Polycythemia Vera Symptoms and Treatment

Polycythemia Vera Treatment: Polycythemia vera is also called “PV”. It is a type of blood cancer, mainly occurring in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft part of the bone, which is in the middle of the bone and its main job is to make blood cells.

When suffering from polycythemia vera, the bone marrow starts making excessive amounts of red blood cells and due to this, the blood becomes thicker.

Due to this condition, there is an increased risk of problems like stroke, heart attack or blood clotting, etc.

Symptoms of Polycythemia Vera

Most people with PV do not show any signs and symptoms, in others, some such symptoms can be seen:

Itching (especially after bathing with warm water)
Headache
Dizziness
To bleed
Bleeding or bruising (usually mild symptoms)
Feeling weak
To be tired
Blurred vision
Sweating profusely
Pain and swelling in one of the joints of the body (usually in the thumb)
Breathlessness
Having a fever
Loss of body weight (the cause of which is not known)

Read these also: Lung Cancer Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Why does it happen

PV disease is seen more in men than in women. The likelihood of developing polycythemia vera increases primarily after the age of 60, although it can occur at any age.

Any variation in the JAK-2 (JAK2) gene is the main cause of PV disease. This gene controls the production of proteins that make blood cells.

Read this also: Polycythemia Vera suggestions by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute