{"id":2924,"date":"2018-10-02T21:53:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-02T21:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2924"},"modified":"2021-10-13T04:47:02","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T04:47:02","slug":"10-facts-about-polycythemia-vera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/10-facts-about-polycythemia-vera\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Facts About Polycythemia Vera"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Polycythemia vera is an extremely rare health condition that affects approximately only 2 out of every 100, 000 people. The symptoms of PV can include fatigue and itching, headaches, and bleeding from the gums \u2013 and if you experience any symptoms associated with PV, it could mean you have a very serious though the rare type of blood cancer.<\/p>\n

This could put you at risk of developing other conditions, too \u2013 and it\u2019s important to understand your condition.<\/p>\n

It can be terrifying to be diagnosed with a condition like this, especially when nobody else has heard of it before. If you have just been diagnosed with PV, there are a few things that you should know \u2013 including the fact that while PV has no cure, the condition can be managed with a combination of lifestyle changes and the right medication.<\/p>\n

Here are 10 facts about PV that you might not have known about.<\/p>\n

1. PV is generally not inherited from a family member<\/h3>\n

There are many different types of cancers out there, and in many of those cases (such as breast, prostate<\/a> or uterine cancer) see genetic factors play a huge role; one of the first questions a doctor will ask you is whether or not you have a history of health conditions, especially cancers, in your family. But in the case of PV, this isn\u2019t true at all \u2013 and while the condition is caused by a genetic mutation, it\u2019s not one that\u2019s inherited or passed on from one generation to the next.<\/p>\n

Instead, the genes that are affected by PV are only present in certain cells \u2013 and thus can\u2019t be genetically passed on. While you can\u2019t inherit the disease or gene mutation itself, you can inherit a predisposition to developing cancer (and PV) \u2013 and should still take care if there\u2019s any family history of any other types of cancer in your family, because this can automatically mean you are at a higher risk of developing it yourself.<\/p>\n

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2. PV is a blood-disorder with many associated symptoms.<\/h3>\n

There are many different symptoms that can be characteristic of having PV, and you should take note if you have been experiencing symptoms like tiredness<\/a>, headache, day or night sweats, bleeding of the gums and tiredness; itching after a warm bath can also be a symptom, and you could find that you are suddenly experiencing much heavier bleeding from small cuts.<\/p>\n

Along with these symptoms, you might also experience burning or numbness of the extremities \u2013 or blind spots and difficulty seeing.<\/p>\n

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms that could be associated with PV, then your next step should be to make an appointment with a professional so that you can be tested for the possibility of having the disease. Make sure that you mention any symptoms that you have been experiencing that could be relevant \u2013 and even mention the symptoms that don\u2019t seem relevant to you, as they could mean a lot to your doctor.<\/p>\n

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3. PV is known as chronic blood cancer, and the condition has no cure \u2013 but can be managed with the right treatment.<\/h3>\n

PV is chronic blood cancer, and it\u2019s known as a fairly rare blood disorder \u2013 but that doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll never have to deal with it in your life. It\u2019s a condition that has seen an increase in recent years, and if you have been diagnosed with PV then it means that your body is agitating its own bone marrow and red blood cells; this means that your entire system is affected, and if the condition is left untreated it could drastically slash your life expectancy.<\/p>\n

If the condition is spotted in time, then it means that you can live a long life with the right treatment. This should be all the more reason to make an appointment with your doctor if you experience any of the associated symptoms at all.<\/p>\n

Ensure that you give your doctor a proper and thorough run-through of what your symptoms have been, and remember that the context of your symptoms could also be of great help to your doctor when making a diagnosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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4. Being diagnosed with PV could mean that you qualify for disability status.<\/h3>\n

Many health conditions mean that you automatically have a chance to qualify for disability status; this includes many health conditions that are considered to be life-threatening, and this could impair your ability to work.<\/p>\n

What is disability status and why would you care? Disability status means that you are subject to certain benefits as a result of your classification, including a grant that might be able to help you with paying medical costs<\/a> and living expenses for when your illness stops you from working.<\/p>\n

Every state has a slightly different process for applying for disability status, and you should find out from your specific state\u2019s website what you can do to apply for it: Simply, keep all of your medical reports handy, and be willing to go for a medical examination performed by a doctor that\u2019s appointed by the state \u2013 and no, that\u2019s never as scary as it might sound.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the simple truth that most people who have been diagnosed with PV could really use the help.<\/p>\n

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5. PV can cause other blood disorders and leukemia.<\/h3>\n

While the gene mutation associated with PV cannot be directly passed on from one family member to the next, it\u2019s true that the increased risk associated with getting PV can \u2013 and this means that you should still take note if you have ever had anyone with PV in your family (or if you suspect it) and mention this to your doctor so that you can have yourself tested for the condition as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

There are many other types of cancers that can be associated with PV, especially other types of blood cancers<\/a>; take special note of this when mentioning your family history to your doctor. If you are adopted and aren\u2019t sure of your family history at all, then you have more of a reason to get yourself tested for the disease.<\/p>\n

