What does the a high number of red blood cells indicate?

Polycythemia, or erythrocytosis, is a condition in which the red blood cell count is greater than normal. This can be due to a number of factors, including:

* Increased production of red blood cells by the bone marrow. This can be caused by a number of conditions, including:

* Polycythemia vera, which is a rare type of blood cancer

* Chronic kidney disease

* Hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the blood)

* High altitude living

* Decreased destruction of red blood cells. This can be caused by a number of conditions, including:

* Splenectomy (removal of the spleen)

* Liver disease

* Iron deficiency

* A combination of increased production and decreased destruction of red blood cells.

A high red blood cell count can lead to a number of problems, including:

* Increased blood viscosity, which can lead to problems with blood flow

* An increased risk of blood clots

* Heart disease

* Stroke