What are the warning signs of a blood clot in the leg. How can you identify if you’re at risk for deep vein thrombosis. What complications can arise from untreated blood clots. How is a pulmonary embolism related to leg clots. When should you seek immediate medical attention for suspected blood clots.

Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis and Its Potentially Fatal Consequences

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, typically in the leg or groin. While a clot in the leg itself is not usually fatal, it can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated. The most dangerous complication is pulmonary embolism (PE), which happens when a piece of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.

How common are these dangerous blood clots? According to estimates from the Surgeon General’s campaign:

• Between 350,000 and 600,000 Americans develop DVT or PE each year
• At least 100,000 people die annually from these conditions

These statistics highlight the importance of recognizing the symptoms and risk factors associated with blood clots, as early detection and treatment can be life-saving.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Identifying the signs of a blood clot in the leg is crucial for timely medical intervention. What symptoms should you watch out for?

• Swelling in the affected leg
• Pain or tenderness, especially in the calf
• Warm spot on the leg
• Red or discolored skin on the affected area
• Unexplained shortness of breath
• Pain when breathing deeply

It’s important to note that these symptoms can sometimes be subtle or mistaken for other conditions. If you experience any of these signs, especially if you have known risk factors, it’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly.

The Case of Le Keisha Ruffin: A Near-Fatal Misdiagnosis

Le Keisha Ruffin’s story serves as a stark reminder of how blood clots can be overlooked, even by medical professionals. After giving birth to her daughter via C-section, Ruffin experienced persistent pain in her leg and groin. Despite multiple visits to doctors and emergency rooms, her symptoms were dismissed as related to her healing surgical scar.

It wasn’t until Ruffin’s leg swelled dramatically after a hot bath that the severity of her condition was recognized. She had developed a massive clot in her right leg, with pieces breaking off and traveling to her lungs. The emergency room doctor informed her that if she hadn’t sought help when she did, she might not have survived the night.

This case underscores the importance of advocating for oneself and persisting in seeking medical attention when symptoms persist or worsen.

Risk Factors for Developing Blood Clots

Understanding the risk factors for DVT and PE is essential for prevention and early detection. Who is at higher risk for developing these dangerous blood clots?

• Recent surgery or bone fracture
• Prolonged immobility (e.g., long flights, bed rest)
• Pregnancy or recent childbirth
• Use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
• Age over 65
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Family history of blood clots
• Certain genetic conditions

It’s crucial to inform your healthcare provider if you have any of these risk factors, especially if you’re experiencing symptoms that could indicate a blood clot. Additionally, if you have a family history of blood clots, genetic testing may be recommended to identify any underlying conditions that increase your risk.

The Silent Threat: Why Blood Clots Are Often Misdiagnosed

Why are blood clots sometimes referred to as a “silent killer”? The answer lies in the challenges of diagnosis and the potential for misinterpretation of symptoms. Acting Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson highlighted this issue, stating, “It’s a silent killer. It’s hard to diagnose. I don’t think most people understand that this is a serious medical problem or what can be done to prevent it.”

Several factors contribute to the difficulty in diagnosing blood clots:

1. Symptoms can mimic other conditions
2. Lack of awareness among both patients and healthcare providers
3. Variation in presentation across different patients
4. The need for specialized tests to confirm diagnosis

This underscores the importance of ongoing education and awareness campaigns for both the public and medical professionals. Recognizing the potential for blood clots, especially in high-risk individuals, can lead to more timely diagnoses and potentially life-saving interventions.

Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Blood Clots

What can be done to prevent blood clots and treat them effectively when they occur? Prevention strategies often focus on addressing modifiable risk factors and taking precautions during high-risk periods.

Preventive Measures:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Staying active and avoiding prolonged immobility
• Quitting smoking
• Wearing compression stockings during long trips
• Moving and stretching legs regularly during long flights or car rides
• Discussing risk factors with healthcare providers before surgery or starting new medications

Treatment Approaches:

When a blood clot is suspected or confirmed, prompt treatment is essential. Common treatment options include:

• Anticoagulant medications (blood thinners)
• Thrombolytic therapy (clot-busting drugs) in severe cases
• Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters to prevent clots from reaching the lungs
• Compression stockings to reduce swelling and prevent new clots

The specific treatment plan will depend on the location and severity of the clot, as well as the patient’s overall health and risk factors. It’s crucial to follow the prescribed treatment regimen and attend all follow-up appointments to monitor progress and adjust treatment as needed.

