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Thick blood may also be caused by the presence of harmful pathogens such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. These pathogens can actually activate a coagulation response in the body as a way to avoid being attacked by the bodyâs immune system.
The thickness of your blood can depend on a number of factors. Your red blood cell count has the most influence on the viscosity of your blood. Blood fats, such as LDL (âbadâ) cholesterol, can affect this viscosity â the more LDL you have passing through your bloodstream, the thicker your blood will be. Other factors such as chronic inflammation, smoking, diabetes, eating habits and even your genetic makeup can all contribute to the varying thinness or thickness of your blood.