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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.
A clot that breaks away and travels to the heart or lungs can cause a blockage which can lead to death. The other type of thick blood would be blood that contains too many red cells. It really is thick and the only treatment is to the bleed the patient periodically. The patient will have a unit (pint) of blood drawn every week or so until his blood count is down to normal. The patient should be under the care of a doctor who specializes in hematology (study of blood).