The Role of Healthcare Providers in Preventing Blood Clot-Related Deaths

While individual awareness is crucial, healthcare providers play a vital role in preventing blood clot-related deaths. How can medical professionals improve their approach to diagnosing and treating blood clots?

1. Increase awareness and education about DVT and PE among healthcare staff
2. Implement standardized risk assessment protocols for patients
3. Ensure appropriate use of preventive measures, such as blood thinners, for high-risk patients
4. Maintain a high index of suspicion for blood clots, especially in patients with risk factors
5. Provide clear patient education about symptoms and when to seek medical attention

Dr. Samuel Goldhaber, chairman of the Venous Disease Coalition, emphasized the importance of bringing national attention to this issue, comparing it to the spotlight placed on cigarette smoking in the mid-1960s. This increased focus can lead to better prevention strategies, more accurate diagnoses, and improved patient outcomes.

Government Initiatives to Combat Blood Clot-Related Deaths

What steps is the government taking to address the issue of blood clot-related deaths? Several initiatives have been launched to improve awareness, prevention, and treatment of DVT and PE:

• The Surgeon General’s “Call to Action” for better education of consumers and doctors
• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s 12-page booklet to help consumers assess their risk for DVTs
• A 60-page DVT treatment and prevention guide for doctors and hospitals
• Medicare’s initiative to withhold payment from hospitals when patients develop clots after knee or hip replacement surgery (starting October 1)

These efforts aim to reduce the number of preventable deaths from blood clots by improving awareness, standardizing care, and incentivizing hospitals to implement effective prevention strategies.

The Impact of These Initiatives

How effective are these government initiatives in reducing blood clot-related deaths? While it’s too early to assess the full impact of these recent efforts, similar public health campaigns have shown significant success in the past. For example, awareness campaigns about the dangers of smoking led to a substantial decrease in smoking rates and related health issues.

By focusing on both patient and healthcare provider education, these initiatives have the potential to:

• Increase early detection of blood clots
• Improve implementation of preventive measures in high-risk situations
• Reduce the number of misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses
• Enhance overall patient outcomes and reduce mortality rates

Ongoing research and data collection will be crucial to assess the effectiveness of these programs and guide future interventions.

Advancements in Blood Clot Detection and Treatment

What new developments are emerging in the field of blood clot detection and treatment? Several promising advancements are paving the way for improved diagnosis and management of DVT and PE:

Diagnostic Innovations:

• Advanced imaging techniques for more accurate clot detection
• Point-of-care ultrasound devices for rapid bedside assessment
• Biomarker tests for quicker and more sensitive diagnosis

Treatment Advancements:

• Novel oral anticoagulants with fewer side effects and easier management
• Catheter-directed thrombolysis for targeted clot dissolution
• Improved mechanical thrombectomy devices for clot removal

These advancements hold the potential to revolutionize the way blood clots are detected and treated, potentially leading to better outcomes and reduced mortality rates.

The Importance of Public Awareness and Education

Why is public awareness crucial in the fight against blood clot-related deaths? Education plays a vital role in early detection and prevention of DVT and PE. By increasing public knowledge about the risk factors, symptoms, and potential consequences of blood clots, we can empower individuals to take proactive steps in their health management.

Key aspects of public education should include:

• Recognition of common symptoms and when to seek medical attention
• Understanding personal risk factors and how to mitigate them
• Awareness of preventive measures during high-risk situations (e.g., long flights, post-surgery)
• The importance of discussing family history with healthcare providers

By fostering a more informed public, we can potentially reduce the number of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed cases of DVT and PE, leading to timely interventions and improved outcomes.

The Role of Patient Advocacy

How can patient advocacy contribute to better outcomes in blood clot cases? Patient advocates, often individuals who have personal experience with DVT or PE, can play a crucial role in raising awareness and supporting others. They can:

• Share personal stories to highlight the importance of recognizing symptoms
• Provide support and resources for those diagnosed with blood clots
• Advocate for improved healthcare policies and research funding
• Collaborate with medical professionals to improve patient-centered care

By amplifying the voices of those affected by blood clots, patient advocates can help drive meaningful change in both public awareness and healthcare practices.

The Future of Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment

What does the future hold for blood clot prevention and treatment? As research continues and technology advances, we can expect to see significant improvements in how we approach DVT and PE. Some areas of focus for future developments include:

• Personalized risk assessment tools using genetic and lifestyle factors
• Advanced wearable devices for continuous monitoring of at-risk individuals
• Gene therapy approaches to address underlying clotting disorders
• Artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis and treatment planning
• Novel anticoagulants with even better safety profiles and easier management

These advancements have the potential to dramatically reduce the incidence of blood clot-related deaths by enabling more precise prevention strategies, earlier detection, and more effective treatments.

