What Causes a Blood Clot?
Clotting Process Helps Healing, but can be Excessive and Dangerous
Apr 24, 2009
Normal blood clots are part of the body’s healing process. Small blood cell fragments called platelets are held together by a glue-like substance that is made when proteins known as clotting factors are triggered. The clot seals a cut or break that may be outside or inside the body. Once the damaged area is healed, natural processes go to work to break up and dissolve the clot.
Sometimes the body triggers too much clotting activity. This sets up a risky situation, as fragments may break off and travel to the brain, heart, or lungs. The following list includes common situations that increase a person’s risk for excessive blot clotting.
Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the most often cited chronic conditions today. People with diabetes risk a buildup of clotted fragments or plaque on artery walls. Many diabetes patients die from heart and blood vessel complications, which includes clot fragments that have broken free.
Atrial Fibrillation
This common condition where the heart beats out of rhythm for a period of time may cause blood to pool and clots to form in the heart. A piece of the clot can break free and travel to the brain, where it may cause a stroke.
Obesity
Extra body fat can lead to atherosclerosis, a condition in which materials collect along the walls of arteries.
Inactivity
When a person is hospitalized or sits for an extended period of time (as when on a long-distance airline or land vehicle trip), blood flow slows down. Clots may form deep in the veins, especially in the legs. A blood clot in a deep vein can break off and travel to the lungs, blocking blood flow.
Cancer
Blot clots have been found to be an indicator that a person is at risk for cancer. Also, some types of cancer and cancer treatments stimulate abnormal platelet and clotting factor formation that could lead to clotting.
Hip and Knee Replacement
As the number of patients having these procedures has increased, doctors have noted that blood clots are a frequent complication.
Smoking
Smoking damages blood vessels and causes platelets to stick together.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women have more platelets and clotting factors, the components of blood clots, which increases risk. Also, the expanding uterus compresses veins and slows blood flow.
HIV
Medicines taken by HIV patients increase the risk of blood clots.
Dehydration
When the body does not get enough fluid, the blood thickens and clotting risks increase.
Other
These and other diseases, conditions, medicines, and situation that stimulate the body’s manufacture of platelets and clotting factor or that slow the flow of blood may result in a life-threatening blood clot. Heart disease, genetic factors, bone marrow disorders, vasculitis, extra estrogen, organ transplants, and surgery that involves the blood vessels are other situations that increase the risk of a blood clot.
Recommendations
Recently, cholesterol-lowering drug-maker AstraZeneca paid for a study that showed that statin drugs like Crestor cut the risk of developing blood clots. However, many doctors are as yet reluctant to prescribe the medicine for individuals who would not otherwise take it for high cholesterol.
The National Institutes of Health website includes more information about blood clot symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more.
If concerned about the correlation of any of the conditions above to blood clots or if a blood clot is suspected, see a medical professional immediately.
