| For your body to function properly, it needs a steady | | | | In polycythemia vera, researchers have found this |
| supply of oxygenated blood that is supplied by red | | | | mutation to be a change in a protein switch that tells |
| blood cells. These blood cells carry oxygen from the | | | | the cells to grow. Specifically it's a mutation in the |
| lungs to different parts of the body to give you energy | | | | protein JAK2 (the JAK2 V617F mutation)," explained |
| and keep the skin healthy. | | | | the Mayo Clinic. |
| But if the bone marrow makes too many red blood | | | | "More than 90 percent of patients with polycythemia |
| cells, the blood thickens and trouble begins. This is | | | | vera, and about half of patients with other |
| called polycythemia vera - a blood disorder that | | | | myeloproliferative disorders, have this mutation. |
| causes many health problems. | | | | Doctors and researchers don't understand the full role |
| "Polycythemia vera - also called primary polycythemia | | | | of this mutation and its implications for treating the |
| - occurs most often in older adults. It's rare in people | | | | disease," it added. |
| younger than 20. Polycythemia vera usually develops | | | | But don't feel so bad if you have this condition since |
| very slowly. You may have it for years without | | | | you can live with the disease in the absence of |
| noticing any signs or symptoms. Often, polycythemia | | | | complications like a stroke, heart attack, an enlarged |
| vera is found during a blood test done for some other | | | | spleen and skin problems. |
| reason," said the Mayo Clinic. | | | | "Polycythemia vera causes your blood to be thicker |
| In the early stages, the disease has no symptoms. As | | | | than normal, which can slow the rate of blood flow |
| it progresses, the patient may have headaches, | | | | through your veins and arteries. Increased blood |
| dizziness, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing | | | | thickness and decreased blood flow, as well as |
| especially when lying down, chest pain, numbness and | | | | abnormalities in your platelets, increase your risk of |
| fatigue. | | | | blood clots. Blood clots can cause a stroke, a heart |
| No one knows why people get polycythemia vera but | | | | attack, or blockage of an artery in your lungs |
| it appears to be caused by a mutation in red blood cell | | | | (pulmonary embolism) or in a vein deep within a muscle |
| production. The mutation is acquired but how this | | | | (deep vein thrombosis)," warned the Mayo Clinic. |
| happens is a mystery. What we know if that the | | | | Treatment is aimed at keeping the red blood cell level |
| disease is common in older people, it affects more | | | | within a tolerable range. This can be done with the use |
| men than women and it appears to run in families. | | | | of drugs, phlebotomy (removing blood) or low-dose |
| "The problem with blood cell production associated | | | | aspirin to decrease clotting and reduce the chance of |
| with polycythemia vera is caused by a change, or | | | | a stroke or heart attack. |
| mutation, to DNA in a single cell in your bone marrow. | | | | |