The Importance of Ongoing Research

Why is continued research crucial in the fight against blood clots? Despite the progress made in understanding and treating DVT and PE, many questions remain unanswered. Ongoing research is essential to:

• Identify new risk factors and refine risk assessment models
• Develop more effective and targeted treatments
• Improve diagnostic accuracy and speed
• Understand the long-term effects of blood clots and optimize follow-up care
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current prevention strategies and develop new approaches

By investing in research, we can continue to make strides in reducing the burden of blood clot-related illnesses and deaths, improving the lives of millions of people worldwide.

Conclusion: A Call to Action for Blood Clot Awareness

The threat of blood clots, particularly deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, remains a significant public health concern. With one American dying from a blood clot every six minutes, it’s clear that increased awareness, improved diagnosis, and more effective prevention and treatment strategies are urgently needed.

By understanding the risk factors, recognizing the symptoms, and seeking prompt medical attention when needed, individuals can play a crucial role in reducing the impact of these potentially fatal conditions. Healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers must continue to work together to improve education, implement effective prevention strategies, and advance diagnostic and treatment options.

As we move forward, it’s essential to maintain focus on this “silent killer” and continue efforts to bring it into the national spotlight. Through a combination of public awareness, medical advancements, and ongoing research, we can hope to significantly reduce the number of lives lost to blood clots each year.

Remember, knowledge is power when it comes to your health. Stay informed, be aware of your risk factors, and don’t hesitate to seek medical attention if you suspect a blood clot. Your vigilance could save your life or the life of someone you love.

Leg pain can signal deadly blood clot

Far too many Americans are dying of dangerous blood clots that can masquerade as simple leg pain, says a major new government effort to get both patients and their doctors to recognize the emergency in time.

“It’s a silent killer. It’s hard to diagnose,” said acting Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson, who announced the new campaign Monday. “I don’t think most people understand that this is a serious medical problem or what can be done to prevent it.”

At issue are clots with cumbersome names: A deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, forms in large veins, usually a leg or the groin. It can quickly kill if it moves up to the lungs, where it goes by the name pulmonary embolism, or PE.

These clots make headlines every few years when seemingly healthy people collapse after long airplane flights or being in similarly cramped quarters. Vice President Cheney suffered one after a long trip last year. NBC correspondent David Bloom died of one in 2003 after spending days inside a tank while covering the invasion of Iraq.

Risk rises with age

But that provides a skewed vision of the problem. While there aren’t good statistics, the new surgeon general’s campaign estimates that every year, between 350,000 and 600,000 Americans get one of these clots — and at least 100,000 of them die.

There are a host of risk factors and triggers: Recent surgery or a broken bone; a fall or car crash; pregnancy or taking birth control pills or menopause hormones; being immobile for long periods. The risk rises with age, especially over 65, and among people who smoke or are obese.

And some people have genetic conditions that cause no other symptoms but increase their risk, making it vital to tell your doctor if a relative has ever suffered a blood clot.

People with those factors should have “a very low threshold” for calling a doctor or even going to the emergency room if they have symptoms of a clot, said Galson, who issued a “call to action” for better education of both consumers and doctors, plus more research.

Symptoms include swelling; pain, especially in the calf; or a warm spot or red or discolored skin on the leg; shortness of breath or pain when breathing deeply.

But here’s the rub: Doctors are ill-informed, too. For example, studies suggest a third of patients who need protective blood thinners when they enter the hospital for major surgery don’t get them. And patients can even be turned away despite telltale symptoms, like happened to Le Keisha Ruffin just weeks after the birth of her daughter, Caitlyn.

Ruffin made repeated visits to doctors and emergency rooms for growing pain in her leg and groin in December 2003 and January 2004, but was told it must be her healing Caesarean section scar.

Finally one night, Ruffin’s husband ran her a really hot bath for pain relief — only to have her climb out minutes later with her leg swollen three to four times its normal size, and then pass out.

“I like to call that my miracle bath,” Ruffin said, because the sudden swelling proved the tip-off for doctors.

Pieces of a giant clot in her right leg had broken off and floated to her lung. The ER doctor “said if I hadn’t made it in when I did, I may not have lived through the rest of the night,” recalled Ruffin, now 32, who spent a month in the hospital and required extensive physical therapy to walk normally again.

