Loading
Skip to main content
Hospitals & health topics Careers Health professionals
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora
  • icon for Health topics Health topics

    • Allergies
    • Bladder, kidney and urinary system
    • Blood and blood vessels
    • Bones, muscles and joints
    • Brain and nerves
    • Cancer
    • Diabetes
    • Ear, nose and throat
    • Eyes
    • Feet and ankles
    • Heart
    • Infectious diseases
    • Lungs
    • Men's health
    • Older people's health
    • Skin
    • Stomach and bowel
    • Women's health
    Popular topics
    • Colds and flu
    • Diarrhoea and vomiting
    • Long COVID
    • Bronchitis
    • Measles
    • Conjunctivitis
    • Medicines and prescriptions
    • Surgery
    • Rongoā māori
    • Home equipment
    • Medical tests and procedures
    • Emergencies and first aid
    Popular topics
    • Blood count results
    • Colonoscopy
    • Mammograms
    • Abortion
    • Prolapse procedures
    • Catheters
    • Brain health for adults
    • Cancer screening
    • Dental care
    • Drinking responsibly
    • Eating well
    • Emergencies and natural disaster
    • Gender health
    • Healthy homes and environments
    • Physical activity
    • Sexual health
    • Smoking and vaping
    • Tattoos
    • Travel
    • Sleep
    • Workplace wellbeing
    Popular topics
    • Measles vaccine
    • Sign up for free breast screening
    • Bowel screening
    • Doing a vaginal swab
    • Contraception
    • Immunisations
    • National Immunisation Schedule
    • Vaccines given in Aotearoa
    • When to immunise
    • Book a vaccine
    • Vaccine side effects, reactions and safety
    • Benefits of immunisation
    • Get a copy of your immunisation record
    Popular topics
    • Measles vaccine
    • Whooping cough vaccine
    • Flu vaccine
    • Meningococcal vaccines
    • COVID-19 vaccines
    • Shingles vaccine
    Book a vaccine

    Book a vaccine

    Most vaccines can be booked online or over the phone.

    Book a vaccine
    • Planning your pregnancy
    • Finding out you are pregnant
    • Having a healthy pregnancy
    • Health problems in pregnancy
    • Pregnancy and immunisations
    • Screening
    • Lead maternity carers — midwives and doctors
    • Miscarriage and baby loss
    • Labour and birth
    • Postnatal depression
    • Breastfeeding
    • Pregnancy, birth and children services
    • You and your newborn
    • Where to get help for mental health
    • Mental health conditions
    • Crisis assessment teams
    • Alcohol and drugs
    • Assault and abuse
    • Mārama — feedback on mental health and addiction services
    All health topics A to Z
  • icon for Hospitals and services Hospitals and services

    • Auckland
    • Bay of Plenty
    • Canterbury
    • Hawke's Bay
    • Manawatū-Whanganui
    • Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman
    • Northland
    • Otago and Southland
    • Rotorua and Taupō
    • South Canterbury
    • Tairāwhiti Gisborne
    • Taranaki
    • Waikato
    • Wairarapa
    • Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti
    • West Coast
    Feedback about our hospitals

    Feedback about our hospitals

    Your valuable feedback and suggestions help us provide the best possible care for our patients, whānau and communities.

    Feedback
    • Asian, migrant and refugee
    • Dentists
    • Emergency departments (ED)
    • General practices
    • Public hospitals
    • Health professionals
    • Services for Deaf and disabled people
    • Pharmacies
    • Sexual health clinics
    • Service support and eligibility
    • National Public Health Service
    • Provide suggestions, feedback or a complaint
    • Planned care
    • New Zealand Familial Gastrointestinal Cancer Service
    Which service should I use?

    Which service should I use?

    Find the right healthcare for your needs.

    Who can help
    • Limited range of publicly funded health services
    • People from Pacific Island countries
    • Eligibility for publicly funded health and disability services
    • Carer Support Subsidy
    • National Travel Assistance
    • National Health Index number (NHI)
    • Community Services Card
    • Free health checks for 2022 Special Ukraine Visa holders
    • Zero fees for tamariki under 14
    • Breast prosthesis subsidy
    • Wigs and hairpieces subsidy
  • icon for Online and phone Online and phone

    • Call Healthline 24/7 telephone advice service
    • Online GP care Online appointments
    • Book a vaccine Find a provider near you
    • My Health Record External link. Your personal health information
    • Ka Ora Rural after-hours telecare
    Online GP care

    Online GP care

    Online consultants with registered healthcare professionals are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Online GP Care
  • icon for About us About us

    • Our role and priorities
    • Our regions and districts
    • Planning and performance
    • Programmes and initiatives
    Health targets

    Health targets

    Supporting the delivery of better health and mental health outcomes for New Zealanders.

