The normal value of human erythrocytes is (4.0-5.5) × 1012/L for adult males and (3.5-5.0) × 1012/L for adult females. When the number of erythrocytes is consistently higher than this normal value, it is called erythrocytosis. Mild erythrocytosis lacks specific clinical manifestations, but a prolonged or large increase in erythrocytes can cause various hazards to the body.
On the one hand, the increase in red blood cells in the patient’s blood causes an increase in the total volume of blood in the body, resulting in a polycytic face with purple-red skin and mucous membranes, especially in the cheeks, lips, tongue, tip of the nose, neck and the ends of the limbs, and significant congestion of the conjunctiva. It is also because of the increased blood volume of the patient that about half of the patients with hypererythrocytemia have a combination of hypertension, dizziness, drowsiness and other discomforts, and in severe cases, complications such as heart disease and proteinuria.
On the other hand, increased red blood cells in the patient’s blood can lead to increased blood viscosity and manifestations of slow blood flow and tissue hypoxia, such as headache, dizziness, excessive sweating, fatigue, forgetfulness, tinnitus, visual impairment and numbness of the extremities. In severe cases, extremely slow blood flow has the possibility of thrombosis, even causing cerebral infarction, heart attack and other thromboembolic events.
In addition, because some of the aging red blood cells in the body need to be removed through the spleen, increased red blood cells may result in hypersplenism and splenomegaly, causing abdominal distension, constipation and other discomforts.
In summary, mild erythrocyte increase may not produce specific injury symptoms, but long-term or large increases in erythrocytes can cause various hazards to the human body and should be treated systematically and regularly.