Blood clots can happen to anyone, anytime. However, you can take precautions ... and always, always take them seriously!
Blood Should Clot Outside, Not Inside the Body
Most of us take blood clots for granted. That is, if we are cut and blood gushes to the surface, we trust that it will stop. We wash off, apply pressure, and voila. Proteins work with platelets and the thickened mass prevents blood loss.
However, blood should not thicken or coagulate when it is flowing through the body. The sure and steady flow of blood carries food and oxygen to cells and takes waste products away. In short, without uninterrupted blood flow, cells and tissue die.
Types of Blood Clots
Interrupted blood flow happens, though. It is called stoke when there is a loss of brain function due to a clot that blocks blood flow to the brain. A clot in a blood vessel in the heart can cause a heart attack. Blood clots can cause some women to have miscarriages. A clot inside a blood vessel, called a thrombus, can travel in the bloodstream and get stuck in your lungs. Clots can keep blood from getting to your lungs and can be life-threatening. Blood clots go by many names, which usually refer to the part of the body where they are found. Some people have a genetic tendency to clot too much, and this condition is called hypercoagulation. It can be very dangerous.
Blood Clot Risks
Some situations can put you at risk for blood clots, such as sitting on an airplane or in a car for a long time. The World Health Organization says that 1 in every 4,500 airline passengers develops a clot – and there are about 30,000 commercial airline flights a day over the United States. Having prolonged bed rest (several days at a time), having surgery, having cancer, being pregnant or using birth control pills are other situations that often result in blood clots. Researchers have found that blood clots often occur after a hospital stay.
Most people develop clots from time to time, but why some people go on to develop a more dangerous clinical clot is unclear. Medical conditions like high blood sugar put people at risk. The risk of developing a dangerous clot increases with age, yet one can strike anyone with little warning.
Blood Clot Symptoms
Symptoms of a blood clot include aching and swelling. If the blood clot is in the leg, it may be difficult to bear weight and the skin may have a “pins and needles” feeling. Chest pains and shortness of breath indicate that the clot may have moved to the lung.
Blood Clot Medication
If a blood clot is discovered, a doctor will prescribe a blood thinner. The two most common blood thinners are called heparin and warfarin, which is commonly known by its brand name: Coumadin. A doctor will probably prescribe heparin first, because it works quickly. Heparin must be injected with a needle into fleshy tissue. Once the heparin starts working, a doctor may prescribe warfarin, which is taken orally.
Unfortunately, research is inconclusive concerning proper blood-thinning medication dosage and length of treatment, but prompt attention to symptoms increases the chance of recovery. Men are 50 percent more likely than women to have a recurrent blood clot after they have stopped taken blood thinners for a first blood clot episode.
Blood Clot Prevention
As with many other health conditions, maintaining a healthy diet and weight and getting enough exercise are key to preventing blood clots. Along with medication, lifestyle changes can go a long way toward improving health.
