INDEPENDENCE DAY. On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies claimed their independence from England, an event which eventually led to the formation of the United States.
Polycythemia vera is a rare, chronic disorder involving the overproduction of blood cells in the bone marrow (myeloproliferation). The overproduction of red blood cells is most dramatic, but the production of white blood cells and platelets are also elevated in most cases.
Secondary polycythemia can also be caused by behaviors, lifestyles, or disease that causes a lack of oxygen in the blood, such as smoking, living at high altitudes, and lung diseases. When there is a lack of oxygen, the body responds by producing more red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body's cells.