Why Is My Blood Too Thick?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Thick blood is caused by

heavy proteins, or by too much blood in the circulation

. Too many red cells, white cells, and platelets will result in blood thickening. Another cause is an imbalance in the blood clotting system.

What does having thick blood mean?

Having thick blood (hypercoagulability) means that

you are prone to excessive clotting or clotting when you are not bleeding

. It can lead to dangerous blood clots that can result in a heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening problems.

How can I thin my thick blood naturally?

  1. Turmeric. Share on Pinterest. …
  2. Ginger. Share on Pinterest. …
  3. Cayenne peppers. Share on Pinterest. …
  4. Vitamin E. Share on Pinterest. …
  5. Garlic. …
  6. Cassia cinnamon. …
  7. Ginkgo biloba. …
  8. Grape seed extract.

Can Drinking Water thin your blood?

Natural Blood Thinners


Even water can naturally thin the blood

. Dehydration causes the blood to thicken, which can lead to an increased risk of clots. So drinking plenty of water can be good for cardiovascular health.

Does Covid make your blood thick?

Media Contact. ATLANTA – After noticing unusual blood clotting in many patients diagnosed with COVID-19, doctors at Emory University believe

there may be a connection to the thickness of their blood, known as hyperviscosity, with inflammation and clotting.

Do bananas thin your blood?

Bananas. Packed with potassium,

bananas can help improve blood flow by lowering blood pressure

. Too much sodium in your diet can cause high blood pressure, but potassium helps the kidneys remove extra sodium from your body, which then passes through your urine. This helps relax blood vessels and enable blood flow.

Is coffee a blood thinner?

It was concluded that

caffeine has the capacity to inhibit the metabolism of warfarin and enhance its plasma concentration and hence anticoagulant effects

. Thus, patients should be advised to limit the frequent use of caffeine-rich products i.e. tea and coffee during warfarin therapy.

What would happen if my blood is too thin?

Thin blood presents

problems with clotting, wound-healing, and bruising

. On the other hand, thick blood can increase the risk of blood clots and thrombosis, which can be life-threatening.

Does dehydration make your blood thicker?


When you’re dehydrated, you lose blood volume, which causes your blood to get thicker

. That makes it harder for your heart to supply that blood to your muscles. As your heart works harder to pump that blood, your heart rate increases.

How do you know if you have thick or thin blood?

  1. Complete blood count: This test screens for the presence of red blood cells and platelets in the blood. …
  2. Activated protein C resistance: This tests for the presence of factor V Leiden.

Does baby aspirin help with thick blood?

Low-dose aspirin or baby aspirin (81 to 100 milligrams) has previously been recommended as a safe and cheap way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.

Aspirin does this by thinning out the blood and preventing blood clots from forming

, per the New York Times.

What are the signs of a blood clot in your lung?

  • Shortness of breath. This symptom typically appears suddenly and always gets worse with exertion.
  • Chest pain. You may feel like you’re having a heart attack. …
  • Cough. The cough may produce bloody or blood-streaked sputum.

Does a blood clot go away on its own?

Blood clots can also cause heart attack or stroke.

Blood clots do go away on their own

, as the body naturally breaks down and absorbs the clot over weeks to months. Depending on the location of the blood clot, it can be dangerous and you may need treatment.

How do you dissolve blood clots naturally?

Natural Ways to Treat Blood Clots


Eat natural pineapple or take a nutritional supplement with bromelain

. Increase your intake of other foods and drinks that may help dissolve blood clots such as garlic, kiwi, kale, spinach, red wine, and grape juice. Drink more water. Increase your exercise.

Do eggs thicken blood?


A nutrient in meat and eggs may conspire with gut bacteria to make the blood more prone to clotting

, a small study suggests. The nutrient is called choline. Researchers found that when they gave 18 healthy volunteers choline supplements, it boosted their production of a chemical called TMAO.

Is chocolate a blood thinner?


Dark chocolate thins the blood

and performs the same anti-clotting activity as aspirin. Many doctors recommend baby aspirin to reduce our risk of heart attack or stroke. Researchers at University of California, Davis have found that dark chocolate has a similar effect.

Does salt thicken your blood?

Fluid retention caused by excessive salt consumption can lead to increased pressure on the blood vessel walls](http://www.livestrong.com/article/429361-why-does-sodium-increase-blood-pressure/).

The pressure causes the blood vessel walls to thicken and narrow

and the heart begins to pump harder to move fluid around.

Which drink is good for blood circulation?

The antioxidants in tea promote cardiovascular health and may improve circulation. This is true for both

black tea and green tea

. A 2001 study , published in the journal Circulation, found that black tea improves blood vessel health. Healthy blood vessels help improve circulation.

What can be used as a blood thinner?

  • Anticoagulants, such as heparin or warfarin (also called Coumadin), slow down your body’s process of making clots.
  • Antiplatelets, such as aspirin and clopidogrel, prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot.

Is aspirin a blood thinner?

Not Without Risks

It can help prevent a heart attack or clot-related stroke by interfering with how the blood clots. But the same properties that make

aspirin work as a blood thinner to stop it from clotting

may also cause unwanted side effects, including bleeding into the brain or stomach.

Does thick blood make you tired?

The increase in blood cells makes the blood thicker. Thick blood can lead to strokes or tissue and organ damage. Symptoms include

lack of energy (fatigue)

or weakness, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, visual disturbances, nose bleeds, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual periods, and bruising.

Does thin blood make you tired?

Aside from bleeding-related issues, there are several side effects that have been linked to blood thinners, such as nausea and low counts of cells in your blood.

Low blood cell count can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath

.

Can you donate blood if you have thick blood?

Your blood may flow better



If blood has a high viscosity, or resistance to flow, it will flow like molasses

,” says Phillip DeChristopher, M.D., Ph. D., director of the Loyola University Health System blood bank.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.