Blood clots serve as the body's response against injuries or cuts. They help stop potentially dangerous bleeding after critical accidents. However, they can also be dangerous to you, especially when they develop in locations such as your brain or lungs. A detrimental blood clot may require medical attention.

Types and Causes

There are two types of blood clots: venous and arterial. There are also many factors and conditions that can affect the formation of blood clots, and they include thrombophlebitis, thrombocytosis, stroke, surgery, pulmonary embolism, prolonged sitting or bed rest, and the like.

Medications, such as oral contraceptives, tamoxifen, and hormone therapy drugs can also cause blood clots as a side effect. What's more, other blood clots causes include heart attack, heart failure, heart arrhythmias (include atrial fibrillation), pregnancy, and a family history of blood clots can also increase your risk for this condition.

Signs and Symptoms

Blood clots are dangerous, because they can cause a stroke if they happen within your carotid arteries. The signs of blood clots and symptoms depend on the type of clot. Venous clots can result in a damming effect because they don't allow blood to return to the heart. Symptoms for a venous clot include pain, redness, warmth, and swelling of the clotted area.

Meanwhile, arterial clots don't allow blood to get to an affected area. Blood clots symptoms for arterial clots include pain, paleness of the affected body part, loss of sensation, and paralysis. It can also depend on where the clot is located (e.g., near the lungs will cause pulmonary problems, near the heart could cause heart attacks).


Treatment

Treatment of blood clots depends on which kind of blood clot is being treated. Venous blood clots can be treated with warm compresses, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or anticoagulation with anticoagulant medication and treatments like enoxaparin or warfarin.

Arterial clots require aggressive treatment, which includes direct administration of medication to the clot or outright surgery. Alteplase or tenecteplace are common arterial clot medications. Pulmonary emboli (blockage of the main artery of the lung) are treated the same way as deep venous thrombosis.

Prevention

Blood clots that are either venous or arterial in nature can be minimized by lifelong attention to risk factors, blood pressure and cholesterol control, refraining from smoking or stopping altogether, and diabetes management. You should also exercise regularly. Change your lifestyle if it's increasing your risk for blood clots. Also blood clots prevention includes a healthy diet or lose weight if you're obese.


General

Blood Clots Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention


Blood clots serve as the body's response against injuries or cuts. They help stop potentially dangerous bleeding after critical accidents. However, they can also be dangerous to you, especially when they develop in locations such as your brain or lungs. A detrimental blood clot may require medical attention.

Types and Causes

There are two types of blood clots: venous and arterial. There are also many factors and conditions that can affect the formation of blood clots, and they include thrombophlebitis, thrombocytosis, stroke, surgery, pulmonary embolism, prolonged sitting or bed rest, and the like.

Medications, such as oral contraceptives, tamoxifen, and hormone therapy drugs can also cause blood clots as a side effect. What's more, other blood clots causes include heart attack, heart failure, heart arrhythmias (include atrial fibrillation), pregnancy, and a family history of blood clots can also increase your risk for this condition.

Signs and Symptoms

Blood clots are dangerous, because they can cause a stroke if they happen within your carotid arteries. The signs of blood clots and symptoms depend on the type of clot. Venous clots can result in a damming effect because they don't allow blood to return to the heart. Symptoms for a venous clot include pain, redness, warmth, and swelling of the clotted area.

Meanwhile, arterial clots don't allow blood to get to an affected area. Blood clots symptoms for arterial clots include pain, paleness of the affected body part, loss of sensation, and paralysis. It can also depend on where the clot is located (e.g., near the lungs will cause pulmonary problems, near the heart could cause heart attacks).


Treatment

Treatment of blood clots depends on which kind of blood clot is being treated. Venous blood clots can be treated with warm compresses, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or anticoagulation with anticoagulant medication and treatments like enoxaparin or warfarin.

Arterial clots require aggressive treatment, which includes direct administration of medication to the clot or outright surgery. Alteplase or tenecteplace are common arterial clot medications. Pulmonary emboli (blockage of the main artery of the lung) are treated the same way as deep venous thrombosis.

Prevention

Blood clots that are either venous or arterial in nature can be minimized by lifelong attention to risk factors, blood pressure and cholesterol control, refraining from smoking or stopping altogether, and diabetes management. You should also exercise regularly. Change your lifestyle if it's increasing your risk for blood clots. Also blood clots prevention includes a healthy diet or lose weight if you're obese.