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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.
An excess of platelets can cause excessive clotting or sometimes bleeding if the platelets are not functioning properly. However, people with too many platelets often have no signs or symptoms, so the condition may be found only when a platelet count is done as part of a health check or for other reasons.