    Health targets
    • Our executive team
    • Our board
    • Our clinical leadership team
    • Our ministers
    • Expert groups and networks
    Latest news and media releases

    Latest news and media releases

    News
    • All corporate publications External link.
    • Annual reports External link.
    • Ministerial advice External link.
    • OIA request response External link.
    • Performance publications External link.
    • Strategies and plans External link.
    • Te Pae Tata report External link.
    • Health targets performance resources External link.
    • Health Delivery Plan External link.
    • Health Workforce Implementation Plan External link.
    Publications

    Publications

    Corporate publications, including annual reports, OIA responses, strategies and plans.

    Publications
    • New Zealand Trauma Registry
    • Data sets and collections
    • Contact us
    • Contact specific Health NZ teams
    • Media access and enquiries
    • Official Information Act requests
    • Making a donation or bequest
    Feedback about our hospitals

    Feedback about our hospitals

    Your valuable feedback and suggestions help us provide the best possible care for our patients, whānau and communities.

    Feedback
    • Working at Health NZ
    • Explore New Zealand
    • Roles with Health New Zealand
    • Privacy — Job applications, registrations and expressions of interest
    • Contact the careers team
  • News
Login
  • Health topics

    • Conditions

      • Allergies
      • Bladder, kidney and urinary system
      • Blood and blood vessels
      • Bones, muscles and joints
      • Brain and nerves
      • Cancer
      • Diabetes
      • Ear, nose and throat
      • Eyes
      • Feet and ankles
      • Heart
      • Infectious diseases
      • Lungs
      • Men's health
      • Older people's health
      • Skin
      • Stomach and bowel
      • Women's health
    • Tests and treatments

      • Medicines and prescriptions
      • Surgery
      • Rongoā māori
      • Home equipment
      • Medical tests and procedures
      • Emergencies and first aid
    • Keeping well

      • Brain health for adults
      • Cancer screening
      • Dental care
      • Drinking responsibly
      • Eating well
      • Emergencies and natural disaster
      • Gender health
      • Healthy homes and environments
      • Physical activity
      • Sexual health
      • Smoking and vaping
      • Tattoos
      • Travel
      • Sleep
      • Workplace wellbeing
    • Immunisations

      • Immunisations
      • National Immunisation Schedule
      • Vaccines given in Aotearoa
      • When to immunise
      • Book a vaccine
      • Vaccine side effects, reactions and safety
      • Benefits of immunisation
      • Get a copy of your immunisation record
    • Pregnancy and maternity

      • Planning your pregnancy
      • Finding out you are pregnant
      • Having a healthy pregnancy
      • Health problems in pregnancy
      • Pregnancy and immunisations
      • Screening
      • Lead maternity carers — midwives and doctors
      • Miscarriage and baby loss
      • Labour and birth
      • Postnatal depression
      • Breastfeeding
      • Pregnancy, birth and children services
      • You and your newborn
    • Mental wellbeing

      • Where to get help for mental health
      • Mental health conditions
      • Crisis assessment teams
      • Alcohol and drugs
      • Assault and abuse
      • Mārama — feedback on mental health and addiction services
    All health topics A to Z
  • Hospitals and services

    • Find a hospital

      • Auckland
      • Bay of Plenty
      • Canterbury
      • Hawke's Bay
      • Manawatū-Whanganui
      • Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman
      • Northland
      • Otago and Southland
      • Rotorua and Taupō
      • South Canterbury
      • Tairāwhiti Gisborne
      • Taranaki
      • Waikato
      • Wairarapa
      • Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti
      • West Coast
    • Find a service

      • Asian, migrant and refugee
      • Dentists
      • Emergency departments (ED)
      • General practices
      • Public hospitals
      • Health professionals
      • Services for Deaf and disabled people
      • Pharmacies
      • Sexual health clinics
      • Service support and eligibility
      • National Public Health Service
      • Provide suggestions, feedback or a complaint
      • Planned care
      • New Zealand Familial Gastrointestinal Cancer Service
    • Eligibility and subsidies

      • Limited range of publicly funded health services
      • People from Pacific Island countries
      • Eligibility for publicly funded health and disability services
      • Carer Support Subsidy
      • National Travel Assistance
      • National Health Index number (NHI)
      • Community Services Card
      • Free health checks for 2022 Special Ukraine Visa holders
      • Zero fees for tamariki under 14
      • Breast prosthesis subsidy
      • Wigs and hairpieces subsidy
  • Online and phone

    • Call Healthline 24/7 telephone advice service
    • Online GP care Online appointments
    • Book a vaccine Find a provider near you
    • My Health Record External link. Your personal health information
    • Ka Ora Rural after-hours telecare
  • About us

    • What we do

      • Our role and priorities
      • Our regions and districts
      • Planning and performance
      • Programmes and initiatives
    • Who we are

