Probably every person has heard about blood clots and thrombosis, but not everyone understands how dangerous this can be. It is the blood clot that is responsible for the development of such fatal diseases as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.
Also, due to the formation of blood clots, gangrene can develop, and if it comes off, pulmonary embolism can occur. Very often in the media you can hear that it was a blood clot that caused the death of one or another popular artist or director. At first glance, there is nothing scary about this word, but many people wonder why it could be dangerous. So what is a blood clot? A thrombus is a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel or cavity of the heart. It consists of proteins, mainly fibrin, and can be parietal or occlusive, i.e. completely closing the lumen of the vessel. Occlusion thrombi most often form in small vessels, while parietal thrombi form in large veins of the lower extremities and the cavity of the heart.
What causes blood clots?
The formation of blood clots is a protective reaction of the body aimed at stopping bleeding. Everyone knows that with small cuts, the blood stops quite quickly, and this happens due to the closure of damaged capillaries with small blood clots. If the thrombus formation process is disrupted, life may be threatened. For example, the death of Tsarevich Alexei, who had hemophilia.
Blood clots did not form in his body, so a small wound turned out to be fatal for him. But the opposite situation, in which the formation of blood clots increases, can become fatal.
There are three main reasons why blood clots form in blood vessels:
- Changes in the vascular wall;
- Increased blood viscosity;
- Disturbed blood flow.
Atherosclerosis most often leads to changes in the vascular wall. With poor diet, excess cholesterol forms plaque in the arteries. Under the influence of various factors, calcium is deposited in these fatty growths. That is, soft and elastic vessels turn into fragile and ulcerated. Since the main function of blood clots is to close wounds, they love to form in these damaged areas.
In some diseases (oncological, autoimmune), genetic defects of the coagulation system, as well as dehydration, an increase in blood viscosity is observed. The intravascular fluid becomes more viscous, causing blood clots to form.
Slow blood flow through the veins as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, as well as turbulent blood flow (at the branches of blood vessels with high blood pressure), can contribute to thrombus formation.
It should be remembered that thrombophilia can be a side effect of some medications, such as oral contraceptives. Therefore, self-prescribing medications can be exactly what causes blood clots to form.
Thrombus. Symptoms
Symptoms of a blood clot will vary depending on the type of vessel in which it formed.
Arterial thrombosis leads to the development of:
- myocardial infarction,
- stroke,
- gangrene of the limbs,
- intestinal necrosis.
Characteristic manifestations of arterial thrombosis, depending on the affected organ, are:
- pain in the heart area during a heart attack,
- neurological disorders due to stroke,
- pain, numbness, coldness and discoloration of the limb, as well as
- intestinal obstruction and abdominal pain.
Diseases associated with venous thrombosis also vary depending on the location:
- thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities,
- hepatic portal vein thrombosis,
- thrombosis of the jugular vein and cerebral venous sinus.
Symptoms of venous thrombosis are:
- Swelling, pain, redness of the affected area of the leg;
- Abdominal pain, manifestations of pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis;
- Neck pain, blurred vision.
Vein thrombosis is also dangerous because microorganisms quickly multiply in them, which leads to inflammation first of the surrounding tissues, and then of the entire body (sepsis).
Therefore, with a blood clot, the symptoms can be different, but always very serious.
Why does a blood clot break off and why is it dangerous?
The movement of a blood clot within the cardiovascular system is possible with the blood flow.
This requires two basic conditions.
1. The thrombus must be non-occlusive, i.e. freely placed inside the vessel. Typically, such blood clots form in the veins of the legs and heart cavity.
2. The blood speed must be sufficient to break off the blood clot.
The danger of migrating blood clots is that they can travel considerable distances, fragment and lead to blockage of a large number of vessels.
The most common example of thrombus rupture is pulmonary embolism from the veins of the lower extremities. It would seem that not the most serious disease (varicose veins and thrombophlebitis) can lead to sudden death.
No one can say why a blood clot breaks off exactly at the moment when you least expect it. For example, a patient is already recovering after surgery and is preparing for discharge. He gets up and begins to pack his things, but suddenly begins to choke and loses consciousness. This is usually how pulmonary embolism develops. In this regard, timely prevention and effective treatment of blood clots are urgently needed.
Prevention of blood clots
The principles of blood clot prevention are:
- Healthy eating;
- Active lifestyle;
- Maintaining normal blood viscosity.
The principle of healthy eating is aimed mainly at reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. To do this, it is necessary to limit the intake of animal fats and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables, as well as fish and herbs in the diet. These simple rules for preventing blood clots will keep your blood vessels elastic for many years. In addition, there are foods that reduce blood clotting. These include cherries, green tea, and beets.
Not only to prevent the formation of blood clots, but also to keep the body in good shape, you need to devote at least 30 minutes to physical exercise every day. What kind of load this will be, everyone chooses for themselves. But walking in the fresh air is much healthier than working out in a stuffy gym.
It is also necessary to remember that the risk of blood clots in the veins of the legs increases sharply with prolonged stay in a forced position (for example, on an airplane) and during bed rest (for example, after surgery). To prevent blood clots in these cases, it is necessary to get up and walk around as often as possible. In patients in the postoperative period, the use of elastic leg bandaging is justified.
To maintain normal blood viscosity, your doctor may recommend taking Aspirin or Warfarin. They affect different stages of blood clot formation and have their own strict indications and contraindications. Taking these drugs without a doctor's prescription can be dangerous.
Treatment of blood clots
Treatment for blood clots primarily depends on where the blood clot is located.
In case of arterial thrombosis, it is necessary to restore blood flow in the affected vessel as quickly as possible. If the catastrophe happened in the brain, then the doctor takes no more than 2-3 hours to treat blood clots, if in the heart it takes no more than 6 hours. The tissues of the limbs and intestines were the most resistant to malnutrition. There are two main ways to eliminate a blood clot.
1. Surgical method, which includes
- shunting,
- stenting and
- mechanical removal of a blood clot.
During bypass surgery, the surgeon creates an additional blood supply that bypasses the affected vessel. This is an open operation and is performed under general anesthesia. A more modern way of troubleshooting is stenting. This method involves placing a stent (a hollow cylinder similar to a spring) in the area of narrowing of the vessel. It is performed through a puncture in the artery and does not require anesthesia. Before stenting, the clot is sometimes removed by suction with a special syringe.
2. Therapeutic method
It consists of dissolving a blood clot with the help of special medications (thrombolytics) administered intravenously.
A slightly different treatment tactic for venous thrombosis. Here everything is determined by how high the danger of its separation from the wall of the vessel is.
In case of floating blood clots (freely moving in the lumen of the vessel), the vein is ligated or a special trap for blood clots is installed - a vena cava filter. To stabilize a blood clot, heparin or its analogues (fraxiparine, clexane) can be used.
When the lumen of the vein is completely closed, medications can be used that will destroy the blood clot and, in some cases, will lead to the restoration of blood flow through the damaged vessel. These include heparin and warfarin. In rare cases, surgical removal of a blood clot from a vein is used to treat a blood clot.
The formation of blood clots is like a medal that has two sides. On the one hand, this protects the body from bleeding, on the other, it can lead to sudden death. Therefore, it is very important to know the main symptoms of thrombosis in order to get medical help in time.
Preventive measures are also important, consisting mainly of a healthy diet and moderate physical activity. Don’t forget about the risk of blood clots during forced physical inactivity (on an airplane or after surgery). In this case, elastic leg bandaging or the use of compression stockings is justified. Published
What is a blood clot? In simple words, thrombus- this is a lump or clot of platelets (red blood cells) in a certain area of the vessel. Today I want to explain in simple words, why blood clots form, what are the main reasons for their formation and what preventive measures we can take.
The thing is that our body is able to independently deal with many problems: nature has provided many protective mechanisms that are automatically triggered in the event of one or another threat to life and health. Among such mechanisms are sticking of platelets near the walls of damaged vessels. This measure is necessary to protect the body from blood loss.
Let me give you a simple example: if a skin cut occurs, and along with it a cut in the skin vessels, then numerous platelets rush to the cut site. The platelets stick together into a thick mass, the flowing blood “coagulates,” the bleeding stops and the wound gradually heals. This behavior of the body is completely normal. If platelets do not perform this protective function (for example, if their number is reduced, in other words, the blood is too thin), then there is a high risk of blood loss, difficulty healing even the smallest household wounds and abrasions, and more serious injuries can become a real threat to life.Let us remember the hereditary disease of Tsarevich Alexei - hemophilia, which consists in poor blood clotting. This is a very serious disease, due to which every scratch poses a danger to life.
But sometimes platelet aggregation, intended by nature as a protective property of the body, becomes pathological. Due to a complex of factors the blood thickens excessively, the vessels weaken and lose elasticity, and are therefore easily injured, hence the risk of blood clots.
The main factors that provoke the formation of blood clots:
● thick blood is the main reason for the high risk of blood clots
● fragile vessels (i.e. if their elasticity)
● high cholesterol and existing plaques in vessels
● existing damage to blood vessels of internal organs, for example, after surgery
What happens if these causal factors take place?
A fragile vessel has a damaged, eroded surface from the inside; platelets rush to the site of injury and stick to heal the damaged vessel. A clot forms. This is not yet a blood clot, but only the risk of its further formation.
The same situation is observed with postoperative vascular damage.
The same process occurs with existing plaques in the vessels, where platelets react to cholesterol accumulations and for this reason form clots.
A thrombus forms if the clot does not “dissolve”, stays in place, and is not washed away by the blood flow (the thicker the blood, the less chance there is to “disperse” the clot).
Why are blood clots dangerous?
Let's imagine that a clot-thrombus has formed in a large vessel. Then, with the flow of blood, he broke away, went for a “walk” and ended up in a smaller (narrow) vessel - he blocked it and got stuck in it. A detached blood clot can lead to a heart attack (if the blood clot blocks the blood vessels of the heart) or stroke (if a blood clot forms and blocks the blood vessels of the brain), and, as you know, heart attack and stroke are the most common causes of human death.
The risk of thrombosis occurs for various reasons, the main ones being:
● existing varicose veins and other vascular pathologies;
● excessive blood thickening due to external factors (for example, from hypothermia, heat, etc.);
● previous stroke or heart attack;
● diseases of the liver, kidneys, endocrine disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
● postoperative rehabilitation;
● unbalanced diet with excess animal fats and trans fats;
● overweight and obesity;
● pregnancy and menopause;
● smoking and alcohol abuse;
● insufficient fluid intake, in particular clean water;
● inactivity, sedentary work, or, on the contrary, staying on your feet for a long time during the working day;
● genetic predisposition.
Water is the main filter and blood viscosity regulator
Remember that our body consists of 80% water? This includes blood, lymph, saliva, urine, and gastric juice. If we don’t drink enough liquid, stay in the heat, play sports (sweat), then we inevitably lose water, the blood becomes thicker, the saliva becomes more viscous, and the urine becomes concentrated.
When the blood thickens, the filtration of toxins and the removal of metabolic products from the body worsens, the blood supply to cells and organs becomes more difficult, and the risk of platelets sticking together and the formation of clots increases. Makes the situation worse and physical impact (compression of veins and blood vessels during a long sitting position, with excess body weight), andstagnation (immobility), the vessels do not have a “warm-up”. Fragile vessels are easily damaged, and platelets rush to the damaged sites, again forming clots.
Anticoagulants - is there an alternative?
Ultrasound, Dopplerography, angiography and special blood tests help identify the risk of blood clots and determine the causes of problems with blood vessels. For patients at risk, especially after strokes and heart attacks, doctors prescribe drugs that reduce blood viscosity - anticoagulants. Prevention of relapse is vital here. Anticoagulants are also prescribed for increased blood viscosity in hot weather.
Herbal medicine for blood thinning offers special herbs and herbs of targeted action, and common sense suggests drinking more clean water in the heat.
Prevention of blood clots - everything is in our hands
To avoid the formation of blood clots, many people regularly take medications, and in the heat they practically empty their home medicine cabinet. Pharmaceutical drugs, without a doubt, bring the expected effect, but such prevention has a not very “pleasant” (read “terrifying”) downside: the stomach, liver, and kidneys suffer. For example, such a popular anticoagulant as aspirin has an extremely negative effect on the digestive system, corroding the mucous membrane, has a toxic effect on the liver, and in women it provokes problems during menstrual periods due to severe blood thinning. Is there an alternative to pharmaceutical "chemistry"?
Of course, there are natural remedies that have been used for centuries in folk medicine to prevent thrombosis. These are decoctions, infusions, teas and fruit drinks made from berries and herbs that normalize the functioning of the circulatory system. By the way, by drinking these tasty and aromatic drinks, we automatically increase the amount of liquid we drink per day, which is another plus in favor of choosing natural remedies.
Natural remedies that strengthen blood vessels, improve heart function, promote the resorption of cholesterol plaques, cleanse the blood and prevent its thickening, and therefore - eliminate the main causes of blood clots, relate:
● cranberries, sea buckthorn, viburnum, blueberries, raspberries, currants, rose hips - these berries can be used to prepare fruit drinks, compotes, and add them to herbal teas;
● from herbs and flowers for the prevention of blood clots, coltsfoot, amaranth, Jerusalem artichoke, mulberry, hazel (leaf), sweet clover, linden (you need to take both leaves and flowers), Japanese sophora, white willow bark and leaf, flowers will be useful blood red hawthorn;
● in the garden you can also find a simple and effective remedy for the cardiovascular system: dill;
● a decoction of birch leaves and buds is also useful;
● and, of course, don’t forget about drinks based on lemon and ginger, which synergistically enhance each other’s effects.
In addition, the amount of natural anticoagulants in the diet should be increased: onions and garlic, vegetables and fruits (especially citrus fruits and grapes), leafy greens, flaxseed, hazelnut, grape and amaranth unrefined oils, natural chestnut honey.
For external use, ointments or rubs with horse chestnut- this plant has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, and preparations based on it are included in the basic first aid kit for varicose veins. An example is an oil extract (macerate) of horse chestnut flowers, intended for rubbing the limbs with varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.
Choosing a healthy lifestyle
But no medications or folk remedies will provide the desired effect if a person continues to lead an unhealthy lifestyle, which in itself is the main cause of risk. Heavy weight, an immobile lifestyle, excess fat and salt in the diet lead to blood thickening and provoke the formation of blood clots.
First of all, fatty foods and foods that contribute to the accumulation of cholesterol should be excluded from the diet. It is especially important to limit the consumption of animal fats. You should not overuse hot seasonings and salt, and in the hot season it is better to avoid them altogether.
To reduce blood viscosity, you need to drink a lot of water, herbal teas, green tea, and fruit drinks. But we need to say a strict “no” to soda!
If you are overweight, you should reduce the caloric content of your food and try to get rid of extra pounds as quickly as possible: they put extra strain on the heart.
