What is a Blood Clot?
Naturally, proper blood flow is essential, but there are no guarantees your blood will always flow unobstructed. Blood clots are a common cause of obstructed blood flow occurring most often in the legs and arms. Normally, clotting occurs as the body’s way to seal an open wound.
However, there are times when clots occur for other reasons changing small amounts of blood into a semisolid state. This can be a dangerous thing as clots formed in this way can travel throughout the body until they become lodged in a blood vessel, obstructing blood flow.
The most common type of clot to occur is a deep vein thrombosis, a clot that forms in the deep veins of the legs or arms. The symptoms of a clot are swelling, leg/arm pain or tenderness, skin is warm to the touch, and reddish or bluish skin discoloration. A clot in the leg or arm can be dangerous; however, a clot has the potential to be deadly if a portion of it breaks off and travels to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE).
A PE can occur without warning causing sharp chest pain, coughing with blood in the mucus, and increased heart rate. Seeking treatment for PE is critical, as it can be fatal. If you have any of the symptoms of a clot or PE, it is important to seek treatment immediately.
Know Your Risk
Developing a clot can happen to anyone at any time, making it essential to know the risk factors of a deep vein thrombosis. Luckily, there are four signs to look out for that can tell you if you are one of the people that are likely to develop a clot.
Age: As you get older, blood does not flow as well as it does when you’re younger. For this reason, it is more likely you have the possibility of developing a clot if you are 55 years or older.
Mobility: Movement throughout the day is vital for strong, healthy blood flow. If you are confined to a bed, confined to a wheelchair, sit for long periods, or live a sedentary lifestyle, it increases your chances of developing a clot. Before you disregard this, it is advisable to evaluate your lifestyle and work to determine if they are affecting your mobility.
Family History: Your family history can be a good indicator of whether or not you should be concerned about developing a clot at some point in your life. If there is a family history of blood clots, then your chances are higher than the norm.
However, if there’s no family history of blood clots, that does not necessarily mean your risk is the same as everyone else. If you have a family history of obesity, you are overweight, or both your chances of developing a clot are higher than the norm as well.
Trauma: If you have ever experienced severe trauma, like being in a car accident, it can put you at risk for developing clots later in life. Even if the trauma you experienced was small, such as a broken bone, it can still put you at risk for developing a blood clot.
Seeking Treatment
Having a blood clot can be a scary thing. However, there are treatment options to get rid of it. Unfortunately, most clots do not dissolve on their own. That is why if you suspect you may have a blood clot, it is crucial to seek medical treatment. If you have symptoms of a deep vein thrombosis, you should make an appointment to speak with your doctor. Your physician will help determine if you do have a clot, locate where it is, and how to get rid of it.
The main symptom of a clot is often mistaken for a pulled muscle. Every year in the U.S., approximately 900,000 people a year develop a blood clot. Make sure you take the necessary preactiousn if you believe you could have a blood clot and seek medical advice.
As many as 100,000 lives are lost each year as a result of blood clots, including the Temptations singer Richard Street who died in 2013 due to a blood clot. If you have reason to believe you have a pulmonary embolism, seek treatment for PE immediately by calling 911, and go to the emergency room for immediate treatment.
