Blood Clots – How They Form and Common Causes

Blood clotting, also called coagulation, is a process that occurs in the blood vessel during injury to prevent too much bleeding. Both platelets and plasma proteins play important roles in this process. Typically, blood clots spontaneously dissolve following an injury. However, there are blood clots that form without any apparent injury or do not dissolve normally.

The blood clot types depend on whether they occur in the veins or arteries. Veins are the blood vessels that transport deoxygenated blood away from the body’s organs and back to the heart. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the organs. A blood clot in the leg(s), arm(s), pelvis, or major vein is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Moreover, a blood clot that forms in the arteries is called arterial thrombosis. Any clot that occurs and blocks an artery leading to the heart muscles can lead to Myocardial Infarction or “heart attack”. When a blood clot in the lung occurs, it can block the flow of blood in the airway, which causes breathing problems. This is called a pulmonary embolism. If the clot forms in an artery in the brain, it can cause a stroke.

Here are some of the situations or conditions that are commonly considered as blood clot causes:

Prolonged bed rest
Sitting for a long time (i.e., long-haul flights, long-distance drives)
During and after pregnancy
Following a surgery
Long-term use of intravenous (IV) catheter
Use of birth control pills
Hormone replacement therapy containing estrogen

Blood Clot Risk Factors

Many people are at risk of developing blood clots. However, certain people are at greater risk due to the following factors:

Old age
Sedentary or inactive lifestyle
Smoking
Being obese or overweight
Family history of blood clots or particularly conditions like thrombophilia, antiphospholipid syndrome, or Factor V Leiden disease
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High levels of cholesterol
Chronic inflammatory diseases

A person’s risk of developing blood clots becomes greater with multiple risk factors.

Blood Clots Symptoms

Recognizing early-stage blood clot symptoms can save your, or others’, life. Some people with clots will have no symptoms at all, yet most will experience signs and symptoms based on where the clot has formed. Any of the following warning signs should be reported to a medical professional immediately.

Signs of Blood Clot in the Brain:

Trouble speaking
Sudden changes in vision
Inability to move one side of the body
Numbness
Confusion
Loss of balance
Dizziness
Seizure

Signs of Blood Clot in the Heart or Lungs:

Difficulty breathing
Coughing out blood
Chest pain
Pain that travels to the left arm
Irregular heartbeat
Sweating

Signs of Blood Clot in the Abdomen:

Severe abdominal pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal fluid accumulation
Bloating
Diarrhea
Bloody stool

Signs of Blood Clot in the Arm or Leg:

Swelling
Throbbing or cramping pain
Warmth
Tenderness
Redness

Blood Clot Management and Treatment

Blood clot treatments will depend on the location of the clot and how likely the clot is to cause you harm. The goal of treatment is to dissolve the blood clot, prevent it from growing larger, and prevent it from breaking loose.

Here are the forms of treatment that your doctor may recommend:

Medications

The use of prescription medications is the most common way to resolve blood clots. Anticoagulants, otherwise called “blood thinners”, are used to prevent the formation of blood clots. The types of drugs used are direct oral anticoagulant medications (DOAC), warfarin, unfractionated heparin, and low molecular weight heparin. On the other hand, thrombolytics are prescribed to dissolve clots, yet they are not used as often as anticoagulants because they can cause bleeding.

Compression Stockings

These tight-fitting elastic stockings are worn on the feet up to the groin or calf. This is designed for deep vein thrombosis as it assists the blood in flowing out of the lower legs and back to the heart. This can also help relieve post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) symptoms, especially pain.

Stent

This is a mesh tube inserted into the blood vessel to widen the vessel and allow the blood to flow easier. It is usually placed in the coronary artery. Stents are used in procedures like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and angioplasty.

Vena Cava Filters

A filter is installed in the largest vein of the body, the inferior vena cava, to catch blood clots before they can flow into the lungs, thereby preventing pulmonary embolism. A surgeon inserts the Vena Cava Filter by making a small incision in the vein around the groin or neck area. The insertion is guided by a series of X-ray procedures.

Surgery

A surgical thrombectomy is necessary if the blood clot is large and can cause severe complications, such as severe damage to the nearby tissues. The surgeon cuts the area and removes the clot. A stent is then typically inserted to keep the blood vessel open.

Another surgery is called catheter-directed thrombolysis. A long tube is directed to the blood clot. Medication is administered directly to the clot, which causes it to dissolve.

Blood Clot Prevention

The occurrence of blood clots is highly preventable compared to other blood conditions. Like other diseases or disorders, regular check-ups are recommended to detect blood clots early. Those who have a family history of blood clotting disorders should also talk to their physician to know how to actively prevent the occurrence of clots.

As there are cases in which blood clots occur without symptoms, it is important to lower your risk through prevention. Here is a list of suggestions you can do to prevent blood clots:

Quit smoking
Drink plenty of fluids
Avoid foods high in sodium
Exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy weight
Avoid long periods of sitting
Avoid crossing the legs
Control your diabetes and hypertension
Wear loose-fitting clothes
Take your prescribed medications
Raise the legs six inches above the heart occasionally
Do not stand for more than an hour at a time
Avoid placing pillows under the knees

Because blood clots can be a serious condition that could lead to diseases, disabilities, or any life-threatening conditions, it is important to be familiar with this medical condition, especially if you are at risk.

Remember that prevention is the best way to steer clear of debilitating illnesses. In case you notice any signs of blood clots, contact your doctor immediately.