5 warning signs that your blood is too thick.

Blood that is too thick can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. This condition often presents with early warning signs such as dizziness, blurred vision, or shortness of breath.

Thick blood affects capillaries, hindering the supply of oxygen and nutrients, increasing the risk of high cholesterol and cardiovascular problems. Photo: Shutterstock .

Smooth blood circulation plays a crucial role in transporting oxygen and nutrients to nourish the body. However, when blood becomes too "thick" or its viscosity increases, the flow slows down, increasing the risk of oxygen deficiency in organs, especially the brain and heart. According to Tencent News , the body often sends out many early warning signals, but not everyone recognizes them.

What is thick blood?

Blood viscosity refers to the "thickness" and "fluidity" of blood. This means that an increase in the visible components of blood, such as red blood cells, platelets, blood lipids, or plasma proteins, leads to increased resistance to blood flow and a slower blood flow rate.

Dr. Liu Fang, Head of the Cardiology Department No. 2 at the Aviation Hospital affiliated with China Medical University, once likened this process to a "water solution." A glass of water contains many different substances; if the amount of one solute increases or the amount of water decreases, the concentration of the solution will be higher and it will become thicker. Blood in the body is similar.

Increased blood viscosity primarily affects capillaries, hindering the supply of oxygen and nutrients. Tissue cells subjected to chronic oxygen deprivation and ischemia will experience functional impairment and even cell death.

Thick blood also increases friction with the blood vessel walls, accelerating aging and damage to the inner lining of blood vessels, while triggering inflammatory responses. This damage facilitates cholesterol deposition, gradually forming atherosclerotic plaques. If these plaques rupture, they can trigger the clotting system, leading to the formation of blood clots and causing serious diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke.

Warning signs that your blood may be too thick

Experts warn that if your body exhibits these five symptoms, it could be a sign that your blood is becoming too thick.

Dizziness after waking up

Many people often feel sluggish, dizzy, or take a long time to fully wake up. This could be a sign of poor blood flow to the brain due to increased blood viscosity.

This is because when blood becomes thicker, blood flow slows down and the oxygen concentration in the blood decreases. As a result, the brain cannot receive enough nutrients and oxygen in time, leading to fatigue and confusion.

Thick blood in the body can manifest as dizziness upon waking up, even without suddenly standing up. Photo: Shutterstock.

Frequent drowsiness and lethargy.

If you're not sleep-deprived but still feel sleepy during the day, especially after meals, it could be related to poor blood circulation. This is more pronounced in people with thick blood or cerebral arteriosclerosis.

The reason is that the blood is too thick, reducing the brain's ability to receive oxygen, which in turn causes feelings of fatigue, lethargy, lack of concentration, and a constant desire to sleep.

Chest tightness and shortness of breath when squatting.

Individuals with high blood viscosity often have a high rate of overweight and obesity. This group is prone to experiencing chest tightness and shortness of breath when squatting. This is because in a squatting position, the return of blood from the veins of the lower limbs to the heart is easily obstructed, reducing the amount of blood returning to the heart.

Meanwhile, blood with high viscosity further increases the burden on the circulatory system, potentially causing the lungs, brain, and other vital organs to experience temporary ischemia and oxygen deprivation.

Lips turn purple after light exercise.

If even light exercise causes blue lips, shortness of breath, or a feeling of oxygen deprivation, this could be a sign that your body is lacking oxygen. Besides thick blood, this symptom could also be related to heart or lung disease, so it needs to be checked promptly.

A fleeting blurry vision

Blood flow through the small blood vessels in the retina slows down, which can cause temporary ischemia or oxygen deprivation. This often manifests as temporary blurred vision, dizziness, or darkening of the eyes for a few seconds, which then resolves on its own.

What can be done to reduce blood thickening?

Experts recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle to support blood circulation:

• Drink enough water every day, especially at three key times: after waking up in the morning; one hour before meals; and one hour before going to bed. Drink about 200 ml of warm water each time.
• Limit tobacco and alcohol consumption.
• Eat less fatty foods, organ meats, and sweets.
• Increase your intake of green vegetables, fish, and whole grains.
• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep, reduce stress.

In addition, people with underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol should have regular health checkups to detect cardiovascular risks early.

Source: https://znews.vn/dau-hieu-mau-dac-trong-co-the-post1651480.html