Blood Clots”Hyper Coagulability” Causes, Symptoms, Treatment And Prevention! 

Are You At Risk? How to Recognize The Symptoms?

Blood Clots Overview:

Blood clots are semi-solid masses of blood that can be stationary (thrombosis) and block blood flow or break loose (embolism) and travel to various parts of the body. Blood clots can be life-threatening depending on their location and severity.

Blood clots (also called deep vein thrombosis [throm­BO­sis]) most often occur in people who can’t move around well or who have had recent surgery or an injury. Blood clots are serious. It is important to know the signs and get treated right away. This booklet tells about ways to prevent and treat blood clots.

Your doctor will likely perform a physical examination,

and you may undergo a venous ultrasound or a CT angiography (CTA) scan of the chest, abdomen/pelvis, or head to help diagnose your condition.

Treatment may depend upon whether the clot is located in an artery or a vein. Your doctor may prescribe medication, catheter-directed thrombolysis, surgery, or inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement to treat your condition.

What Is Blood Clot?

A blood clot is a mass of blood that forms when platelets, proteins, and cells in the blood stick together. When you get hurt, your body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding. After the bleeding stops and healing takes place, your body usually breaks down and removes the blood clot.

But sometimes the blood clots form where they shouldn’t, your body makes too many blood clots or abnormal blood clots, or the blood clots don’t break down as they should. These blood clots can be dangerous and may cause other health problems.

Blood clots can be dangerous:

Blood clots that form in the veins in your legs, arms, and groin can break loose and move to other parts of your body, including your lungs. A blood clot in your lungs is called a pulmonary embolism (POOL­mo­nar­e EM­bo­liz­em). If this happens, your life can be in danger. Go to the emergency room or call 911. A blood clot may have gone to your lungs if you suddenly have:

• A hard time breathing.
• Chest pain.
• A fast heartbeat.
• Fainting spells.
• A mild fever.
• A cough, with or without blood.

 

Signs and symptoms of Blood Clots:

The symptoms for blood clots can be different, depending on where the blood clot is:

IN The:

• Abdomen: Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Lungs: Shortness of breath, pain with deep breathing, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate
• Brain: Trouble speaking, vision problems, seizures, weakness on one side of the body, and sudden severe headache
• Heart: Chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath, and pain in the left arm.
• Arm or leg: Sudden or gradual pain, swelling, tenderness, and warmth

 

Symptoms of a Blood Clot You may have a blood clot if you see or feel:

• New swelling in your arm or leg.
• Skin redness.
• Soreness or pain in your arm or leg.
• A warm spot on your leg.

 

 “If you think you have a blood clot, call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away”

Signs and Symptoms of Blood Clots: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE):

A. Deep Vein Thrombosis, Signs and Symptoms:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of your body, usually in your legs, but sometimes in your arm. The signs and symptoms of a DVT include:

• Swelling, usually in one leg (or arm).
• Leg pain or tenderness is often described as a cramp or Charley horse.
• Reddish or bluish skin discoloration.
• Leg (or arm) warm to touch.

 

These symptoms of a blood clot may feel similar to a pulled muscle or a “Charley horse,” but may differ in that the leg (or arm) may be swollen, slightly discolored, and warm.

Contact your doctor as soon as you can if you have any of these symptoms, because you may need treatment right away. If you need help finding a doctor, please click.

B. Pulmonary Embolism, Signs and Symptoms:

Clots can break off from a DVT and travel to the lung, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be fatal.

The signs and symptoms of a PE include:

• Sudden shortness of breath.
• Chest pain-sharp, stabbing; may get worse with a deep breath.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Unexplained cough, sometimes with bloody mucus.

 

Call an ambulance or 911 immediately for treatment in the ER if you experience these PE symptoms.

What Causes Blood Clots?

Blood clots can form in, or travel to, the blood vessels in the limbs, lungs, brain, heart, and kidneys. The types of problems blood clots can cause will depend on where they are:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis. It can block a vein and cause damage to your leg.
• A pulmonary embolism can happen when a DVT breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. It can damage your lungs and prevent your other organs from getting enough oxygen.
• Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare blood clot in the venous sinuses in your brain. Normally the venous sinuses drain blood from your brain. CVST blocks the blood from draining and can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.
• Blood clots in other parts of the body can cause problems such as an ischemic stroke, a heart attack, kidney problems, kidney failure, and pregnancy-related problems.

 

Blood clots can form if you don’t move around a lot. You may also get a blood clot if you have had:

• Recent surgery.
• Cancer or are being treated for it.
• A stroke or are paralyzed.
• A blood clot before.
• If you have:
  • Broken a bone (hip, pelvis, or leg).
  • A bad bump or bruise.
  • A special port the doctor put in your body to give you medicine.
  • Varicose (VAR­e­kos) or bad veins.
  • Heart trouble.
  • A family member who has had a blood clot.
  • Taken a long trip (more than an hour) in a car, airplane, bus, or train.
• Take hormones, especially for birth control. (Ask your doctor about this).
• If you are:
  • 65 or older.
  • Obese.
  • Confined to a bed or a chair much of the time.

