This article discusses the symptoms and causes of secondary polycythemia in addition to diagnosis and treatment.
What is the difference between primary and secondary polycythemia?
Primary polycythemia is resulting from an abnormality of the cells in the bone marrow that form red blood cells.
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The job of a red blood cell is to deliver oxygen to the body tissues.
Smoking, for example, interferes with this process, so it is a common cause of secondary polycythemia.
Others include:
How Is Secondary Polycythemia Diagnosed?
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Other blood tests include measurement of erythropoietin and red blood cell mass levels.
Treatment for Secondary Polycythemia
Treatment for secondary polycythemia should control or eliminate the underlying condition.
As much as a pint (475 milliliters) may be taken in one sitting as if tolerated.
Once the underlying cause is corrected, symptoms of secondary polycythemia usually go away.
Your healthcare provider will guide you along the best path for resolving both.
Summary
Secondary polycythemia is associated with an underlying condition and causes an overproduction of red blood cells.
Symptoms usually develop gradually and can include headache, weakness, pain, confusion, and more.
Treating the underlying condition will also treat and correct polycythemia.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Haider MZ, Anwer F.Secondary Polycythemia.
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