What Is Blood Clot?

Blood circulates through blood vessels (arteries and veins) and is continually in motion as the heart pumps blood through arteries to various parts of the body (organs, glands, cells, and so on). The veins then deliver the blood back to the heart. The action of the body returns blood to the heart. Blood is squeezed through veins and returned to the heart by muscles. Without movement, blood tends to stagnate due to gravity, and stagnant blood tends to clot. When blood turns from liquid to partially solid, blood clots form in your veins or arteries. Clotting is a natural process that prevents your body from bleeding excessively when you are harmed. Blood clots that form in certain locations and do not disintegrate on their own, on the other hand, can be detrimental to your health. The symptoms of a blood clot, as well as the suggested treatment, are determined by where the clot originates in your body and the potential for damage. Knowing the most common blood clot symptoms and risk factors can assist you in detecting or possibly preventing this potentially fatal illness.

Types of Blood Clots

Your circulatory system is made up of blood vessels known as veins and arteries that transport blood throughout your body. Blood clots can form in either the veins or the arteries.

An Arterial Clot

This occurs when a blood clot forms in an artery. This type of clot causes symptoms right away and necessitates immediate medical attention. An arterial clot can cause severe pain, paralysis of parts of the body, or both. It can also result in a heart attack or a stroke.

A Venous Clot

Venous thrombosis (blood clots in a vein) occurs when a person is immobile and their muscles do not contract to send blood back to the heart. Small clots form along the vein walls as the flow becomes stagnant. This initial clot might expand to partially or totally block a vein, preventing blood from flowing back to the heart. These types of clots may form more slowly over time, but they can still be fatal.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

This is the most serious type of venous clot. It is a term used to describe when a clot forms in one of your body’s major veins. This most commonly occurs in one of your legs, but it can also occur in your arms, pelvis, lungs, or even your brain.

Other types of blood clots include:

Vaginal Bleeding

Vaginal bleeding is a common occurrence for most women during their reproductive years, and blood can occasionally pool in the vagina and form clots before being expelled. Clots that form in the uterus can cause a lot of pain and pressure as they pass through the cervix on their way out.

• Patients suffering from bleeding peptic ulcers tend to vomit liquid blood mixed with clots.
• Patients with rectal bleeding may also have a clot mixed with bloody stool if the clot has had time to form.

Symptoms of a Blood Clot

When the lining of a blood vessel, such as an artery or a vein, is damaged, blood clots form. The damage may be evident to the naked eye, such as a cut or laceration, or it may not be seen at all. Blood will clot if it stops moving and gets stagnant, or if it is infected with a disease that causes irregular clotting. The symptoms of a blood clot vary depending on where the clot forms in your body. Some people may not show any signs or symptoms at all. Blood clots can form in the following areas:

• Blood clots in the abdomen can result in pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Blood clots in the arms or legs can be uncomfortable or tender to the touch.
• A blood clot in your lower leg is the most common location for one to form.
• A blood clot in your leg or arm can cause a variety of symptoms, such as swelling, pain, tenderness, a warm feeling, discoloration in a reddish hue.
• A blood clot in the heart can cause crushing chest pain, perspiration, pain that extends down the left arm, and/or shortness of breath, which are all indications of a heart attack.
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, and blood coughing are all possible symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs.
• Depending on which section of the brain is affected, blood clots in the brain (strokes) can cause a variety of symptoms. These clots cause difficulty speaking or seeing, as well as the inability to move or feel one side of the body, and, in rare cases, it can also seizures.

Risk Factors of Blood Clot

Certain risk factors increase your chances of developing a blood clot. A recent hospital stay, especially one that was lengthy or related to major surgery, raises your chances of developing a blood clot. The following are some common factors that can put you at moderate risk for a blood clot:

• age, particularly if you are over the age of 65
• long-distance travel, such as any trip that required you to sit for more than four hours at a time
• obesity
• pregnancy
• a blood clot family history
• smoking
• cancer
• some birth control pills

How to Diagnose Blood Clot

Blood clot symptoms can be mistaken for those of other medical conditions. A variety of tests are used by doctors to detect blood clots and/or rule out other causes. If your doctor suspects you have a blood clot, they may advise you to:

• Run some blood tests, as in some cases, it can be used to rule out a blood clot.
• Go for an ultrasound, as this allows you to see your veins and blood flow in great detail.
• Do a Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), which is a similar imaging test to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which focuses on blood vessels in particular.
• V/Q scans examine the flow of air and blood in the lungs.
• A CT scan of your head, abdomen, or chest may be used to confirm the presence of a blood clot. This imaging test can assist in ruling out other possible causes of your symptoms.

How to Treat Blood Clots

The goal of treating blood clots, particularly DVTs, is to keep the clot from growing or breaking free. Treatment can lower your risk of developing more blood clots in the future.
Treatment is determined by the location of the blood clot and the likelihood that it will harm you. Some treatment options include:

Medication

Anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners, aid in the prevention of blood clot formation. Drugs known as thrombolytics can dissolve already formed clots in the case of life-threatening blood clots.

Surgery

Catheter-directed thrombolysis is a surgical procedure in which specialists direct a catheter (a long tube) to the blood clot. The catheter directs medication to the clot to aid in its dissolution. Another surgery option is, thrombectomy surgery and which involves the use of specialized instruments to carefully remove a blood clot.

Stents

Doctors will determine whether a stent is required to keep a blood vessel open.

Vena Cava Filters

When a person is unable to take blood thinners, a filter is placed in the inferior vena cava (the body’s largest vein) to catch blood clots before they reach the lungs.

Compression Stockings

These snug-fitting stockings apply pressure to the legs to help reduce swelling and prevent blood clots from forming.

How to Prevent Blood Clotting

In order to prevent your blood from clotting, you can take the following preventing measures:

• Engage in regular physical activities
• Quit smoking
• Keep a healthy weight
• It is important to eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated
• Manage medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes
• Make sure your cancer screenings are up to date

Now that you Know…

Blood clots are dangerous and can be life threatening in some cases. Blood clots can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on their location and severity. Early detection and treatment can help prevent further complications such as cerebral embolism and stroke, renal vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and improve one’s lifestyle.