Complications of DVT: Blood Clots:

• The most serious complication of DVT happens when a part of the clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage called pulmonary embolism (PE).
• If the clot is small, and with appropriate treatment, people can recover from PE. However, there could be some damage to the lungs.
• If the clot is large, it can stop blood from reaching the lungs and is fatal.

In addition,

One-third to one-half of people who have a DVT will have long-term complications caused by the damage the clot does to the valves in the vein called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). People with PTS have symptoms such as swelling, pain, discoloration, and in severe cases, scaling or ulcers in the affected part of the body. In some cases, the symptoms can be so severe that a person becomes disabled.

For some people, DVT and PE can become a chronic illness; about 30% of people who have had a DVT or PE are at risk for another episode.

Who is at risk for blood clots?

Almost anyone can have a DVT. However, certain factors can increase the chance of having this condition. The chance increases even more for someone who has more than one of these factors at the same time.

Certain factors can raise the risk of blood clots:

• Atherosclerosis.
• Atrial fibrillation.
• Cancer and cancer treatments.
• Certain genetic disorders.
• Certain surgeries.
• COVID-19.
• Diabetes.
• Family history of blood clots.
• Overweight and obesity.
• Pregnancy and giving birth.
• Serious injuries.
• Some medicines, including birth control pills.
• Smoking.
• Staying in one position for a long time, such as being in the hospital or taking a long car or plane ride.

 

Understand What Can Increase Your Risk for Blood Clots:

Even if you travel a long distance, the risk of developing a blood clot is generally very small. Your level of risk depends on the duration of travel as well as whether you have any other risks for blood clots. Most people who develop travel-associated blood clots have one or more other risks for blood clots, such as:

• Older age (risk increases after age 40).
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] greater than 30kg/m²).
• Recent surgery or injury (within 3 months).
• Use of estrogen-containing contraceptives (for example, birth control pills, rings, patches).
• Hormone replacement therapy (medical treatment in which hormones are given to reduce the effects of menopause).
• Pregnancy and the postpartum period (up to 3 months after childbirth).
• Previous blood clots or a family history of blood clots.
• Active cancer or recent cancer treatment.
• Limited mobility (for example, a leg cast).
• A catheter was placed in a large vein.
• Varicose veins.

 

The combination of long-distance travel with one or more of these risks may increase the likelihood of developing a blood clot. The more risks you have, the greater your chances of experiencing a blood clot. If you plan on traveling soon, talk with your doctor to learn more about what you can do to protect your health. The most important thing you can do is to learn and recognize the symptoms of blood clots.

How are blood clots diagnosed And Evaluated?:

Evaluation of your condition differs depending on the location and type of your blood clot. Your doctor will usually begin by obtaining your medical history, as this may provide information about factors that caused the clot, and will also perform a physical examination. In an emergency situation where patients may be unable to describe their symptoms, doctors may send patients for testing immediately after a physical examination.

Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose blood clots:

• A physical exam.
• A medical history.
• Blood tests, including a D-dimer test.
• Imaging tests, such as:
  • Ultrasound
  • X-rays of the veins (venography) or blood vessels (angiography) are taken after you get an injection of special dye. The dye shows up on the x-ray and allows the provider to see how the blood flows.
  • CT Scan.

What are the treatments for blood clots?

The prevention and treatment of blood clots primarily involve the use of anticoagulant medications or, as they are commonly referred to, “blood thinners.” While these medications do not actually “thin” the blood, they do slow the body’s ability to form new clots and keep existing clots from getting bigger.

Treatments for blood clots depend on where the blood clot is located and how severe it is.

Treatments may include:

• Blood thinners.
• Other medicines, including thrombolytics. Thrombolytics are medicines that dissolve blood clots.
• They are usually used where the blood clots are severe.
• Surgery and other procedures to remove the blood clots.

The Process of  Treating Blood Clots:

If you have been told you have a blood clot, your doctor may give you medicine to treat it. This type of medicine is called a blood thinner (also called an anticoagulant [an­te­ko­AG­ulent]). In most cases, your doctor will tell you to follow this treatment plan:

• For the first week, you will receive a medicine called heparin (HEP­arin) that works quickly.
  • This medicine is injected under the skin. You will learn how to give yourself these shots, or a family member or friend may do it for you.
• You will also start taking Coumadin®(COO­ma­din)—generic name: warfarin (WAR­far­in)—pills by mouth.
• After about a week of taking both the shots and the pills, you will stop taking the shots.
• You will continue to take the Coumadin® /warfarin pills for about 3 to 6 months or longer.

 

Side Effects of Blood Thinners:

Blood thinners can cause side effects. Bleeding is the most common problem. Your doctor will watch you closely. If you notice something wrong that you think may be caused by your medication, call your doctor.

Some people may experience possible side effects while taking blood thinners, with excessive bleeding being the most common adverse reaction people have reported.

