Normally, human blood vessels contain red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and lymph flowing through them, with the vessel walls acting like transport tubes. However, whenever an injury occurs, blood will clot. The body has proteins that help prevent blood clotting. Therefore, if these proteins malfunction or their activity decreases, blood circulation will become abnormal, leading to the formation of blood clots. If left untreated, this can be life-threatening.
What Causes ‘Blood Clots’?
The main causes of blood clots in the body result from three major factors:
- Abnormal blood vessel walls, such as injuries caused by cuts from knives, medical treatments, or certain surgeries that damage the vessel walls. Additionally, fatty deposits clogging the vessel walls can also increase the risk of blood clots.
- Abnormal blood flow can occur due to various reasons, such as irregular heartbeats causing inconsistent heart contractions, aneurysms in the vessel walls leading to turbulent blood flow, or illnesses that limit body movement, slowing blood circulation. Abnormal blood flow increases the risk of sedimentation, causing red and white blood cells to cluster and eventually form clots.
- Abnormal blood clotting occurs when the body’s anticoagulant proteins are deficient, such as lacking proteins that inhibit clotting, making it easier for clots to form.
Who Is at Risk of ‘Blood Clots’?
The likelihood of developing blood clots increases with age. The older a person gets, the higher the risk, because older individuals tend to have more chronic diseases, more deteriorated blood vessel walls, and reduced physical activity compared to younger people, all of which increase the risk of blood clots.
Besides the elderly, blood clotting disorders can also be inherited. If parents or relatives lack anticoagulant proteins, there is a higher chance of inheriting the same deficiency, increasing the risk of blood clots. Additionally, a history of surgery, drug use, estrogen hormone therapy, contraceptive pills, and cancer patients are also considered high-risk groups for blood clots compared to the general population.
How Dangerous Is It? When ‘Blood Clots’ Occur in the Legs and Lungs
The danger of blood clots depends on the location of the blockage. The two most common sites are:
- Legs, because blood flow is slower there. Most blood clots occur in the veins since the arteries, especially coronary arteries, contract strongly and continuously to pump blood, preventing stagnation. Veins, however, tend to have more stagnant blood, especially in the legs where blood flow is slow, increasing the risk of clots.
- Lungs, usually in the pulmonary arteries, which carry oxygen-poor blood from the right lower heart chamber to the lungs. Clots can also occur in other areas such as abdominal vessels, liver, and spleen, but less frequently.
Although blood clots in the legs may not be immediately life-threatening, if left untreated for more than three months, they can lead to pulmonary embolism and death. Therefore, if deep vein thrombosis is detected in any part of the leg veins, early treatment is crucial.
What Symptoms Suggest Blood Clots?
Symptoms of blood clots vary depending on the location. If clots occur in the legs, symptoms include swelling, tenderness, and pain that worsens when walking. These symptoms appear suddenly, usually within 2-3 days after clot formation.
In cases of pulmonary embolism, symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, chest tightness, and low blood pressure, which can be fatal if untreated. Blood clots in the brain cause severe headaches.
How Is Blood Clot Diagnosis Confirmed?
Diagnosis depends on the suspected location. For leg clots, Doppler ultrasound is used to check for abnormal blood flow, as clots block blood flow in the affected area. For lung clots, contrast dye is injected, and a chest CT scan is performed for detailed examination. For brain clots, both CT scan and MRI can be used.
How Are Blood Clots Treated for Recovery?
Treatment involves anticoagulant medications aimed at preventing new clots and helping the body’s existing anticoagulants dissolve current clots gradually. Anticoagulants are available in injectable and oral forms, with usage depending on the severity of the condition.
For pulmonary embolism, doctors usually administer injections via veins promptly to reduce severity. For leg clots, oral medications are often sufficient as the condition is less severe. The duration of treatment depends on the cause; for example, if caused by an accident with immobilized limbs, medication can be stopped once the bone heals and normal movement resumes.
However, if caused by advanced cancer, lifelong anticoagulant therapy is necessary. There are contraindications and precautions for anticoagulant use, such as avoiding use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and caution in patients with kidney impairment.
How to Take Care of Yourself to Stay Safe from Blood Clots
Since the risk of blood clots increases with age, it is nearly impossible to prevent the condition entirely. However, risk can be reduced by maintaining good health, avoiding chronic diseases, and steering clear of drug abuse, contraceptive pills, and certain migraine medications that can cause blood vessels to constrict suddenly, disrupting blood flow and leading to clot formation. Maintaining a healthy weight within the standard BMI range also reduces the risk, as excess weight increases the likelihood of clots.
Blood clots are closer to us than we think, affecting all age groups, especially the elderly with chronic diseases who are at higher risk. Therefore, annual health check-ups, blood health assessments, diabetes screening, lipid profile tests, and heart function evaluations are essential and should not be neglected to ensure a safe life free from blood clots as much as possible.
