Is it ok to have thin blood?!
Question: I grew up in South Florida and from what I understand, when you live in a hot environment your blood thins so it can circulate better. The opposite with cold environments, your blood thickens to keep you warm.
Well I've lived in a cold environment for 9 years and my blood still seems to be thin. Basically, when I bleed, it takes a while for it to stop. Little things like hangnails that I pull off tend to bleed for an hour or more! I've been tested and am not anemic. What's the deal? Is my blood still thin or is there something I don't know about going on here? Shouldn't my body be acclimated to the environment?
Answers: I grew up in South Florida and from what I understand, when you live in a hot environment your blood thins so it can circulate better. The opposite with cold environments, your blood thickens to keep you warm.
Well I've lived in a cold environment for 9 years and my blood still seems to be thin. Basically, when I bleed, it takes a while for it to stop. Little things like hangnails that I pull off tend to bleed for an hour or more! I've been tested and am not anemic. What's the deal? Is my blood still thin or is there something I don't know about going on here? Shouldn't my body be acclimated to the environment?
It probably won't thicken up because it's how your body has adapted. You grew up living in a warm area, therefore, your has adapted to being thin. It's all about adapting and where you live.
Look at those who live in really cold climates, like in alaska and such. They tend to have more rounder features in order to stay warm (speaking moreso of the natives). They could turn around and move to florida, but they would not lose all of that extra roundness they have just because they don't need it now. It is all about how you have adapted.
It's the same reason why you could look at a person who have a long line of their family born in america, etc, yet you could take a look at them and tell where they are from. Certain things, such as skin color, our hair, shapes of our noses and faces, etc stay for a long time.
It sounds like your blood is still thin, but don't worry about it. I live in Northern Indiana (man is it cold right now!) and I naturally have thin blood.
If anything, I would worry if your blood started thickening up. It could be a sign of a disease.
I could be wrong, but to me it does not sound healthy for the heart to change the thickness of blood from a climate change.
yes
Its not the enviroment...see your doctor. Are you on any medications? Low platelets?? Doesn't sound right it takes an hour for a hang nail to stop bleeding.
It's okay. You can thin or thicken it by eating certain foods. you might want to get it checked to make sure it is where it should be for you.
Thin blood can definately be a problem. Have you heard of Hemophilia? It can be extremely dangerous, but if you've been tested for anemia, you've obviously told your doctor, and if he hasn't run anymore tests, it can't be thin enough for concern. I wouldn't worry about it.
no it isn't! see a doctor before you end up with a head bleed!
not kidding by the way!
Mention this to the doctor next time you see one. My uncle had to take blood thinners as he aged and moved to Florida because he could no longer take the cold. The only problem I know of is the one you mention, if it gets to thin and won't clot properly or as quickly as it should. You probably don't have hemophilia but see the link below.
Where you live does not have anything to do with whether or not your blood is thin or not. If you or your doctor suspect you bleed more then the average person you would need to have a clotting time done. There are several medical conditions which can cause this to be. Such as hemophilia, von Willebrands disease Thrombocytopenia to name a few.
if you don't have hemophilia you should be fine, if this is a severe problem there are medicines that can increase your platelet count
I suggest you ask your Dr for a blood test to check your platelet count, when there is low platelet levels there is bleeding tendencies, this sometimes can be caused by some medications, such as aspirin and also disease process, although this may not be your case its always wise to find out as prevention