Excessive bleeding may occur in a variety of ways, such as:

• Nosebleeds.
• Bleeding gums.
• Heavy periods.
• Discolored or bloody stool or urine.
• Prolonged bleeding from a cut/wound.

 

Some of the other side effects of blood thinners include:

• Rashes.
• Hair loss.
• Muscle weakness.
• Dizziness.

If you think you are bleeding too much,

Call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room. Tell them you are being treated for blood clots. Tell them the medicines you are taking.

Blood Thinners:

Blood thinners are medicines that prevent blood clots from forming. They also keep existing blood clots from getting larger. Clots in your arteries, veins, and heart can cause heart attacks, strokes, and blockages.

You may take a blood thinner if you have:

• Certain heart or blood vessel diseases
• An abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation
• A heart valve replacement
• A risk of blood clots after surgery
• Congenital heart defects

 

There are two main types of blood thinners. Anticoagulants such as heparin or warfarin (also called Coumadin) slow down your body’s process of making clots. Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot.

When you take a blood thinner, follow directions carefully.

• Blood thinners may interact with certain foods, medicines, vitamins, and alcohol.
• Make sure that your health care provider knows all of the medicines and supplements you are using.
• You will probably need regular blood tests to check how well your blood is clotting.
• It is important to make sure that you’re taking enough medicine to prevent clots, but not so much that it causes bleeding.

Living with blood clots:

If detected early, a blood clot can usually be treated successfully. If it was not treated early, your quality of life depends on the seriousness of the damage. For example, a blood clot can cause stroke, even death.

If you’ve successfully survived a blood clot, you may live with the fear of having another. In that case, living with blood clots involves focusing on prevention. If you are being treated with blood thinner medicines, you have to be careful not to cut yourself (even when shaving). The medicine can make it difficult to stop the bleeding.

How to Prevent Blood Clot? Can Blood Clots Be Avoided?

Blood clots are highly preventable. To prevent or avoid a blood clot, know your personal risk factors and control the risks you can. For example, if you smoke, stop. If you are obese, lose weight. If you take birth control pills, talk to your doctor about an effective alternative. If you are inactive, get moving. If you have a family history of blood clots, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may determine whether you should be taking blood-thinning medicine to prevent clots.

Preventing Blood Clots You can help prevent blood clots if you:

• Wear loose­fitting clothes, socks, or stockings.
• Raise your legs 6 inches above your heart from time to time.
• Wear special stockings (called compression stockings) if your doctor prescribes them.
• Do exercises your doctor gives you.
• Change your position often, especially during a long trip.
• Do not stand or sit for more than 1 hour at a time.
• Eat less salt.
• Try not to bump or hurt your legs and try not to cross them.
• Do not use pillows under your knees.
• Raise the bottom of your bed 4 to 6 inches with blocks or books.
• Take all medicines the doctor prescribes you.

 

other tips to Prevent Blood Clots:

You may be able to help prevent blood clots by:

• Moving around as soon as possible after having been confined to your bed, such as after surgery, illness, or injury.
• Getting up and moving around every few hours when you have to sit for long periods of time, for example, if you are on a long flight or car trip.
• Regular physical activity.
• Not smoking.
• Staying at a healthy weight.

 

Some people at high risk may need to take blood thinners to prevent blood clots.

How can food prevent a blood clot?

A nutritious and well-balanced diet containing a variety of phytochemicals is the first step toward promoting circulation and arterial and venous blood flow. Phytochemicals are physiologically active compounds found in many plants. While not generally considered essential nutrients, they have shown benefits in reducing the potential for heart disease and cancer.

Foods containing flavonoids and phenols may prove beneficial in clot prevention. Flavonoids reduce plaque buildup in arteries, improve cholesterol levels, act as antioxidants, and decrease inflammation.

Foods and beverages containing flavonoids and phenols include:

• Fruits (grapes, cherries, apples, prunes, pears, citrus).
• Whole grains.
• Black or green tea.
• Nuts.
• Red wine.

 

Phytoestrogens such as:

• legumes and soy products protect against heart disease by decreasing levels of bad cholesterol and increasing levels of good cholesterol.

 

Organosulfur compounds such as:

• Leeks, onions, and garlic protect the heart because they reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver.
• Hydration is also an essential component of adequate circulation. Dehydration causes the blood to thicken, increasing the risk of poor circulation and the development of a blood clot.

 

Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist to ensure that your diet is protecting rather than harming you.

 

List of Terms:

Term	Meaning
Anticoagulant	Medicine that thins your blood
Blood clot	Blood that clumps together
Blood thinner	Another name for a medicine that prevents blood from clotting
Coumadin® /warfarin, heparin	Types of medicines that keep blood from clotting
Deep vein thrombosis	A blood clot that forms in the veins of the legs, arms, or groin
Pulmonary embolism	A blood clot that has traveled to your lungs
Varicose veins	Enlarged veins, often found in your legs

Summing Up:

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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”

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