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Thick blood may also be caused by the presence of harmful pathogens such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. These pathogens can actually activate a coagulation response in the body as a way to avoid being attacked by the bodyâs immune system.
People take blood thinners to increase the amount of time it takes blood to form a clot. They don't actually thin the blood. Thick blood would be blood that clots too fast. Oftentimes heart patients have to take blood thinners (anticoagulants such as coumarin) because they already have a tendancy to clot too quickly.