Blood clots are very serious conditions and should be treated as soon as possible. Although in some cases they can pass without medical intervention, they can turn into emergencies.
Blood clots in the deep veins can be fatal (deep vein thrombosis). Blood clots in the legs can be extremely dangerous if they reach the brain or heart. In some cases, blood clots can enter the lungs and cause a fatal condition called pulmonary embolism, while in some cases they can travel to the brain and cause paralysis.
Blood clots form when platelets build up in the blood. This process can be triggered by injury, but in some cases, blood clots can form in non-injured areas. The risk of blood clots depends on several factors.
Certain medications can increase the risk of blood clots, and smokers are more prone to blood clots. A sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of blood clots. Just as age, recent major surgery, weight, pregnancy, family history and underlying diseases can increase the risk of blood clots.
8 SYMPTOMS OF BLOOD CLOTS
Blood clots show different symptoms depending on where they are in the body. Legs and arms are the two most common sites for clot formation.
Here are 8 signs of blood clots.
Limb Swelling
A swollen leg or arm is one of the most common symptoms of a blood clot. Blood clots can block healthy blood flow to the limbs, so blood can build up behind the clot and cause swelling.
Pain in Legs or Arms
Pain caused by a blood clot can easily be confused with cramping or muscle tension, so the problem remains undiagnosed and is therefore particularly dangerous.
Skin Redness
You cannot see the blood clot, but you may notice a change in your skin, such as bruising or redness. In addition, the place where the change occurs may be hot to the touch.
Chest Pain
You may think you are having a heart attack due to chest pain, but it can also be a symptom of a pulmonary embolism. The symptoms are similar, but the pain in the embolism is sharp and stabbing, and is most often felt with a deep breath.
Shortness of Breath
A blood clot in the lungs slows the flow of oxygen. Often out of breath while climbing stairs. Especially if this symptom occurs suddenly, help should be sought immediately.
Cough for No Reason
If you experience difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat or chest pain with an unexplained cough, this may indicate a pulmonary embolism. The cough will be dry and in some cases phlegm and blood may be seen in the cough.
Rapid Heartbeat
When oxygen is low, heart rate rises. In smaller blood clots, the heart rate is partially increased due to chest pain, shortness of breath and the associated tension. If the clot is larger, it leads to a decrease in blood oxygen and can cause changes that lead to an increase in blood flow and heart rate.
Dizziness
The brain is sensitive to changes in oxygen and blood flow, so lightheadedness and fainting can occur in the event of a blood clot. While this is not a very common symptom of a blood clot, it can occur in a number of situations.
9 FACTORS INCREASING THE RISK OF BLOOD CLOTHES
The main risk factors for blood clots are smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol levels. Also, the risk increases with age, and men are more prone to blood clots.
Here are the factors that increase the risk of blood clots.
Cigarettes
Smoking makes arteries harder, and while it’s not visible to the naked eye, research shows that smokers’ arteries are more often inflamed and damaged. The blood of smokers is heavier because they definitely increase the number of proteins such as fibrinogen. As the lung tissue becomes more and more damaged, the body gets defensive and produces more erythrocytes, which causes the blood to be thicker. This increases the risk of blood clots.
Birth Control Pills
When this type of pill was first produced, the estrogen doses in them were high, so blood clots were more common. Estrogen levels have dropped over the last decade, so the use of pills has become more plausible. However, some risks still remain. Especially if the women who take them smoke or have a family history of venous thrombosis, the risk increases considerably.
Varicose Veins
Although it has long been thought that the problem of vein cracking in the legs is only an aesthetic problem, it has been proven that clots occur much more frequently in these types of veins. These clots often end up in the lungs and are prevented by a special diet, wearing appropriate socks, reducing other risk factors, and taking blood thinners.
Surgery
Every surgery increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis, especially in complex joint surgeries such as abdominal or hip replacement. This happens for several reasons. Patients are usually hungry, dehydrated and inactive for a long time before the operation due to anesthesia. Technology is advancing day by day and this risk is decreasing, but patients need to pay attention to what is going on in their bodies in the days after the operation and warn physicians about unusual symptoms.
Long Air Travel
The problem is the altitude pressure affecting the human body. If the flight lasts less than four hours, the risk does not increase, but on longer flights, venous thrombosis, chronic heart or lung patients should be followed. Sufficient water intake, comfortable clothes that do not put pressure on the body and do not prevent circulation, changing the sitting position and movements in the middle row are sufficient precautions.
Inactivity
Inactivity is the main cause of deep vein thrombosis and is associated with obesity and insufficient water intake. The best way to prevent this is to exercise regularly. Blood thinners can be used in those who are indeed at high risk.
Insufficient Fluid Intake
The most valuable effect of lack of water in the body is blood clotting, and this is mostly true for people who take a vacation in hot regions. Dehydration during sports activities, harmony at the beach, or high doses of caffeine and alcohol, which serve as a diuretic, can worsen.
Cancer
Cancer has proven to be one of the common causes of deep vein thrombosis and blood clots. In patients with unexplained clots, implicit cancer tests in the body should definitely be done.
Genetics
The tendency to have multiple blood clots and also the formation of blood clots is a genetic feature and can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and by regular medical supervision.