the original disease that caused the blood to thicken.
These are some of the commonly seen symptoms:
Symptoms affecting the brain and nervous system
The brain can be most affected by impaired blood flow.
- Severe headache and dizziness
- Vision problems: blurred vision, double vision, sometimes sudden loss of vision
- Hearing problems: decreased or loss of hearing
- Convulsions
- Extreme fatigue and drowsiness (Lethargy)
Symptoms related to bleeding
When blood thickens, the delicate control of blood flow is disrupted, which can lead to unexpected bleeding.
- Easy bruising
- Mucosal bleeding (nosebleeds, gums)
- Other unusual bleeding (e.g., blood in the stool)
Other serious symptoms
These indicate that the body's major organs are being damaged.
- High blood pressure (Hypertension)
- Heart failure: chest pain, shortness of breath
- Kidney failure
- Blood clots (Thrombosis)
- Severe infection (Sepsis)
If you or someone you know has one or more of these symptoms, it is very important to see a doctor immediately without delay.
How to treat this dangerous condition?
Hyperviscosity Syndrome is a medical emergency because, if left untreated, it can starve vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys of oxygen, leading to permanent damage or even failure. Therefore, prompt treatment is essential.
The treatment plan usually consists of two levels.
1. Immediate, short-term treatment
The first step is to control the symptoms and quickly reduce the blood's viscosity. One of the most commonly used treatments for this is Plasmapheresis .
Plasmapheresis is a process similar to blood purification. A small amount of your blood is taken from your body, passed through a special machine, and the plasma, which contains extra proteins that cause your blood to clot, is separated and removed. The healthy red and white blood cells are then mixed with a replacement fluid and returned to your body.
This can quickly reduce blood clotting and stop organ damage. However, it is up to your medical team to decide whether this treatment is right for everyone and whether it is necessary.
2. Long-term treatment (treatment of the underlying disease)
After reducing the blood's viscosity, the next most important thing is to treat the original disease that caused it. Because if that disease is not treated, the blood can thicken again.
- If the cause is cancer such as Multiple Myeloma or Leukemia , anti-cancer treatments such as chemotherapy are given.
- If the cause is polycythaemia , treatment is given to remove the extra red blood cells or reduce their production.
- If it is another medical condition, doctors will recommend specific treatments for it.
For this, a team of doctors, including hematologists, oncologists, and nephrologists, will come together to develop the best treatment plan for you.
Take-Home Message
- Hyperviscosity Syndrome is a condition in which the blood becomes thick like coconut oil, blocking blood flow in the body.
- This is not a separate disease. It is a symptom of another serious condition, such as blood cancer.
- Don't ignore symptoms such as severe headaches, vision changes, unusual bleeding, or extreme fatigue.
- This is a medical emergency . See your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms. If necessary, go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately.
- Treatment involves both immediate blood thinning (such as plasmapheresis) and treatment of the underlying disease.
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