Thrombosis

Thrombosis is a very common condition, and it can lead to serious issues and complications. It can also turn into a medical emergency rapidly.

Thrombosis

Thrombosis is when blood clots form inside the blood vessels, which can block the vessel or transfer to somewhere else in the body.

Causes and risk factors of thrombosis

• Thrombosis occurs when there is damage in the inner lining of the blood vessel or the blood flow gets slowed down. As a result, the components in the blood start to cluster together when they shouldn’t or they don’t dissolve when they should.
• The risk of blood clots increases due to the following factors: atherosclerosis, blood clotting disorders, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, cancer, chemotherapy, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, paralysis of a leg, sitting still for a long time, using birth control pills that contain estrogen, using hormone replacement for menopause, pregnancy, family history, age older than 60, and tobacco use.

Symptoms of thrombosis

Symptoms of thrombosis depend on the size of the clot, the location, and the complication that it causes.

Symptoms of common places include:

• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs): Sharp chest pain, pain when breathing, and sudden difficulty breathing.
• Heart attack (blood clot in the heart): chest pain, trouble breathing, and dizziness.
• Stroke or transient ischemic attack (blood clot in the brain): slurred speech, trouble controlling the muscles on one side of the body, and confusion.
• Mesenteric ischemia (blood clot in the abdomen): severe abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
• Blood clot in an artery in the arm or leg: the skin looks paler and is cool when touched, weakness, numbness, and tissue death.
• Blood clot in a vein in the arm or leg: the skin looks darker or redder and is warm when touched, pain, and swelling.

Diagnosis of thrombosis

• Physical exam.
• Blood tests.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of thrombosis

Treating thrombosis depends on the case. Treatments include:

• Blood thinners.
• Thrombolytic therapy.
• Thrombectomy.
• The risk of thrombosis can be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle and managing other conditions, if any.