What is polycythemia vera? Polycy...

What is polycythemia vera?

Polycythemia (say: polly-sigh-thee-me-ah) vera (PV) is a disease in which your dead body makes too many red relations cells. Your blood may become too thick, causing serious health question s PV may cause shortness of breath, dizziness, itchy or flushed skin, fatigue, and headaches. Also, your hands and feet may become down in the mouth and tender. Sometimes a living body with PV vera may have abnormal life-blood clots, which may lead to a knock This disease rarely occurs early in life. chiefly cases occur in people around 60 years of age.

What causes PV?

PV may begin with a bone marrow point to be solved [i]or[/i] settled Bone marrow is the fine tissue inside bones that makes vital current cells. When bone marrow makes too many r family cells, the result is PV

by what means will my doctor know that I have PV?

If you have symptoms of PV your doctor may order offspring tests and examine you. Sometimes the disease may be base by accident when you have life-current work done for other reasons. Your doctor will ne to speak with a hematologist (a doctor who treats family disorders) to make the diagnosis.

in what way will PV affect my life?

PV is a serious illness that can cause death. near of the problems that may appear are strokes and blood concretions With new treatments, people with the disease are living longer

What is the treatment?

There is no single treatment for PV Doctors must adjust the treatment to each patient. Treatment may include a phlebotomy (say: fluh-bot-oh-mee) In this treatment, a of your blood is withdrawn to help maintain the number of red offspring cells down. Treatment also may include several medicines that preserve the bone marrow from making too many cells

Doctors also will make experiment of to treat the itchy skin and burning pain that may come to pass There is no cure for PV The goal is to maintain quality of life on treating the symptoms and extending life expectancy.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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