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A thrombus is a blood clot that can form in the heart or blood vessels, causing blockages that can lead to serious conditions like ischemia, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Causes include pregnancy, prolonged sitting, and family history. Treatment includes blood thinners and filters to prevent clots from traveling.
A thrombus is a blood clot. When a person has a blood clot, the blood hardens in clots, leaving its typically liquid form and becoming solid. This process is called coagulation. A thrombus forms inside a person’s heart or in a blood vessel and stays in place. If it moves to another part of the body, it is called an embolism.
A blood clot can be a very serious problem. This is because clotted blood can block blood flow through the affected vessel. When blood flow is blocked, oxygen can’t flow to the tissues that need it, and a condition called ischemia can result. Without prompt medical attention, these tissues can suffer irreparable damage and even die.
If a thrombus breaks off and travels through a blood vessel, the result can be devastating to a person’s health. For example, a thrombus, called an embolism once it starts moving, can travel through the body to the heart and through the pulmonary artery. The resulting condition is called a pulmonary embolism.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot has traveled to block an artery in a person’s lung. Often these blood clots form far away in the legs, but they can also form in the arms or heart. This condition can be fatal. They are often the cause of death among those who are hospitalized and can even threaten the health of those who sit on airplanes for a long time. Blood clots can also cause conditions such as stroke and myocardial infarction.
There are many things that can cause a thrombus to form. Among these are strokes, heart attacks, pregnancy, prolonged bed rest, prolonged periods of sitting, injuries and surgeries. Some medications can make a person more prone to blood clots. Some people even have a family history of blood clots which makes them more susceptible.
Many people hear the word thrombus for the first time in connection with deep vein thrombosis. This condition develops when a clot forms in a vein deep in a person’s body. The condition is considered a serious threat due to the possibility of the blood clot breaking free and traveling to the lungs or another organ. This can be fatal, although many cases of deep vein thrombosis are resolved without medical treatment.
Deep vein thrombus is often treated with blood thinners, which are medications that make the blood less likely to clot. The clots can be used in severe cases and can also be given when a person has a pulmonary embolism. These drugs are delivered directly through a person’s veins and work to break up clots; unfortunately, these medications can cause a person to bleed too much. Filters are sometimes placed in the larger veins of the abdomen to prevent clots from traveling from reaching the lungs. In some cases, doctors even use special stockings, called compression stockings, to reduce blood pooling and clotting.
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