Blood clots are a medical condition, usually as a result of blood clumping together in your blood vein. They can lead to a serious medical condition if not properly treated early enough. Blood clots may take the form of Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism depending on where the clot occurs.
Deep Vein Thrombosis most often affects people who cannot move around easily and usually occurs on the leg or arm. Pulmonary Embolism usually affects the lungs and is as a result of a blood clot in your leg or arm breaking loose and moves to the lungs.
What are Some of the Causes of Blood Clots?
There are many potential causes some of which include having undergone a major surgery, having cancer or being treated for it, old age mostly above 65 years and being confined to a chair or bed for long periods of time. They could also be hereditary for example if one of your family members had a clotting disorder before.
Are There Any Symptoms That Can Alert You of a Potential Clot?
It is not usually easy to tell that you have a clot in your veins or lungs but there are some symptoms that if you notice them in your body, you should consult your doctor for medical examination. The symptoms vary depending on whether the problem is Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism.
For Deep Vein Thrombosis, the symptoms may range from a swelling in one leg or arm,skin redness on the affected area, to a warm touch or feeling on the arm or leg and pain on the affected limb. You may also notice skin discoloration on the leg which may be bluish. If you notice these signs on your leg or arm it is advisable to seek medical attention immediately to avoid severe cases and potential paralysm.
In the case of Pulmonary Embolism, the symptoms include a fast heartbeat rate, severe chest pains, sudden fainting spells and difficulties in breathing. The affected person may also experience coughing, sometimes with bloody sputum and fever. Pulmonary Embolism is a severe condition that may become fatal if not given proper medication and therefore if you experience any of these, you should be alarmed to seek serious attention.
Treatment For Blood Clotting
The treatment for blood clots may take the form of injection or administration of other drugs orally. The most commonly used drugs include blood thinners such as warfarin and heparin which prevent further growth of existing clots and also inhibit the formation of new ones.
These anticoagulants may cause some side effects such as headaches, loss of bone strength, bleeding and elevated liver enzymes. You should immediately report these to the doctor, who will monitor you closely and check if the you are reacting to the medication and take the necessary action.
However, prevention is always better than treatment and some of the measures you should take to prevent yourself from getting a clot are: avoid sitting for long periods of time in the same position, take less salt in your diet, wear loosely fitting clothes and shoes and also regular exercises such as raising your legs above your heart from time to time.
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