All about blood clots – symptoms and ways to prevent them

It’s a health risk that doesn’t get the big-news attention of others, but blood clots can be deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, blood clots affect about 900,000 Americans every year.

A recent story from Everyday Health goes into detail about blood clots, or thrombosis, including risk factors, treatments and prevention.

A popular awareness campaign called “Stop the Clot” centers on the most common type of this condition, DVT, or deep vein thrombosis. This is when a clot forms in a vein in the leg or, less frequently, an arm. If the clot becomes mobile, it can travel to the lungs and cause an embolism, which blocks the flow of blood. Clots can also lead to a stroke or heart attack.

Know your risks
Some people are at a higher risk for developing blood clots, according to the CDC. Risk factors include hospitalization, during major surgery, or during a time of extended immobility. Those with serious medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease are also considered at a higher risk for the development of blood clots. Other risk factors include a history of blood clots in the family, a lifestyle that consists of extended periods of sitting, being overweight, taking birth control or hormone therapy, and smoking.

When the symptoms appear
Among the symptoms of a clot are swelling in the leg that feels warm to the touch, calf pain, discoloration of the affected area, chest pain or a sudden shortness of breath. Always call 911 or head immediately to the emergency room if you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath.

Blood clot treatments
Blood clots are frequently treated using blood thinners, or anticoagulants. There are also thrombolytics, which dissolve clots that have already formed. Sometimes surgery is necessary, including stents. Caution will be taken in these instances to prevent further clotting as a result, since hospitalization and surgery are two of the original risk factors. To reduce leg swelling, compression socks or stockings may also be prescribed.

It’s important to be educated about the symptoms of a blood clot. Dr. Elliott Haut from John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore said blood clots are responsible for more deaths than some may realize.

“The number of people who die from clots is more than breast cancer, AIDS and motor vehicle collisions combined,” Dr. Haut said. “But when you ask people on the street what they know about it, they just don’t know that much.”

For more information on blood clots and DVT, take a look at the CDC’s information page. Share this with friends and family!