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