Gymnastics and walking are threefold beneficial for the prevention of blood clots: firstly, physical exercise helps to lose excess weight; secondly, cardio exercises strengthen the cardiovascular system; and thirdly, activity helps normalize the flow of blood and lymph in the body. Of course, you should not exercise in the heat: for outdoor fitness and walking, it is better to choose the morning or evening hours, when it is cool. You can exercise in the air-conditioned gym at any time convenient for you.
It is useful to swim in the pool after sports activities. At home in hot weather, you can take a cool bath, best with the addition of medicinal herbs. To improve the elasticity of blood vessels, a contrast shower is also useful when you change the water temperature from cooler to warmer. But it is better to avoid too hot baths and long stays in the sauna. If you decide to visit the steam room while visiting the pool, go only for a few minutes and choose the lower shelves (and be sure to consult your doctor first).
A modern gym with cardio equipment is, of course, a good thing. But even better are walks in parks, where the air is saturated with oxygen and phytoncides. Relaxing in a pine forest gives a wonderful effect. If long walks are difficult for you, try Nordic walking.
And remember that to prevent thrombosis, it is important to do a light warm-up several times a day to relieve congestion in the body. If you have a sedentary job, you need to take a break for 5-10 minutes every hour: stand up, walk around, swing your arms, do a few bends. Also try to periodically change your position while working, stretch and not sit with your legs crossed (by the way, this also applies to relaxing in a chair at home).If you spend the entire working day standing, in the evening you definitely need to lie down for a quarter of an hour with your legs raised 45 degrees.
Take care of yourself and be healthy!
Probably many of us have heard about the concept of “thrombus”, thrombosis.” Unfortunately, in recent years, cases of thrombosis being diagnosed among the population have greatly increased. It is worth noting that if proper assistance is not provided when a blood clot breaks off, this leads to instant death of the body. Therefore, each person must imagine how to properly help the victim before the doctors arrive.
What are blood clots and why do they form?
A thrombus is a pathological formation of a blood clot in human blood vessels. Its location is very specific. Quite often, the blood clot is localized directly in the heart or in the lumen of a blood vessel.
Causes of blood clot formation
Experts distinguish several main factors that contribute to the formation of blood clots:
- Damage to the wall of a blood vessel as a result of mechanical stress, inflammatory processes, damage to the internal walls by bacteria, viruses.
- High blood viscosity. This pathology occurs due to the presence of oncopathologies and autoimmune diseases.
- Violation of blood clotting function.
- Slow blood circulation resulting from compression of blood vessels, too thick blood.
- Cardiovascular disease and sedentary lifestyle.
Types of blood clots
There are several classifications of blood clots based on their composition, etiology, location in the blood vessel and directly in the body, as well as the mechanism of formation.
Classification by composition:
This classification corresponds to the previous one.
Separation of types of thrombus by etiology
- Marantic is formed due to weakening of the body due to dehydration and hemoconcentration. Most often, such a clot is diagnosed in elderly people in the dura mater.
- Tumor: occurs as a result of the growth of a malignant tumor into the lumen of the vessel and its further growth. This leads to blockage of blood vessels.
- A septic thrombus is formed as a result of various purulent diseases.
According to the location of the thrombus in the vessel
- Parietal thrombi (located at one end of the wall);
Long-lasting (a type of parietal thrombus, but longer); - Lining thrombi (occupies almost the entire surface of the wall, which disrupts blood flow, leaving a small gap);
- Central thrombi (as the name suggests, occupy a central place in the vessel);
- Occlusion thrombi (close the entire lumen of the blood vessel).
By location in the body
- Venous thrombi affect both deep and superficial veins;
Arterial ones are formed in deep and superficial arteries, respectively; - When a clot breaks off and moves throughout the body, the thrombus is considered to be wandering;
- Microcirculatory: formed only in the system of the same name.
Signs
It is worth emphasizing that the signs of thrombosis are based on the location of the thrombus (which vessel and its blood supply):
First aid
The rupture of a blood clot is a rather dangerous condition, which is a strong impetus for the development of serious complications from the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, and even death of the body.
Providing first aid for a blood clot
It should be said right away that it is difficult to provide full medical care to the victim at home. Thus, when the first symptoms appear, you should call an ambulance. Only emergency hospitalization and subsequent treatment in the hospital.
When providing first aid for a blood clot, you should do everything quickly and save time, because a person’s life can end in a matter of minutes.
Often, emergency treatment for blood clot rupture involves administering anticoagulants. Heparin or its analogues, as well as fibrinolytics (Thromboflux, Fibrinolysin), have such properties. If necessary in emergency situations, the clot is removed with a catheter.
But it is worth noting that such drugs should be used only on the recommendation of the attending physician and in a medical institution. When prescribing medications, the doctor must take into account the patient's individual tolerance to prevent internal bleeding.
Diagnostics
When blood vessels are blocked, a number of diagnostic procedures are performed, such as:
- Vascular ultrasound. As a rule, this study is carried out if a blood clot is suspected in the blood vessels of the lower extremities. This way you can identify the location, size of the clot and the state of blood flow in the affected vessel.
- Phlebography. Intended for examining the vessels of the upper and lower extremities. The essence of the method: taking an x-ray with a contrast component.
- CT and MRI.
- X-rays of light.
- ECG and ECHO-cardiography.
- Ultrasound of organs.
However, in the early stages it will be enough to do thromboelastography, a test for the generation of thrombin protein, check thrombodynamics, and a test for prothrombin time. Such procedures are useful even in the absence of suspicion; especially in the risk group, it is recommended to check for blood clots from time to time.
Treatment
Therapy for thrombosis should be carried out strictly under the supervision of an experienced specialist in a hospital. There are several ways to treat thrombosis:
- Drug therapy: administration of medicinal substances with anticoagulant properties. When they are administered, a thinning and decreased blood clotting is observed;
- Surgical treatment of thrombosis is carried out only in severe cases of the disease;
- Vascular bypass and installation of vena cava filters;
- Therapeutic activities (massage, exercise therapy);
- Prescribing a low cholesterol diet.
Any surgical intervention on blood vessels carries the risk of new blood clots appearing in the future. Accordingly, it is necessary not only to regularly prevent vascular diseases, but also to treat them in a timely manner in order to reduce the risk of blood clots.
It is worth noting that treatment directly depends on the type of blood clot, its size and location. Oxygen therapy is also used to increase the concentration of oxygen in the blood. To prevent the disease, it is recommended to lead an active life, exercise regularly, and adhere to a diet.
Nutrition for thrombosis
In addition to drug therapy, a person must adhere to nutritional therapy. So, if blood clots appear, it is recommended to follow a vegetarian diet and include more blood thinning foods in your diet. Similar qualities are inherent in oatmeal, prunes, lemons, ginger, honey, and avocado. Also, seafood, fish and fish oil, cashew nuts, and wheat are very useful for blood clots. Freshly squeezed juice from vegetables contributes to the supply of nutrients to the body.
A thrombus is a blood clot that usually originates in the heart cavity or blood vessels.
In fact, this is a normal natural process - blood clots are responsible for stopping the flow of blood when the capillaries are damaged.
In the event of a cut or abrasion, tiny blood clots close the injury, blocking bleeding.
But if for some reason this process is disrupted, then the terrible disease hemophilia occurs, in which the blood clotting process is disrupted.
Hemophilia is a chronic disease that is inherited. The patient's risk of hemorrhages, including internal ones, increases significantly.
In this case, the consequences of even the most minor injury can be very sad.
In addition, the following groups of people are at risk:
- smokers;
- women during pregnancy and the postpartum period;
- men over 40 and women over 50;
- girls taking hormonal contraceptives;
- those suffering from excess weight;
- leading a sedentary lifestyle;
- eating foods with excess cholesterol;
- coffee lovers;
- supporters of excessive alcohol consumption;
- patients with malignant tumors or inflammation;
- patients after abdominal or large joint surgeries;
- According to the latest data, adults with a height of less than 160 and more than 190 cm can be included in the risk group.
The main danger of blood clots is the possibility of their movement throughout the body with the blood flow. At the same time, they are able to clog the vessels encountered along the way - then thromboembolism begins. This, in turn, leads to a lack of oxygen in the tissues and their subsequent necrosis.
In cases where a blood clot blocks cerebral vessels, a stroke is diagnosed; circulatory system of the intestine - intestinal necrosis; coronary artery - infarction; if the arteries or veins of the extremities are affected, they speak of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities, which can provoke gangrene.
Also, during the migration process, a blood clot tends to disintegrate into several parts - then the danger of blocking the blood flow threatens not just one vessel, but several.
Blood clot in the heart - what is it and how does a blood clot form?
Those interested in a blood clot in the heart - what it is, how a blood clot forms - should know that the symptoms of its occurrence may differ depending on in which part of the body the problem appears. Common to all forms of thrombosis is the appearance of swelling, venous nodes, bruises, and sometimes redness and acute pain when palpating the affected area.
Most often, a blood clot breaks off in an artery, since blood moves faster there. This happens much less often in a vein. In this case, such catastrophic consequences do not occur as in the first case. But this situation still does not pass without a trace; due to poor blood flow in the affected organ, the rapid development of pathogenic microorganisms occurs. As a result, nearby tissues first become inflamed, then it spreads throughout the body and sepsis (inflammation) begins.
Also, due to a strong rush of blood and lack of complete outflow, hemorrhoidal thrombosis often develops.
Types of blood clots and the mechanisms of their formation are classified as follows:
- By structure:
- red (coagulation) - quickly grows in the veins with a slow blood flow;
- white (agglutination) - slowly occurs with rapid blood flow in the arteries and capillaries. Their structure includes leukocytes, fibrin and some platelet cells;
- mixed (mucous structure) - their places of dislocation are veins, cavities (chambers) of the heart and aortic aneurysm due to the change in the processes of precipitation and adhesion of platelets;
- hyaline - occur in the capillaries of various organs (lungs, digestive tract, genitourinary system, brain, etc.) due to the fact that whole blood of small vessels is represented in larger quantities than plasma.
