According to Medline Plus, of the National Institute of Health, a blood clot is blood that hardens in a blood vessel. When a blood clot stays in the blood vessel, it is termed a thrombus. If a blood clot breaks loose and travels to other parts of the body it is termed an embolus. Blood clots, whether they remain in one area or travel, can cause serious complications in a patient. Therefore, a patient with frequent blood clots should understand the risk of blood clots and potential medical conditions they may cause.
Pulmonary Embolism
Mayoclinic.com states that a patient with blood clots is at risk for developing a pulmonary embolism. A blood clot in a deep vein can be dislodged, travel through the venous system and settle in the lungs, which can be potentially life threatening. A blood clot may lodge in a large lung artery and cause severe symptoms which can cause sudden death or it may lodge in small lung arteries, and can cause chest pain, and breathing difficulty. In this case, the patient who is having difficulty breathing or is experiencing chest pain should seek immediate medical attention, especially if he has a history of blood clot formation.
Heart Attack
MayoClinic.com states that a patient with blood clots is more likely to experience a heart attack. In this case, a blood clot may form in the coronary arteries or it may travel from another part of the body and lodge in a coronary artery. If this occurs, a patient will experience a heart attack, which may result in serious heart complications or death. Therefore, a patient with frequent blood clot formation should be sure to follow recommended medical therapy in order to decrease his risk of a heart attack.
Stroke
A patient with frequent blood clots is also at a higher risk for a stroke. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked. Therefore, a blood clot may form in the brain or may travel to the brain from other areas of the body, which can cause symptoms of a stroke. In this case, a patient should not hesitate to seek medical attention for the treatment of the stroke. After a stroke has been treated, the patient may need to continue blood-thinning medications in order to prevent further occurrences.
