Hello,
I recently had my blood sent to the lab to test for diabetes. I am 18 years old, and seem to be in pretty good health. My father and every brother of his has diabetes. Anyways, my blood turned out to be okay as far as the sugar was concerned. The doctor was, however, very concerned about the thickness of my blood. The doctor has scheduled me for an appointment to talk about this, but I am eager to learn more before I go in to see my doctor. The doctor told me that thick blood like mine was not good, and was usually a result of a lot of smoking. So, my question: What is the harm of having thicker-than-normal blood? and, also, is smoking most likely the cause of this 'disorder'? I have never smoked a day in my life. However, my entire life I have been in a house full of smoke from my mother, father, brother, sister, and other relatives that have come and gone. I am very curious about what the risks are, if any, and I appreciate any advice! Thank you.