      • Our executive team
      • Our board
      • Our clinical leadership team
      • Our ministers
      • Expert groups and networks
    • Publications

      • All corporate publications External link.
      • Annual reports External link.
      • Ministerial advice External link.
      • OIA request response External link.
      • Performance publications External link.
      • Strategies and plans External link.
      • Te Pae Tata report External link.
      • Health targets performance resources External link.
      • Health Delivery Plan External link.
      • Health Workforce Implementation Plan External link.
    • Health data

      • New Zealand Trauma Registry
      • Data sets and collections
    • Contact us

      • Contact us
      • Contact specific Health NZ teams
      • Media access and enquiries
      • Official Information Act requests
      • Making a donation or bequest
    • Careers

      • Working at Health NZ
      • Explore New Zealand
      • Roles with Health New Zealand
      • Privacy — Job applications, registrations and expressions of interest
      • Contact the careers team
  • News External link.
  • Careers

    • Working at Health NZ

      • Our recruitment process
      • Careers in our new facilities
      • International events
      • International candidates
      • Testimonials from our workforce
    • Explore New Zealand

      • Northland
      • Auckland
      • Waikato
      • Bay of Plenty
      • Rotorua and Taupō
      • Tairāwhiti Gisborne
      • Taranaki
      • Hawke's Bay
      • Manawatū and Whanganui
      • Wairarapa
      • Wellington, Hutt Valley and Kapiti
      • Nelson Marlborough
      • West Coast
      • Canterbury
      • South Canterbury
      • Otago and Southland
    • Roles with Health New Zealand

      • Types of roles

        • Clinical roles
        • Procurement roles
        • Hauora Māori Service roles
        • Other non-clinical roles External link.
        • Volunteers
      • Resident Medical Officers (Junior Medical Officers)

        • PGY1 House Officers (NZREX, PLAB)
        • PGY1 House Officers (NZ and Australia Graduates)
        • PGY2+ House Officers
        • PGY3+ Senior House Officers
        • Registrars
        • Fellows
      • Senior Medical Officers (Physicians and Consultants)

        • Anaesthetists
        • Cardiologists
        • Cardiothoracic Surgeons
        • Dermatologists
        • Emergency Medicine Specialists
        • Gastroenterologists
        • General Practitioners
        • General Surgeons
        • Haematologists
        • Internal (General) Medicine Specialists
        • Internal (General) Medicine Specialists
        • Neurosurgeons
        • Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
        • Oncologists
        • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
        • Orthopaedic Surgeons
        • Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgeons (ENT)
        • Paediatric Surgeons
        • Paediatricians
        • Pain Medicine Specialists
        • Pathologists
        • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
        • Psychiatrists
        • Radiologists
        • Rural Hospital Doctors
        • Urologists
        • Vascular Surgeons
        • All other areas of practice
      • Allied Health, Scientific and Technical

        • Anaesthetic Technicians
        • Cardiac Sonographers
        • Clinical Psychologists
        • Medical Imaging Technologists
        • Occupational Therapists
        • Oral Health Therapists
        • Pharmacists
        • Physiotherapists
        • Radiation Therapists
        • Sonographers
        • Sonographers
        • All other areas of practice
      • Nursing and Midwifery

        • Nurses
        • Graduate Registered Nurses
        • Midwives
      • Medical teams

        • Cancer Care teams
        • Critical Care teams
        • Medical Imaging teams
        • Mental Health and Addiction teams
        • Paediatrics
        • Assisted Dying Service roles
  • Health professionals

Contact us Feedback
Login

What are you looking for?

What are you looking for?

Search for conditions, treatments, healthcare facilities and hospital information

Popular topics

  • Bowel screening
  • Healthline
  • Hospitals
  • National Immunisation Schedule
  • Breast screening
  • Hand, foot and mouth disease
  • Shingles vaccine
  • COVID-19
  • Measles

Other languages and alternative formats

Get information in your language

  • Te reo Māori
  • عربي | Arabic
  • 简体中文 | Chinese (Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 | Chinese (Traditional)
  • Te Reo Māori Kuki ‘Āirani | Cook Islands Māori
  • فارسی | Farsi
  • Vosa Vakaviti | Fijian
  • हिन्दी | Hindi
  • 日本語 | Japanese
  • Te taetae ni Kiribati | Kiribati
  • 한국어 | Korean
  • Vagahau Niue | Niuean
  • NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language)
  • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ | Punjabi
  • Fäeag Rotuḁm | Rotuman
  • Gagana Sāmoa | Samoan
  • Sinhala
  • Español | Spanish
  • Tamil
  • Te Gagana Tokelau | Tokelauan
  • Lea Faka-Tonga | Tongan
  • Te Gana Tuvalu | Tuvaluan

Get information in alternate formats

  • Easy Read
  • Audio
  • Braille
  • Large Print
  • NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language)

This page contains location specific content

Select your location to make sure you are viewing the most relevant information.