- By type:
- parietal - at one end it is attached to the lining of the vessel without interfering with blood flow;
- continued - a variation of the previous instance, differs from it in greater length;
- lining - covers almost the entire wall of the vessel, leaving only a small gap for blood flow;
- central - placed in the middle part of the vessel, attached to its walls with cords; severely interferes with blood flow;
- clogging - almost completely (more than 50%) blocks the space of the vessel, significantly blocking the blood flow; usually appears on small arteries and veins in the process of enlargement of parietal thrombi, less often formed on large arteries (for example, carotid) and the aorta.
- By size:
- spherical - an enlarging formation of the left atrium, which has a high probability of separating from the inner wall of the organ;
- progressive - grows in the direction of blood flow, spreads along the walls of blood vessels, reaching the veins;
- dilatation thrombus - forms in the cavity of the aneurysm, reaching a significant size, due to which it breaks off, blocking the blood flow.
- By location:
- migrating (wandering);
- arterial;
- venous.
Everyone should know about a blood clot in the heart - what it is, how a blood clot forms. They most often occur with physical inactivity (a sedentary lifestyle), frequent stress and nervous breakdowns, abuse of bad habits, lack of concern for health, and excessive use of medications. Often blood clots appear due to a dysfunction of blood clotting, which provokes a lack of platelets and damaged vessel walls.
It should be clarified that we can talk about a blood clot in the heart only in cases where the clot develops in the intracardiac cavities of the atria or ventricle. However, more often the “plug” appears in the coronary (heart) or cerebral (brain) vascular structures.
If a blood clot breaks off, you can expect complications with pronounced symptoms of impaired blood flow in different organs:
- blockage of cerebral vessels is characterized by manifestations of ischemic stroke;
- embolism of one of the coronary arteries causes a sharp myocardial infarction;
- thrombosis of the arteries of the upper and lower extremities can lead to gangrene and amputation of an arm or leg.
Many people do not know about the seriousness of such an ailment as a blood clot in the heart - what it is, how a blood clot forms. But such formations are the most common cause of embolism in the aorta and the arteries coming from it. If a detached clot completely blocks the vessel, this can lead to a tragic outcome.
What causes blood clots to form in blood vessels and the first symptoms depending on location
Lately, people are increasingly interested in what causes blood clots to form in blood vessels. Experts name 3 main reasons for the generation of blood clots: violation of the integrity of the vascular walls, dysfunction of blood clotting or its increased viscosity, as well as disturbances in blood flow - stagnation.
In the first case, the body’s protective function is triggered - it is necessary to “patch up” any damage. With the course of certain diseases, for example, the development of atherosclerotic plaques, the walls of blood vessels atrophy and are damaged. In this case, the blood clot considers it its duty to “repair” wounds and cuts. Therefore, such places pose an increased risk of thrombus formation.
Increased viscosity can also cause blood clots. It occurs due to blood clotting disorders and dehydration of the body due to autoimmune, genetic or cancer diseases.
Lack of information about why blood clots form in blood vessels can lead to blood stagnation. It is observed mainly in those who lead a sedentary lifestyle - due to advanced age, a long stay in bed after surgery, working conditions, and simply because of simple laziness. This can also be affected by surges in blood pressure - with sudden changes, the blood in the vessels moves unevenly, so blood clots form on their branches.
In the head, clots form in the capillaries, arteries, venous sinuses and veins. With thromboembolism of cerebral vessels, problems arise with speech and breathing, swallowing food, the face is noticeably distorted, numbness of the limbs and symptoms occur, the less time remains before an ischemic stroke.
Moreover, this problem can arise not only among alcohol lovers or the elderly. Stroke often affects young people and even newborns. Sometimes this leads to fatal consequences.
With coronary thrombosis, the blood supply to one of the three arteries initially slows down, and if left untreated, it is completely blocked. This causes a heart attack, which causes myocardial infarction.
It is characterized by the following symptoms:
- sharp pain in the heart area, radiating to the stomach, right or left arm, jaw, ear;
- difficulty breathing;
- dizziness and fainting.
Complications after a myocardial infarction can include thrombosis of the left ventricle and thrombosis of the atrium and atrial appendage.
When the limbs are affected, they become cold to the touch, swelling occurs, and the affected part of the body first turns red and then turns blue. In such cases, the patient feels severe pain. As the disease develops, changes in body temperature, chills, and pressure surges are observed. Thrombophlebitis can add to this peeling of the skin of the affected area, hematomas, and in especially advanced cases - trophic ulcers.
Also, hyaline blood clots, consisting of plasma proteins, red blood cells and destroyed platelets, form in the small peripheral vessels of the legs. In this case, cramps in the calves are recorded, and swelling occurs for a short time. If the disease is in an advanced state, a clear symptom is the brown-brown color of the skin of the affected limb.
