Although these symptoms can be associated with many different health problems, if you suspect you have a clot, call your health care provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room. Your provider will ask you a series of questions. If a blood clot is suspected, you will likely undergo one of these tests:. A blood test called a d-dimer. This is a compound released from blood clots. It is high when you have a new clot.
An ultrasound of the leg. This uses sound waves to watch blood flow in the veins. A CT scan of the chest if a pulmonary embolism is suspected. Many risk factors and illnesses increase your risk of getting a blood clot. Risk factors include:. Inactivity related to an injury or a long car or plane trip. Having surgery or being in the hospital for an extended period. Damage to your blood vessel from an injury. Taking some medications such as birth control pills.
Inherited blood clotting tendencies. It is estimated that each year DVT affects as many as , 1 people in the United States and kills up to , Do you understand your risk? Arteries, on the other hand, are muscular, high-pressure vessels that carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
When your doctor measures your blood pressure, the test results are an indicator of the pressure in your arteries. Clotting that occurs in arteries is usually associated with atherosclerosis hardening of the arteries , a deposit of plaque that narrows the inside of the vessel.
As the arterial passage narrows, the strong arterial muscles continue to force blood through the opening, and the high pressure can cause the plaque to rupture. Molecules released in the rupture cause the body to overreact and form an unnecessary clot in the artery, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke.
When the blood supply to the heart or brain is completely blocked by the clot, a part of these organs can be damaged as a result of being deprived of blood and its nutrients. The risk factors for developing a venous clot are different from those for an arterial clot, and people at risk for getting one are not necessarily at risk for getting the other. Different risk factors or events can cause unnatural clotting; however, each factor may initiate clotting in a different way.
There are molecules in your system that signal your body to let it know when, where, and how quickly to form a clot, and genetics plays a role in how quickly your body reacts to these signals. Certain risk factors, such as obesity, slow the flow of blood in the veins, while others, such as age, can increase the body's natural ability to clot. The most common treatments for blood clots are anticoagulant medications, also known as blood thinners.
These medications reduce the chances of new clots forming. They also help your body break up any existing clots. Warfarin is a prescription anticoagulant that works by blocking the formation of substances in your blood called clotting factors.
These substances promote blood clotting. Enoxaparin is also sold under the brand name Lovenox. It prevents blood clots by binding to a substance called antithrombin III, which inhibits clotting. Heparin works by weakening the effect of proteins in your blood that promote clotting. Direct oral anticoagulants are a newer group of anticoagulants. A research review showed that they are at least as safe as warfarin. Compression socks apply pressure to your foot and leg to help bring down swelling and improve blood flow.
Compression stockings extend to your upper thigh. They apply more pressure around your foot and less pressure higher on your leg.
This helps keep blood and fluid from pooling in your lower body. A review followed 1, people before and after having surgery. The researchers found that only 9 percent of people who wore compression stockings on the day before or on the day of surgery developed blood clots.
Thrombolytics are medications that dissolve blood clots. You can receive them through an IV, or directly into a blood vessel through a catheter. Fluids and waste can build up causing a number of other complications including high blood pressure.
These can cause symptoms at the site, but can also lead to more serious complications if clots break away and travel to the lungs.
Pregnancy complications : Blood clots that form in pregnancy usually occur in the veins of the pelvis or lower extremities. This creates a risk for pulmonary emboli and associated complications as well as secondary premature labor, miscarriage, and maternal death.
Blood clots can be treated with blood thinning medications. Work to control your risk factors so you can reduce your chances of developing a blood clot. Consider taking the following steps:.
Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet high in omega-3 rich foods, fruits and vegetables, and foods rich in vitamin E may also help. Be physically active. Immobility is a major factor that can lead to clots forming, especially in the legs. Make a point to get up regularly and walk around if you sit for long periods at a desk or if you travel frequently.
Be aware of any other conditions that may increase your risk for a blood clot, and talk to your doctor about strategies to reduce your risk. Blood clots can be serious.
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