Evidence consistently shows that altitude-related secondary polycythemia increases red blood cell mass and hematocrit, which in turn leads to increased whole blood viscosity.
Evidence for · 2
Tibetan Medicine Duoxuekang Capsule Ameliorates High-Altitude Polycythemia Accompanied by Brain Injury.
2021 · cited by 17
Paper [2] confirms that chronic hypobaric hypoxia leads to elevated RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and whole blood viscosity.
See more details
More for · 1
Molecular Basis of Hypoxia Induced Excessive Erythrocytosis
2017 · cited by 1
Paper [11] notes that while high-altitude polycythemia increases oxygen-carrying capacity, it also causes the blood to increase its viscosity.