Those who know what causes blood clots to prevent blood clots in the lower extremities from time to time take contrast baths for their feet, walk barefoot on textured surfaces, try to swim more, regularly give their legs a rest, lifting them upward for the return flow of blood. They also claim that self-massage and wearing compression garments are very useful.
Often, a detached blood clot from the lower extremities quickly reaches the respiratory system and instantly blocks the blood flow. In this case, pulmonary embolism is diagnosed, which in most cases is very dangerous - death can occur within 10 minutes after a blood clot appears in the lungs. Severance occurs due to sudden movements or injuries.
The main symptom of intestinal thromboembolism is acute pain in the abdomen, radiating to the collarbone or shoulder. Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea or, on the contrary, constipation are observed. If you do not consult a doctor in time, peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum) and necrosis (death and gangrene of tissue) develop.
The main reasons for the detachment of blood clots are the acceleration of blood flow when it is freely placed in the vessel. In addition, the process can be triggered by inflammatory processes at the site of attachment of the substance, vascular damage, and excessive physical activity.
How to avoid thrombosis in blood vessels: prevention and treatment measures
Those who do not know how to avoid thrombosis should visit a doctor at the slightest suspicion of the presence of clots - it would be better for him to laugh at the patient’s suspiciousness than to waste time when the disease can be easily dealt with.
Modern diagnostic methods make it possible to determine the formation of pathological clots at the earliest stages of formation.
First, the specialist will interview the patient and find out whether there are primary signs of the disease.
After this, the doctor will give directions for submitting biomaterial for testing:
- general blood analysis;
- coagulation tests - coagulogram;
- culture for sterility.
It will also be necessary to conduct ultrasound of blood vessels, phlebography (X-ray examination of veins), and arteriography. In some cases, an MRI, computed tomography, or ECG of the heart is recommended. Only after all the research is completed, the doctor is able to make an accurate diagnosis and begin the treatment process.
The overwhelming majority of deep vein thromboses develop after fractures of the femur or tibia, especially in cases where surgical intervention was chosen as the method of treatment.
Doctors recognize that the most dangerous are floating (attached to the shell of the vessel at one end) blood clots that form in the veins of the small pelvis - when they rupture, they most often become the culprit of pulmonary embolism.
To treat blood clots, standard drug therapy and surgery are used. Therapeutic treatment includes taking thrombolytics and anticoagulants in tablet form. In emergency cases, drugs are administered intravenously. These medications help dissolve and completely destroy the blood clot. In addition to special tablets, many experts recommend that their patients over 40 years of age take Aspirin in small doses to thin the blood.
If blood clots are found moving freely through the veins, they practice ligating them or installing special “traps” for clots - vena cava filters. These are devices that are installed in the inferior vena cava. They prevent further passage of the blood clot throughout the body - into the vessels of the heart, lungs and other organs.
There are also non-drug ways to get rid of thrombosis - special massage and physical therapy. This also includes bandaging the affected limbs and using compression stockings. An elastic bandage and special threads contained in therapeutic clothing items compress deep veins, which improves blood circulation. It should be remembered that compression stockings and bandages cannot be used during periods of exacerbation of pain.
Thrombosis has recently become significantly “younger”, so even older people are interested in how to avoid blood clots in blood vessels. Unfortunately, it often happens that thrombosis is asymptomatic, so the patient immediately gets to the surgeon’s table at a critical moment. Surgery is a last resort, used only in the event of a sudden attack or when medication is ineffective.
There are several types of surgery:
- bypass surgery - the clot is left in place, and to restore blood circulation, a new vessel is installed or a connection is made to another vessel, bypassing the clot;
- stenting - a special drainage (stent) is inserted into the affected vessel, expanding the lumen of the artery and promoting normal blood flow;
- thrombectomy - removal of a blood clot from a vessel.
Doctors never tire of repeating: it is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it, so everyone should know how to avoid blood clots in blood vessels.
To prevent blood clots, they recommend the following preventive measures:
- normalization of nutrition;
- increased physical activity;
- control of blood viscosity.
The first point calls for avoiding fried and fatty foods rich in cholesterol. At least twice a week, the diet should include fish and seafood - for example, seaweed. You should eat more vegetables and fruits, greens. You need to try to eat more buckwheat, offal, citrus fruits, apples, and, in season, cherries. Raw onions and garlic are useful at any time of the year.
Women should stop taking birth control pills and choose other means of contraception.
When preventing thrombosis, it is necessary to quit smoking and excessive doses of alcohol. At the same time, no one says that you should not touch alcohol at all - 30 g of vodka or 100 g of red wine once a day is even beneficial for the body.
Those interested in how to avoid thrombosis will have to force themselves to move more. But don’t be afraid - this will happen only at first. In the future, the body will get used to the new loads and will perceive them as something completely natural. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t jog 10 km on the first day of classes. City dwellers may simply start ignoring the elevator and walking up the stairs to their apartment or workplace. Some people prefer to change their public transport stop - when leaving for work or home, they walk 2-3 stops, and only after that they take the desired bus.
If you have the desire and opportunity, you should not neglect cycling, swimming in a pool or pond, walking, and exercising in the morning.
