Question:
What is the medical term for “thick blood”? I hear people say they have this condition but I’m not sure what this is.

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
You have a condition called thrombophilia. This is an inherited tendency to form blood clots, and a family history of the same condition is present. It is also referred to as a hypercoagulability state. Sometimes you can also acquire this condition as a result of aging or recent surgery. This condition may be associated with conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, pregnancy, women taking oral contraceptives, and cancer. When there are no symptoms, no treatment is required. Routine lab tests may reveal thrombophilia. Treatment with a blood thinning agent will be given if clot formation becomes a health issue.