Polycythemia is a condition that occurs when the bone marrow
produces an abnormal and excessive amount of red blood cells and
platelets in the blood. The abnormal increase of red blood cells
in the blood can cause the blood to thicken and clot. There are
several forms of polycythemia—primary polycythemia, secondary
polycythemia, and stress polycythemia—and each form has its own
set of causes and risk factors. Primary polycythemia is a
serious and chronic condition that requires immediate care from
your doctor. No cures exist for this condition, but there are
treatment options. It is extremely important that you seek
medical attention to establish a treatment plan. The precise
cause of primary polycythemia is unknown. There are no apparent
genetic or environmental factors that can be attributed to
causing primary polycythemia. A risk factor is something that
increases your chances of getting a disease or condition. The
following factors will increase your chances of developing
primary polycythemia: - Sex: male