    Searching
    Using your current location
    Using your selected location

    There was a problem locating you

    QR Code
    1. Home
    2. Health topics ,current page
    3. Conditions ,current page
    4. Blood and blood vessels ,current page

    Blood and blood vessels
    Ngā toto

    Anaemia

    Anaemia is when you do not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry the oxygen you need around your body. If you have anaemia, you may feel tired, light-headed and weak.

    Aneurysms

    An aneurysm is a bulge in your artery due to a weakness in the artery wall. Sometimes an aneurysm can burst (rupture). This is a medical emergency.

    Aortic dissection

    Aortic dissection is a rare condition where the wall of your aorta (the main artery carrying blood out of your heart) tears. An aortic dissection is a medical emergency.

    Atherosclerosis

    Atherosclerosis is a build up of plaque on the inner lining of artery walls. This causes the artery to narrow and can lead to a range of serious complications.

    Blood clotting disorders

    Some people have blood that clots more easily than usual. This is called thrombophilia.

    Compression stockings

    Compression stockings support your legs and apply pressure to increase the flow of blood in your veins back up to your heart.

    Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

    A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a vein. It most commonly happens in the calf or thigh.

    Folic acid deficiency anaemia

    Your body needs folic acid (also known as folate). Folic acid deficiency anaemia is a condition where low folate levels reduce red blood cell production. This leads to tiredness and weakness.

    Giant cell arteritis

    Giant cell arteritis (GCA), or temporal arteritis, is an uncommon but serious condition. It causes inflammation in the arteries of your head and neck. This may affect the blood supply and cause possible permanent damage to your vision.

    Haemophilia

    When most people cut themselves, clotting factors in the blood combine with blood cells (platelets) to make their blood sticky. This makes the bleeding stop. If you have haemophilia, you are missing a clotting factor and you may bleed for longer than usual.

    High platelets (essential thrombocythaemia)

    Essential thrombocythaemia is a rare condition that causes high levels of platelets. Platelets are a part of your blood that helps with clotting (stopping bleeding).

    High red blood cells (primary polycythaemia vera)

    Primary polycythaemia vera is a rare disease caused by your bone marrow making too many red blood cells. It can be diagnosed at any age, but the average age for diagnosis is 60. It is more common in men than in women.

    Iron overload

    Iron is a mineral your body needs to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your body. It is also has other important roles for your muscles, hair, skin, nails and brain function. Iron overload is when too much iron builds up in your body.

    Low iron and iron deficiency anaemia

    Iron is a mineral your body needs to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your body.

    Low sodium (hyponatraemia)

    Sodium is an important — it helps keep the right amount of water in your body. It is also needed for nerve and muscle function. Low sodium (hyponatraemia) is when the sodium concentration in your blood is below normal.

    MGUS

    MGUS stands for monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance. It is a benign (non-cancerous) condition where the body makes an abnormal protein, called a paraprotein. This protein is found in your blood or wee (urine).

    Peripheral vascular disease

    Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is when your arteries have narrowed and reduced the blood flow to your arms and legs.

    Pulmonary embolism (PE)

    A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the arteries (blood vessels) in your lungs. It is a serious medical emergency.

    Raynaud syndrome

    Raynaud syndrome is when there is a temporary reduction in blood supply to your fingers or toes. It mostly happens when you get cold.

    Spleen function and spleen problems

    The spleen is an organ that helps you develop immunity against infections. Some people have a spleen that may not work well, or they have no spleen.

    Thrombophlebitis

    Thrombophlebitis, or just phlebitis, is where a vein becomes inflamed due to a blood clot. It is usually easily treated.

    Vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia

    Being low in vitamin B12 can cause serious problems. Vitamin B12 is needed to make red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body. It also helps your nerves and brain.

    Venous insufficiency

    Venous insufficiency happens when the walls and valves in your leg veins are weak or damaged and do not work as they should.

    Varicose veins

    Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that usually happen in your legs near the surface of your skin.

    Von Willebrand disease

    Von Willebrand disease is a condition that affects your blood's ability to clot. It means you have low or poor quality von Willebrand factor in your blood. This is needed to stick platelets together to help stop bleeding.
    Get QR code
    Print
    Back to top
    Link to Health NZ
    • Careers
    • Conditions and treatments
    • About us
    • Immunisations
    • News and updates
    • Keeping well
    • Contact us
    • Pregnancy and maternity
    • Data and statistics
    • Mental wellbeing
    • Websites and apps
    • Locations
    • Disclaimer
    • Services and support
    Link to NZ Government
    © Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
    • Privacy
    • Accessibility
    • Copyright
    Women’s Refuge Shielded Site