According to the American Society of Hematology, approximately 10 percent of Americans over age 65 are anemic. The two most common causes are chronic diseases (such as ulcers, liver or kidney disease, hypothyroidism, inflammation of the stomach or intestines, and cancer) and iron deficiency.
Changing your diet to include less alcohol and more foods rich in iron, folate, and vitamin B-12 may help restore your platelet levels. Your doctor may also recommend a daily supplement to help supply these important nutrients.
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.
Overview. Hemophilia is a rare disorder in which the blood doesn't clot in the typical way because it doesn't have enough blood-clotting proteins (clotting factors). If you have hemophilia, you might bleed for a longer time after an injury than you would if your blood clotted properly.
Alcohol can thin your blood, because it prevents blood cells from sticking together and forming clots. This may lower your risk for the type of strokes caused by blockages in blood vessels.
However, if the drug makes the blood too thin, it can increase the risk of brain hemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain. The study involved 258 people who had brain hemorrhage, 51 of whom were taking warfarin. Participants were 69 years old on average and lived in or near Cincinnati.
To thicken blood, focus on foods that are high in vitamin K. This fat-soluble nutrient is necessary for thickening or clotting blood. Its name is derived from the German term "koagulation," and it is sometimes referred to as "the clotting vitamin" for its essential role in the blood coagulation process.
Drinking caffeine-filled beverages can lead to “sticky blood,” and an increased risk of a blood clot according to a leading Consultant in the UK. The likes of coffee and other caffeine favourites can dehydrate the body, making the blood become a thicker consistency - leading to slower blood flow.
All the fruits in the berry-family, including strawberries, cranberries, and blueberries are significant blood thinners.
Water helps to thin the blood, which in turn makes it less likely to form clots, explains Jackie Chan, Dr. P.H., the lead study author. But don't chug your extra H2O all at once. "You need to drink water throughout the day to keep your blood thin, starting with a glass or two in the morning," adds Dr.
Thin and Watery
But if your blood becomes thinner or watery or you experience a watery discharge of any color, it could be a symptom of anemia or a tumor. If your period blood gets thinner over two or three cycles, talk to your doctor about being tested for nutritional deficiencies or a fallopian tumor.
Your blood helps spread the warmth and oxygen throughout your body, and not having enough blood can lead to you feeling cold.
Some people will experience symptoms such as headache, numbness or tingling several days before they have a serious stroke. One study found that 43% of stroke patients experienced mini-stroke symptoms up to a week before they had a major stroke.
Caffeine might slow blood clotting. Taking caffeine along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Red wine contains a substance called resveratrol, an antioxidant flavonoid that may lower bad cholesterol levels and thereby minimize the potential for blood clots. Antioxidants called polyphenols, of which resveratrol is one, may aid in the protection of the lining of blood vessels within the heart as well.
Resveratrol in red wine
Some research shows that resveratrol could be linked to a lower risk of inflammation and blood clotting, which can lower the risk of heart disease. But other studies found no benefits from resveratrol in preventing heart disease.
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.
Having fewer red blood cells causes hemoglobin to drop. Hemoglobin is the part of blood that carries oxygen through your body. Having fewer white blood cells makes you more likely to get an infection. And having fewer platelets makes the blood too thin.
Blood volume
If we don't drink enough water, then we are at risk of our blood congealing and solidifying, causing blood clots. If the blood is thick, the heart must work harder to pump the blood around the body.
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.
One of the first steps in forming a blood clot involves small blood cells called platelets. Platelets do not actually "thicken;" however, iron supplements may increase the number of platelets and enhance their function, causing them to form clumps.