National spotlight

These clots “tend to fall through the cracks” because they cross so many areas of medicine, said Dr. Samuel Goldhaber, chairman of the Venous Disease Coalition and a cardiologist at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

With the surgeon general’s campaign, “DVT after all these years will finally get the national spotlight like cigarette smoking did in the mid-60s,” he said.

In addition to Galson’s report:

• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is issuing a 12-page booklet to help consumers tell if they’re at risk for DVTs and what to do — and a 60-page DVT treatment-and-prevention guide for doctors and hospitals.
• As a prevention incentive, starting Oct. 1 Medicare will withhold payment from hospitals when patients develop the clots after knee-or hip-replacement surgery.

How to Spot a Blood Clot | Denver Trial Attorney Blog

blog home Personal Injury Signs That You May Have a Blood Clot

By lladmin on December 26, 2020

Blood clots are one of the leading causes for death in the United Sates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one American dies of a blood clot every six minutes. Shockingly, many medical professionals overlook the signs of blood clots, and fail to catch the issue in time to administer proper care. Knowing the signs yourself can help you determine when you need emergency treatment.

The Danger of Blood Clots

A blood clot is a small lump of blood cells that have fused together in a hardened state. Everyone develops blood clots at some point in their lives, as these clots help people from continuing to bleed after suffering a cut. They are, essentially, scabs. However, when clots detach from the inside of a blood vessel and begin to travel through the bloodstream, they can become very dangerous.

A blood clot can float freely until it reaches a vessel too tight to pass through. At that point, it will become stuck, blocking blood to the vessel’s end destination. This may happen in an arm or leg, or it could happen in the heart, brain, or lungs. Wherever blood travels, so can a blood clot, meaning a clot can become lodged almost anywhere in the body.

Blood clots become particularly dangerous when they reach the heart, brain, and lungs. There, they can cause extreme damage, such as a stroke or heart attack, or organ death due to lack of oxygen. If these clots are not treated swiftly, they will likely become fatal. That is why medical professionals need to suspect blood clots first when a patient has symptoms or is in a high-risk group.

How to Spot a Blood Clot

Not everyone who has developed a blood clot shows symptoms, which can make it difficult to detect. In fact, late diagnosis is one of the leading causes of blood clot fatalities. However, even when symptoms do become apparent, they are often chalked up to other disorders, leading to an incorrect diagnosis. Knowing the signs can help you identify when you may have a blood clot, and allow you to get emergency care as soon as possible.

If you have a blood clot in your arm or leg, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), then you may experience:

• Swelling in the impacted limb
• Pain or tenderness in the impacted limb
• Abnormally warm skin in the impacted limb
• Discoloration of the skin on the impacted limb, usually red or blue

However, if you have a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or heart (cardiac embolism), then your symptoms can include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath
• Intense chest pain
• Irregular or fast heartbeat

If you have a blood clot in one of the arteries leading to your brain, you may have an ischemic stroke. However, strokes, especially in low-risk patients such as people below the age of 60, can be overlooked by medical professionals. Symptoms of an ischemic stroke include:

• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty understanding others
• Paralysis of the face
• Difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes
• Intense headaches
• Difficulties maintaining balance and walking

Always keep in mind that blood clots are life-threatening. If you are unsure as to whether you are suffering from a blood clot, get checked out anyway. This is especially important these days because COVID-19 places people at a higher risk for developing blood clots — if you have been treated for COVID recently, you are a high-risk blood clot patient.

How Hospital Stays Can Harm

It is possible that your blood clot came about as the result of medical malpractice, especially if you developed it after a surgery or a lengthy stay in the hospital. Being confined to a hospital bed, or being unconscious for several hours during a surgery, can increase your chances of developing a deadly blood clot. Doctors and surgeons can minimize the formations of a blood clot in these cases, but often neglect to do so.

For example, during surgery, a serial compression device could be used on your limbs to promote proper blood floor. Or doctors could administer a blood-thinning, anti-coagulant drug to prevent your blood from clotting. Despite having these tools, medical professionals often overlook the risk of blood clots, which leads to patients becoming ill or even dying.

Seek Medical Help

If you are showing signs of a blood clot, then you need to seek medical help as soon as you can. DVT is not immediately life-threatening, which means you can call you general practitioner and set up an appointment. However, if you have the symptoms of a heart, lung, or brain-related clot, visit the emergency room immediately.