If it is left untreated, the consequences can be fatal \u2013 and years of living with PV can put you at a much higher risk of developing leukemia or bone marrow cancer.<\/p>\n

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6. PV can lead to other symptoms, including the enlargement of the spleen.<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve only gone over some of the symptoms of PV briefly in this article, and we\u2019ve only covered some of the most common symptoms that you might experience \u2013 and should take as early warning signs to make an appointment with your doctor and have them run a few tests to find out; this doesn\u2019t mean that they\u2019re the only symptoms of PV, only that they turn out to be the most commonly experienced ones.<\/p>\n

PV forces a few organs in your body to work considerably harder \u2013 and these include your liver and kidneys<\/a>, but will also include your spleen. Years of living with PV can easily cause an enlarged spleen, and this can mean that you experience a lot of pain and discomfort as a result \u2013 another sign of an enlarged or inflamed spleen could be that you feel full even when you haven\u2019t eaten yet, and it can be a sign that you should go back to your doctor when this discomfort starts to show. \"\"<\/p>\n

7. PV is a very rare condition \u2013 though that doesn\u2019t mean you can forget about it.<\/h3>\n

PV is a rare condition that affects only about 2 in every 100, 000 people \u2013 and it\u2019s more commonly seen in older people, though can sometimes happen in younger people, too, though this is even rarer.<\/p>\n

Just because it\u2019s a rare health condition doesn\u2019t mean that you or someone in your family aren\u2019t at risk: Consider the size of the world population, and then recalculate your odds when thinking about two people in every 100, 000 \u2013 just how many people have been born in your town over the last ten years? Twenty? Thirty? Since you were born?<\/p>\n

This statistical analysis isn\u2019t meant to scare anyone \u2013 even though it sounds scary at first. It\u2019s only meant to put your risk factor into a larger perspective so that you can see rare disorders aren\u2019t really as rare as you might think: They can still affect you or someone you love just as easily as they could affect the random two in every 100, 000.<\/p>\n

If you experience any of the symptoms of PV or spot them in someone else, then you should make an appointment with your doctor and mention your full symptoms<\/a> to them: This can help them decide what the next step is to follow, and it could lead to an early diagnosis and being able to manage the condition easier. <\/p>\n

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8. The condition can also be managed for years with the right medication.<\/h3>\n

So far, there is no known cure for PV \u2013 and this can be one of the most difficult and discouraging things to find out if you have been diagnosed with the disease. But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the end of the journey for you by any means: There is still a lot of research being done on this rare disorder, and researchers are confident that they will eventually come to a breakthrough that will mean they can cure the disorder completely.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, the condition can be managed for years with a few lifestyle changes, regular medical check-ups, and the right medication \u2013 and it can\u2019t hurt to be more health-conscious whether or not your tests for PV come back positive, so what have you really got to lose by living healthier?
\nAmong the drugs that can be prescribed for PV include chemotherapy medication such as busulfan or hydroxyurea, and those who have been diagnosed with PV are also sometimes prescribed blood-thinners such as aspirin<\/a> to decrease their risk of forming blood clots.<\/p>\n

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9. PV is a blood disorder and a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow.<\/h3>\n

PV is known as both a blood disorder and a type of cancer, and if you have PV then it\u2019s common to have what\u2019s called a hematocrit level above 45%. If you\u2019ve never heard of this before, hematocrit is how the volume of red blood cells in your body are measured and written down in medical terms \u2013 and this is usually the first thing that your doctor will check for when you report that you are experiencing symptoms of PV and would like to get tested.<\/p>\n

Remember that PV is an extremely rare blood disorder, and if you suspect that you might have it, it\u2019s vitally important that you mention this to your doctor \u2013 otherwise, they won\u2019t have any idea where to start testing, and they might misdiagnose this potentially fatal health condition. Your doctor will also need to know your full list of symptoms, and if the tests come back positive, you might have to provide your doctor with the necessary resources to be more informed.<\/p>\n

Hematocrit is a measure of the volume of red cells in the blood and is stated as a percentage. Signs that your PV is not being controlled can include a hematocrit level above 45%. Medical research suggests that an elevated hematocrit level can increase the risk of serious health problems, such as blood clots leading to a heart attack<\/a> or stroke.<\/p>\n

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10. PV can occur in cats and dogs, too.<\/h3>\n

Polycythemia vera isn\u2019t just a condition that can affect only humans: PV has also been seen in a lot of animals too and is sometimes diagnosed in both dogs and cats \u2013 though it\u2019s as rare of a condition when it comes to animals as it is in humans, and most animals live through their lives without ever having to worry about the possibility of PV.<\/p>\n

When it does happen, your vet should be able to confirm the presence of PV with a simple test or two \u2013 and from there on in, your best bet will be to take the quickest steps to treatment<\/a> as you can and hope for the best. Luckily, as is the case with most types of cancers, early prognosis is usually best \u2013 and this happens to be true in both humans and animals.<\/p>\n

The symptoms of PV are similar in both animals and humans, and you should take note of if your animals have been displaying any of the characteristic PV symptoms that have already been mentioned in this article.<\/p>\n\r\n

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