Thromboses

Have you ever wondered what stops you from bleeding when you hurt yourself? In a healthy body, blood clots play an important role in this. At the site of a cut, blood platelets and red blood cells are held together by a rope-like molecule called fibrin. This forms a blood clot, which plugs up the cut and stops bleeding. This is an important process, but it can cause major health issues when it happens at the wrong time. When a blood clot forms in the veins, it is known as venous thromboembolism. This can cause deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms. When a clot forms in the arteries, it is called atherothrombosis, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)? Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a major vein, usually in the leg. This blood clot stops blood from flowing easily through the vein, which can lead to swelling, discoloration, and pain in the leg. It is often diagnosed with an ultra sound. Signs and symptoms of DVT include: Discomfort, heaviness, pain, aching, throbbing, itching, or warmth in the legs Skin changes in the leg, such as discoloration, thickening, or ulceration Swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet Patients with DVT are at risk for developing post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). PTS can involve chronic leg swelling, calf pain, calf heaviness/fatigue, skin discoloration, and/or venous ulcers. What is pulmonary embolism (PE)? A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that has traveled to the lungs. It often starts as a DVT. A piece of the blood clot can break off and be carried to the lungs. PE can block the flow of blood to the the lungs, causing serious damage to the lungs and affecting a person’s ability to breath. This can lead to serious injury and death. Symptoms and signs of PE include: Sudden shortness of breath Chest pain Coughing up blood Rapid or irregular heart rate If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. Risk factors that contribute to thrombosis include: Immobilization Hypercoagulability Vessel wall damage Age Surgery (especially orthopedic surgery and total knee replacement) Cancer Heredity (including the Factor V Leiden genetic mutation) Pregnancy Increased estrogen levels (due to oral contraception or hormone replacement therapy) Obesity Smoking Crohn’s Disease Deep vein thrombosis (Can be fatal) is a fairly uncommon ailment, but nonetheless very dangerous to one’s health. The condition is mostly as a result of an imbalance of blood coagulation (the action of a liquid especially blood, changing to a solid or semi-solid state).