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Blood coagulation known as a blood clot is what prevents excessive bleeding when we suffer injury. The body naturally absorbs the clotting after healing. However, clots that form without any injury are a medical condition that needs urgent attention. Blood clot or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of the body, usually in the legs and arms.
There are certain risk factors like heredity and age, but the leading cause of DVT is sitting or lying in a position for a long time, such as surgery and long flights or long rides. Blood clots are usually harmless and heal within a short period. However, they could travel to the body’s vital organs like kidney and lungs and become life-threatening.
Symptoms
There are a few symptoms of DVT, most common of which is swelling of the leg. Symptoms include the following:
Swelling of Leg: Usually around the calf area, swelling of the lower leg is the most common symptom of DVT.
Pain: A cramp-like pain in the leg might be as a result of a blood clot. Talk to your doctor about any leg pain.
Warm Leg: It is common for the legs of those affected with DVT to be warm.
Discolored Leg: A bluish or reddish discoloration of the leg is likely to be as a result of DVT.
Blood Clots in the Kidney
Blood clots that travel to the kidney can be fatal, It can stop the kidney from its main function of cleansing the body and even cause kidney failure. Symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Fever
- Blood in urine
- High blood pressure
- Stomach pain
- Huge swelling of the leg
- Breathing problems
Blood Clots in the Brain
Blood clots that travel to the brain can cause serious damage like stroke or even death. A blood clot in the brain can also be as a result of serious injury to the head or concussion. Symptoms might include the following:
- Seizure
- Visual impairment
- Speech impairment
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
Blood Clots in the Heart
Rarely blood clots can travel to the heart and cause serious chest pain and may lead to a heart attack. Symptoms are:
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Chest pain
- Sweating
Blood Clot in the Lungs
When a blood clot travels to the lungs, it is called pulmonary embolism (PE). Symptoms include:
- Breathing problem
- Bloody cough
- Chest pain
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweat
- Lightheadedness
Blood Clot in the Stomach
Blood clots can also travel to the stomach, they are known as abdominal blood clot and are usually very painful. Birth control pills, food poisoning, and liver diseases are some other causes of abdominal blood clots. Symptoms include:
- Bloody stools
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
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Causes and Risk Factors
It is rare to suffer blood clot, but certain factors and conditions can trigger it. Conditions that can cause blood clot to include:
Hereditary: Statistics revealed a large percentage of those who have been diagnosed with a blood clot disorder has a close relative who suffered the same.
Prolonged Bed Rest: A natural cause of blood clot is laying on the bed for too long, usually because of medical treatment. It is usually characterized by a swollen leg.
Surgery: It is possible to suffer blood clot post-surgery.
Pregnancy: Some women experience blood clot during pregnancy.
Birth Control Pills: Blood clot is a common side effect for some birth control pills.
Obesity: People who are overweight are more likely to suffer blood clot.
Smoking: There are many health hazards attached to smoking, a blood clot is one of those.
Cancer: Blood clot could be a symptom of cancer like lymphoma.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Blood clot is a symptom for bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Injury: It is usual for blood to clot when we suffer an injury. The clots naturally disappear with the healing of the injury.
- Age Although anyone can suffer from a blood clot, it is more likely at age 60 and above
- Long drive Driving nonstop for several hours can cause a blood
- Sedentary lifestyle Living a lifestyle that makes you sit all day, every day put you at risk of a blood
- Long flight Sitting throughout a long flight can give you more than jet lag to worry about, it might come with blood clot too. It is advised to stand and stretch as some intervals when on a long air trip.
Prevention
Measures to take to avoid blood clot include
- Exercise People who exercise regularly are less likely to suffer blood clot. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day regardless of your schedule.
- Lose weight Shedding some weight will reduce your risk of a blood
- Stop smoking Quitting smoking will improve your health in many ways including reducing your risk of a blood clot
- Moderate drinking If you must drink, drink moderately.
- Avoid sitting for long If your work requires you to sit all day, try standing up to stretch every hour to ensure proper circulation of blood.
Treatments
Treatment of blood clot depends on the size of the clot as well as the location. The aim is to dissolve existing blood clots and prevent future ones. Common treatment includes
- Blood Thinners: This is also known as an anticoagulant, helps prevent the forming of blood clots.
- Compression Stockings: They are tight-fitting stockings designed to reduce inflammation and prevent blood clots.
- Filters: When a patient is unable to take blood thinners, vena cava filters are inserted in the vena cava to prevent blood from clotting.
- Surgery: In some serious cases, doctors might decide to dissolve the blood clots surgically using high tech instruments.
- Clot Busters: Also known as thrombolytic therapy, are drugs that are specifically designed to break up blood clots. They are usually administered through IV.
Blood clots form when blood coagulates in one of the deep veins of the body, usually legs. Symptoms include swollen legs and leg pain. The major cause of blood clot is an injury which disappears with the healing, blood clot formation without an injury is an alarm to potential danger. Certain factors like genetics, age, and smoking can trigger a blood clot. Active and healthy lifestyle prevents the formation of a blood clot. Treatments include blood thinners, filters, and compressor stockings
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