Blood clotting is a natural defense system that occurs in the body following damage to a vein or artery. A collection of platelets will come together to act as a plug and stop the injury from bleeding. Normally, when the injury is healed, the body will dissolve the clot. A blood clot, or thrombus, occurs when the body sets off this blood clotting process when it is not necessary. As a result, the body does not recognize the blood clot, and therefore, does not dissolve it, which blocks the flow of blood, according to Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms
Depending on its location in the body, a blood clot can cause a variety of symptoms, according to the Merck Manual of Health and Aging. If the clot is located near or in the heart, it will result in chest pain, shortness of breath and abnormal sweating. Blood clots located in the extremities cause pain, redness, swelling, itchiness and tenderness. A brain blood clot can result in the most serious symptoms including visual impairment, speech disturbances and seizures. Blood clots located in the lungs result in chest pain, shortness of breath, bloody cough and fever, according to Blood the Vital Connection.
Causes
Blood clots most often form in those who are extremely sedentary. Minimal body movement can cause a pooling of blood in the veins, which leads to the formation of blood clots. Blood clots can also be triggered following severe injury or surgery, according to the Merck Manual of Health and Aging. Hereditary disorders can cause blood clots as well. In these disorders, the body is either lacking in ability to produce a necessary protein, or the protein is made but is ineffective. Thrombocythemia, a disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many platelets, is also a cause of blood clots.
Risk Factors
Certain characteristics and lifestyle choices increase the risk of developing blood clots. These risk factors include obesity, immobility, smoking, the ingestion of oral contraceptives, and age. The chance of developing a blood clot increases after the age of 65, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Treatment
There are several methods of treatment available for a blood clot. The primary method of treatment is medication. After a blood clot is diagnosed, a doctor will prescribe an anticoagulant, a medication that thins the blood and prevents clot formation, or a clot buster, a medication that dissolves the existing clot, according to Blood the Vital Connection. Another option for treatment is a thrombolysis, a procedure during which a catheter is inserted into the affected blood vessel and a clot-busting medication is injected directly on the clot. The final option for treatment is thrombectomy, which is the removal of the clot via surgery.
Prevention
There are a number of lifestyle modifications that can decrease the chances of developing a blood clot for those at risk. These modifications include losing weight, wearing loose-fitting clothes, changing position often, exercising, cessation of smoking and following a low sodium diet, according to the Merck Manual of Health and Aging.