If you believe that you suffered a blood clot due to the actions of a medical professional, then you should file a lawsuit. Getting compensation, however, will require the help of a top medical malpractice attorney. Thankfully, you can find plenty of them at our firm, Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. Call us at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to schedule a no-cost consultation.

Patients — What does it mean “a blood clot has come off” and how to prevent it — No varicose veins, laser surgery clinic in Yekaterinburg, laser treatment of varicose veins Yekaterinburg, removal of spider veins, appointment with a phlebologist in Yekaterinburg, appointment with a vascular surgeon, treatment of varicose veins on the legs, sclerotherapy

Answers to popular questions about thrombophilia

Doctors of the Varicose No clinic regularly undergo training and internships with the most powerful and eminent doctors in Russia

Photo: Dmitry Emelyanov

Everyone often hears about the sudden death of an acquaintance. This causes regret and surprise: “So young! What’s happened?” The answer can be overwhelming: suddenly a blood clot broke off in the morning. Just yesterday, a person lived, laughed, talked with his loved ones, made plans for the New Year, dreamed … And the saddest thing is that no one is safe from this.

Increasingly, the press reports on the sudden death of celebrities, the cause of which is a detached blood clot. According to rough estimates, more than ten million people die every year due to the separation of blood clots. Thrombophilia kills more people than cancer and AIDS combined. This review contains the main questions about a dangerous disease, the answers to which everyone should know.

Why is thrombosis dangerous?

The main danger of thrombophilia is suddenness. If a clot clogs the pulmonary artery, the patient dies suddenly, within seconds. A person may not suspect problems until the last moment. When a blood clot breaks off and an artery is blocked, he does not have time to seek help and escape.

org/Person”> Photo: Dmitry Emelyanov

How do blood clots appear?

The cause of thrombophilia is varicose veins. Most people do not pay attention to swelling, cramps, pain, fatigue in the legs … And these symptoms are the first signal to be examined by a vascular surgeon, diagnose the cause and undergo treatment. An untimely visit to a doctor and self-medication leads to the most terrible consequences!

Photo: “No varicose veins”

How to cure varicose veins and prevent thrombosis?

You need to be examined by a phlebologist – undergo an ultrasound scan and get a doctor’s opinion. The clinic of laser surgery “Varicosis No” uses the most modern methods of treating varicose veins – laser treatment, sclerotherapy, miniphlebectomy. All methods are painless and performed without anesthesia.

Which clinic to choose to treat varicose veins? “are regularly trained and trained by the most powerful and eminent doctors in Russia. And this time one of the most famous vascular surgeons in the country Khachatur Kurginyan comes to the Yekaterinburg branch of the federal network of clinics, which has existed for many years.

He is the head of the surgical department of the research center for preventive medicine, a member of the Association of Angiologists and Vascular Surgeons of Russia, the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and the European Society of Vascular Surgeons, as well as a mentor to phlebologists “No Varicose Veins”.

During the arrival of Khachatur Kurginyan, the doctors of the clinic will assist him and at the same time learn the latest technology during operations. In addition, vascular surgeons practice in other cities and countries, improving their skills. The No Varicose Veins team employs doctors of the first and highest categories, they perform more than 10,000 laser surgeries a year.

Photo: Dmitry Emelyanov

How much does the treatment cost?

First of all, the specialists of the Varicose No network are focused on the health of their patients, so the pricing policy here is one of the most loyal in Yekaterinburg. Treatment can be done in installments without interest. As a bonus, the clinic offers to pass all the necessary tests for free before the operation and receive compression underwear. Non-residents are provided with hotel accommodation for the duration of treatment.

Thrombus detachment: causes, symptoms and consequences. Why death occurs from a blood clot – December 20, 2019

A floating (moving) blood clot in a vein in the leg is a very dangerous condition reasons death that a person hears about. As a rule, this is how sudden and sudden death is explained. How do blood clots (blood clots that can be up to several centimeters in size) appear? Why are they coming off? How to protect yourself from this? We talked about this with Dmitry Kopaev, a cardiologist at the Seredavin Regional Hospital.

Dmitry Kopaev was born in 1989 in Togliatti. Graduated from SamGMU. Since January 2014, he has been working as a cardiologist in the specialized department of the Seredavin Regional Hospital

org/Person”> Photo: Alexey Noginsky

be damage to the inner shell for some reason) and slowing down blood flow.

When people say “a blood clot has broken off”, it is most often referred to as pulmonary embolism (PE). The lumen of a large vessel is clogged with one or more blood clots, and this causes disturbances in the entire cardiovascular and respiratory systems. PE can be a complication of venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. But not every detached blood clot and not every PE leads to death. Let’s take a closer look.

– Dmitry Evgenievich, what are the main causes of blood clots?

– There is a hereditary predisposition, and there are secondary causes associated with several factors. One of them is over 45 years old. For example, the risk of thromboembolism occurs in women over 40–45 years of age when taking oral contraceptives. They should be used only when absolutely necessary after consultation with a gynecologist. Moreover, if a woman once had vein thrombosis, for example, then these drugs are contraindicated, since the risk of PE in this case is extremely high. Also on the list are overweight, psycho-emotional stress, low and excessive physical activity, nervous overload.

Truckers who spend a huge number of hours driving trucks are also at risk

Photo: Roman Danilkin

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— Which thrombosis (the process of forming blood clots in the circulatory system) is more dangerous?

– The most dangerous are pulmonary embolism and coronary thrombosis, which leads to myocardial infarction. Chronic diseases are also aggravating circumstances. Thrombosis of the artery of the brain is also dangerous, this is already a stroke clinic. Myocardial infarction, as a rule, is not asymptomatic, this condition is preceded by pressing pain behind the sternum, aggravated by exercise. Pain when pressing a finger, when turning – not cardiac.

In general, all thromboses are dangerous. At any moment, a floating (moving) blood clot in a vein in the leg can also appear. This is a very dangerous condition. If such a blood clot is seen in a patient during a planned ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, then he is urgently hospitalized.

– In all cases, a detached blood clot leads to death?

– Not in all. But if a blood clot breaks off, it will definitely find a place for itself. Pulmonary thromboembolism is perhaps one of the most dangerous cases. There are several symptoms of this condition. Against the background of complete health, shortness of breath occurs, the body cannot bear physical exertion, the heart rate rises, pressure decreases, the upper body begins to turn blue. In all these conditions, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Such a defibrillator is used by cardiologists to “start” the heart of their patients

Photo: Alexey Noginsky

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There are lightning-fast forms of pulmonary thromboembolism – everything develops in a few seconds. A large clot clogs the pulmonary artery, and the heart stops instantly. And it is impossible to predict such thromboembolism. The only case when the situation can be predicted is a floating thrombus in the vein of the lower extremities detected in time and the therapy carried out, because sooner or later it will be brought to the lungs through the circulatory system. But such a blood clot may not manifest itself in any way, and a person may live and not even suspect that he has it.

There are also more benign cases. If the thrombus is not very large, and the vessel is not completely clogged, then the person has a chance to wait for an ambulance. In the hospital, the patient will have an ultrasound of the lower extremities. If a person has low blood pressure, but his condition is stable, then he is also given a CT scan of the chest organs with the introduction of iodine-containing contrast. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then doctors decide on the issue of therapy – to administer a drug that destroys blood clots, or a drug that prevents them from forming. Or they will surgically remove the clot and insert a stent in this place, which maintains the width of the vessel.

Stent is a special elastic metal or plastic structure made in the form of a cylindrical frame, which is placed in the lumen of hollow organs and provides expansion of the area narrowed by the pathological process. The stent provides the patency of physiological fluids by expanding the lumen of a hollow organ (artery, esophagus, intestines, bile ducts and ureter).

– Is it possible to find out in advance about your predisposition to thrombosis?

— If one of the relatives already had thrombosis, then you need to be thoroughly examined already at the age of 20. Usually in this case, very high cholesterol, even at an early age. If there is no such predisposition, then you need to pay attention to the indicators of platelets and hematocrit in the general blood test. If they are above the norm by 10-15 units, then it’s okay. If we are talking about a constant excess of the norm by 50-100 or more units, then you need to be examined. If necessary, doctors will prescribe him drugs to thin the blood.

Possible thrombosis can also be detected during a general blood test

Photo: Roman Danilkin

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— How to protect yourself from thrombosis?

– It is impossible to completely protect yourself and prevent thrombosis, you can only reduce the likelihood of its occurrence. Give up smoking, lead a healthy lifestyle, maintain physical activity (it is not necessary to go to the gym, it is enough to walk at least 10 thousand steps a day). It is also necessary to exclude animal fats and sausages from the diet in excess and supplement it with substances such as omega-3 (found only in red fish) and omega-6. I draw your attention to the fact that you should not practice taking any drugs prescribed to yourself “for prevention”.