CBS.com; CBS All Access; CBS News; CBSN; Watching Live TV. All Access Live TV; TV Provider
The extra red blood cells make your blood thicker than normal. As a result, blood clots can form more easily. These clots can block blood flow through your arteries and veins, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. Thicker blood also doesn't flow as quickly to your body as normal blood.
Peripheral artery disease and high blood pressure. If high blood pressure is left untreated for a long time, it can put extra strain on the arteries in your arms and legs and may cause the blood vessels in the legs to narrow, causing painful cramps. High blood pressure can cause your arteries to become more narrow. They can also damage the arteries, and fatty deposits can build up around the areas of damage. These deposits make the arteries narrower still and this results in poor circulation in the legs and feet. These problems are known as peripheral artery disease (PAD)