For those whose work responsibilities involve staying in one position for a long time - for example, with frequent flights - doctors advise using compression garments to prevent thrombosis. If possible, you should get up from your seat from time to time, stretch your stiff limbs by doing simple exercises - bending over, squats, jumping.
To thin the blood, doctors advise men over 40 and women over 50 to take Aspirin or similar medications (for example, Warfarin). Also, for this purpose, you should drink more fluid - at least 2 liters per day. This could be green tea, freshly squeezed juice, pure boiled water, or herbal infusions. However, in the latter case, consultation with a specialist is required.
It is also necessary for hirudotherapy - treatment with leeches. Their saliva has the ability to thin the blood and dissolve the resulting clots. In addition, the use of these worms renews lymph and thereby strengthens the immune system, and also normalizes hormone production.
And in conclusion: under no circumstances should you postpone a visit to the doctor even if there is the slightest suspicion of a blood clot. And under no circumstances should you self-medicate - this illness can severely retaliate for neglect.
A thrombus is the result of blood thickening and filling the arteries and veins with its components. This condition leads to severe pathologies and even death. Normal blood clotting is facilitated by the normal functioning of the coagulation and anticoagulation systems. Disruption of their work leads to the formation of clots and blood clots.
It would seem that thrombosis is a disease of older people, but every year it appears more and more often in young people. Blood clots can occur in people barely reached the age of 25–30 years.
What is a blood clot and why does it break off? How does a person feel when a blood clot breaks off? What to do if a blood clot breaks loose, how to help before the doctors arrive? Why is it important to understand why the blockage occurred?
More about pathology
In arteries, clots usually form due to narrowing of the lumens of the vessel. Why is this happening?
This condition occurs due to impairing blood flow, fat and cholesterol.
Often, the formation of such clots is caused by a decrease in fluid volume, which occurs due to a lack of water in the body. This condition develops due to malignant or benign tumors, after taking contraceptives or hormones, or after surgery.
The risk group includes patients who have recently had surgery and people leading an inactive lifestyle.
Often, blood clots develop in women during pregnancy or when the blood supply is disrupted, or due to mechanical injuries to the legs with compression of blood vessels.
Ask your question to a clinical laboratory diagnostics doctor
Anna Poniaeva. She graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod Medical Academy (2007-2014) and Residency in Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (2014-2016).
Thrombosis also occurs in patients who suffer from infections or have pathologies of the heart and blood vessels.
Doctors consider the most dangerous to human life to be blood clots that block large arteries and veins. These disorders increase the risk of stroke and can be fatal.
What does a blood clot look like?
A thrombus is a lump that forms when the coagulation and anticoagulation systems of the body are disrupted. It includes fibrin, precipitated components of blood or plasma.
Such a clot may look different.
This depends on the size of the lump, the degree of development and its location.Doctors distinguish several varieties, which differ in morphological characteristics and depend on location.
Kinds
Exists two main types of thrombosis: pathologies with blockage of veins and diseases with blockage of arteries. They are further divided into several subspecies. For example, the arterial type develops due to blockage of the artery lumen. What if a blood clot breaks loose in this case? It is quite capable of causing a heart attack or stroke of internal organs, a stroke of the brain.
In addition, doctors highlight two main categories depending on the course of the disease:
- Chronic stage
- Acute form (sluggish pathology with periodic exacerbations and remissions).
Types of thrombosis
Intestinal thrombosis
Develops due to blockage of the mesenteric artery. Elderly patients are most susceptible to it. The disease provokes the development of blood clots in the mesenteric vessels, the development of atherosclerosis, and heart attack. The disease often leads to the person dying. It begins with a severe cramp in the abdomen (symptoms resemble appendicitis). The patient vomits and feels sick, the heart beats rapidly, and bloody diarrhea may develop. The temperature often rises.
At this stage, the disease resembles intestinal obstruction.Phlebothrombosis
The pathology is characterized by blockage of the deep veins, partially or completely. Often this condition is accompanied by poisoning with toxins and breakdown products, which result in intoxication. Most often, thrombosis occurs in the legs, but its most dangerous manifestation is considered to be blockage of the pelvic veins, which provokes thromboembolism. The patient feels pain at the location of the clot. The skin there turns red and swells.
Deep vein thrombosis of the legs
This is a serious pathology that often develops asymptomatically and is dangerous for its complications. First, the patient begins to experience pain in the leg, the pain intensifies when walking up stairs or while walking. Unpleasant sensations become bursting, tissues swell and acquire a bluish tint.
Blockage of the veins of the hemorrhoid. This pathology develops after a difficult birth, with constant hypothermia, chronic constipation, and intense sports. A person feels pain and a burning sensation in the anus, which intensifies with defecation.
Ileofemoral thrombosis
This disease is characterized by damage to the vessels of the femoral or iliac vein. It often leads to the death of the patient. The leg swells from the groin to the foot and takes on a blue tint. A person's temperature rises. This disease can lead to gangrene. Its causes are mechanical damage to the limbs and pelvis, and oncology. Treatment is carried out only in a hospital.
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