Is polycythemia a life threatening disease?

Answer 1

Not necessarily.

Polycythemia is a condition defined by a anormaly large number of circulating red blood cells. It is separated between the relative polycythemia (where the increased number of red blood cells is due to a reduced total blood volume) or the absolute polycythemia (where there are more red blood cells produced).

There are a large number of causes that can result in polycythemia (heavy smoking, living in altitude, genetic diseases, cancer). One of them is known as "Polycythemia Vera" and is a proliferative disease that could degenerate in leukemia.

In summary, there is a link (could be the cause or the effect) between polycythemia and cancer, but polycythemia is not cancer.

SO SORRY, BUT WHOEVER WROTE THE ABOVE IS INCORRECT. "POLYCYTHEMIA" CAN BE CAUSED BY NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER (DEHYDRATION).

HOWEVER, POLYCYTHEMIA VERA IS NOT EVEN THE SAME ANIMAL, IS CONSIDERED A CANCER, AND IS TREATED WITH HYDROXYUREA, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

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Answer 2

It is seen as a form of chrnic leukemia. There is many simular things and a few differences. the major difference is the absence of the philidelhia chromosome. The side effect of PV is Acute Leukemia.

Answer 3

No. Polycythymia is a condition of too many red blood cells, whereas anemia is a condition of too few red blood cells.