Blood clotting is a natural process that occurs automatically to stop bleeding and protect the body's tissues from damage.
However, when clotting happens abnormally in blood vessels, it becomes a risk factor that needs attention.
Abnormal clotting prevents blood flow to vital organs such as the brain and heart, which can lead to the risk of death.
Follow the next few lines in this article on evercare to learn about the main causes of blood clots and how to treat them quickly.
What is Blood Clotting?
Blood clotting is the thickening of the blood that occurs as a result of certain reactions that help stop bleeding in case of injury, under normal circumstances.
In pathological and dangerous conditions, clotting occurs due to the inability of the blood to flow smoothly through the blood vessels, transforming the blood into a semi-solid gel-like substance known as a clot.
Blood clotting is a risk factor that could lead to loss of life, especially when it grows and increases inside blood vessels, preventing blood from reaching other parts of the body and leading to tissue damage.
Difference Between Coagulation and Clotting
Coagulation is the same process as clotting, which is natural and not dangerous in normal situations, as it helps stop bleeding from wounds.
However, if clotting increases excessively, blocking blood flow to arteries, it becomes a risk factor.
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Types of Blood Clots
Several classifications of blood clots occur, as blood clots can be venous or arterial, depending on the location of the injury in the patient.
Additionally, blood clots can also be classified as superficial coagulation, which occurs in veins near the skin. Although it causes pain, it is not dangerous and does not pose a life threat.
There is also deep vein thrombosis, which is a dangerous type that could result in life-threatening conditions.
This may affect the legs or arms, resulting from deep vein clotting.
Patients are also familiar with the types of blood clots that generally classify the condition without going into the details of the clotting process itself, such as heart clots, brain clots, lung clots, and other types.
Blood clots can also be classified based on their stability in the body as follows:
- Moving blood clot: This occurs when a stable clot breaks apart and poses a significant risk to the patient due to the inability to control its location in the body.
- Stable blood clot: It prevents blood flow in the affected area and does not move from its position.
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Causes of Blood Clotting
For the doctor to effectively treat blood clots, it is important to know the underlying cause.
Several causes contribute to clotting in patients, including:
- Hypercoagulation:
This can be due to genetic factors, autoimmune diseases, or other conditions, but it occurs when blood clotting levels are higher than normal.
- Abnormal blood flow:
Clotting may occur after heart failure or prolonged immobility. It can also be caused by atrial fibrillation or certain types of cancer.
- Presence of bleeding in blood vessels:
This triggers platelet activation, causing them to stick to the blood vessel walls, usually due to injury or bleeding in those vessels.
- Injury to endothelial cells in the vessels:
Clotting in this case can happen after surgery, trauma, or infection, typically due to damage to the epithelial cells lining the blood vessels.
Symptoms of Blood Clotting
Suffering from a blood clot is one of the most dangerous health conditions, especially in complex cases like moving clots, where it is difficult to identify the stable location of the clot.
These clots often result in several symptoms, including the following:
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness is when a clot affects the lungs or heart.
- Swelling.
- Pain at the site of injury, varying in intensity depending on the severity of the clot.
- Bloating.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Skin discoloration.
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Cellular Components That Help with Blood Clotting
Although platelets are fragments of cells, they contain structures that play a key role in stopping bleeding.
Their surface contains proteins that help them adhere to breaks in blood vessel walls, leading to bleeding.
Additionally, platelets contain granules that release other proteins to seal the gaps in blood vessels.
Platelets are produced in bone marrow cells, which also produce red blood cells and some white blood cells.
These cells are derived from large precursor cells known as megakaryocytes.
These large bone marrow cells develop into giant cells, and upon maturation, they fragment and release over 1,000 platelets for each megakaryocyte.
Treatment for Blood Clots
Although blood clotting is a vital process that helps stop bleeding, it becomes dangerous when excessive clotting occurs and leads to serious complications.
Therefore, abnormal blood clots should be treated immediately by identifying the type and cause of clotting to prevent further complications.
Blood clots are treated using various methods, depending on the patient’s condition, which is determined by the treating physician after clinical examinations, lab tests, and necessary imaging studies.
Treatment may include:
- Platelet inhibitors: These work by inhibiting enzymes responsible for platelet aggregation, such as aspirin.
- Anticoagulants: These help prevent clots from growing and reduce the number of clots.
- Protein C: This should be taken before warfarin to protect against side effects like skin necrosis.
- Thrombin inhibitors: Used before surgical operations.
- Surgical operations.
- Catheterization.
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement.
- Enzyme stimulation to dissolve blood clots.
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FAQs About Blood clotting
How can blood clots be removed?
Blood clots can be treated by taking anticoagulants in the form of oral tablets or through injections or intravenous administration.
What test detects blood clots?
Blood clots can be detected by performing a prothrombin time test.
What are the most dangerous types of clots?
Ischemic stroke is considered one of the most dangerous types of blood clots, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted.