Medical Centric

BLOOD CLOTS

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

BLOOD CLOTS

Blood clots are a gel-like clump of blood formed by platelets and fibrin in the blood to seal leakage in the blood vessel and stop bleeding.

  • Blood clots form when a blood vessel (veins and arteries) is injured, and the body naturally dissolves them after the injury is healed.
  • Blood clots are healthy and life-saving when they stop bleeding because they can prevent excessive blood loss.
  • But, in some cases, they can form in veins and arteries when there has been no injury, or they do not dissolve naturally.
  • These situations can be really dangerous and may need urgent medical attention and treatment.
  • An abnormal clot can form in the vein, restricting the return of blood to the heart resulting in pain and swelling as blood gathers behind the clot.
  • In other cases, a clot can detach from its original point in a vein and travel through the heart to the lungs, preventing adequate blood flow.
  • This can be extremely dangerous and it’s called a pulmonary embolism (PE)
  • In deep vein thrombosis, a clot form in the deeper, larger veins, such as those in the lower legs, or thighs.
  • When a clot forms in the eye, it can result in blindness. If it forms in the brain, it can result in stroke.
  • A clot that forms in one or more arteries can block blood flow to a part of the heart muscle, reducing or completely cutting off the supply of energy to cells in the heart muscle. This can result in a heart attack.
  • Blood clots affect people of all ages, gender, and races.

CAUSES

Blood clots form when there is a damage to the lining of the blood vessels. The damage may be visible, such as a cut or laceration, or may not be visible to the naked eyes.

It can also be caused by prolonged immobility such as extended air travel, or anything that reduces blood flow.

Arterial blood clots are caused by atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaques build up in the arteries.

Certain factor that may increase your risk of blood clots are:

  • Smoking
  • Certain medications including birth control pills, blood thinners
  • Inherited blood-clotting disorders
  • Surgery especially of the pelvis, abdomen, hip, knee
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation
  • Cancer and cancer treatments
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Age, increased risk for people over 60 years
  • Vasculitis
  • Confinement to bed or wheelchair

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms depend on the area of the body where the clot forms

In the leg or arm, symptoms may include:

  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Tenderness
  • Redness or discoloration of the skin
  • Warmth

In the lung,

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain that worsens when you cough or lying down
  • Coughing, coughing up blood
  • Faster or irregular heartbeat

In the heart,

  • Chest heaviness or pain
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Light-headedness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Discomfort in the upper area of the body
  • Left arm numbness

In the brain,

  • A sudden and severe headache
  • Trouble speaking
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness in the face or limbs

In the abdomen,

  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

To make a diagnosis, the doctor will review your medical history and carry out a physical examination.

Diagnosis is confirmed with an imaging test including CT scan, ultrasound, MRI scan, EEG.

TREATMENT

Treatment option depends on the location of the clot and your overall health. Treatment options may include:

  • Anticoagulant medications that prevent blood from clotting
  • Thrombolytic that dissolve blood clots
  • Surgical removal of clots (thrombectomy)
  • Catheter-directed thrombosis, where a catheter is surgically inserted and directed toward the clot to deliver clot-dissolving medications.

To reduce your risk of a blood clot:

  • Move especially after a surgery or you have been on a bed rest
  • Avoid sitting for too long
  • Drink plenty of fluids when traveling
  • Exercise regularly
  • Quit smoking
  • Lose weight if you are obese.