How do blood clots form in the body. What are the risk factors for developing dangerous blood clots. What are the symptoms of blood clots in different parts of the body. How are blood clots diagnosed and treated by medical professionals.

Understanding Blood Clots: A Vital Bodily Function

Blood clots are a fascinating aspect of human physiology, serving as both a protective mechanism and a potential health hazard. These tangles of molecules and blood cells play a crucial role in our body’s defense system, but they can also pose significant risks when they form inappropriately or fail to dissolve as intended.

Why does our blood clot? The primary purpose of blood clotting is to prevent excessive blood loss when we sustain injuries. When a blood vessel is damaged, clotting factors in the blood are activated, leading to the formation of a protective barrier that seals the wound and prevents further bleeding. This process is essential for healing and preventing infections from entering the body through open wounds.

The Double-Edged Sword of Blood Clotting

While blood clots are beneficial when they form in response to injury, they can become problematic when they develop inside blood vessels without any apparent external damage. These internal clots can obstruct blood flow, potentially leading to serious health complications depending on their location in the body.

• Clots in the brain can cause strokes
• Clots in the heart may result in heart attacks
• Clots in the lungs can lead to pulmonary embolisms
• Clots in deep veins, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), can cause pain and swelling

The Three Main Causes of Dangerous Blood Clots

According to Dr. Mitchell Elkind, an expert on stroke at Columbia University, there are three primary factors that can lead to the formation of dangerous blood clots:

1. Abnormalities in the blood that increase its propensity to clot
2. Impaired blood flow
3. Damage to the lining of blood vessels

These factors can be influenced by various conditions and lifestyle choices, including genetic predispositions, cancer, smoking, heart diseases, and cholesterol buildup in the blood vessels.

Blood Abnormalities and Clotting Risks

Certain blood disorders can make the blood more prone to clotting. These may be inherited genetic conditions or acquired disorders that affect the balance of clotting factors in the blood. Cancer, for instance, can alter the blood’s composition, increasing the likelihood of clot formation.

Impaired Blood Flow and Its Consequences

When blood doesn’t flow properly through the vessels, it can stagnate and form clots. This can occur due to various heart and blood vessel diseases, prolonged immobility, or conditions that affect circulation.

Damage to Blood Vessel Linings

The inner lining of blood vessels, known as the endothelium, plays a crucial role in preventing unwanted clot formation. When this lining is damaged, it can trigger the clotting process. Cholesterol buildup, or atherosclerosis, is a common cause of such damage.

Identifying High-Risk Individuals for Blood Clots

While blood clots can affect anyone at any age, certain factors increase an individual’s risk. Who is more likely to develop dangerous blood clots?

• Older adults
• Individuals with certain heart conditions
• People who have undergone major surgery
• Those who have experienced serious injuries
• Obese individuals
• People with sedentary lifestyles
• Individuals taking certain medications
• Those with a history of previous blood clots

Dr. Nigel Key, an expert on blood disorders at the University of North Carolina, emphasizes that having a history of blood clots significantly increases the risk of developing another one. This highlights the importance of ongoing vigilance and preventive measures for those who have experienced clotting issues in the past.

The Impact of Infections on Blood Clotting

Recent research has shed light on the relationship between infections and blood clot formation. Of particular interest is the link between COVID-19 and increased clotting risk. Studies have shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can trigger abnormal clotting in some patients, adding another layer of complexity to the management of this disease.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Blood Clots

Identifying blood clots can be challenging due to their ability to form in various parts of the body. The symptoms of a blood clot largely depend on its location. How can you recognize potential signs of a blood clot?

Symptoms of Brain Clots (Stroke)

• Sudden difficulty seeing, speaking, or walking
• Weakness or numbness
• Dizziness or confusion

Symptoms of Heart Clots (Heart Attack)

• Crushing chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Cold sweats
• Arm or shoulder pain

Symptoms of Lung Clots (Pulmonary Embolism)

• Shortness of breath
• Pain when breathing deeply
• Coughing up blood

Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

• Swelling, usually in the legs
• Pain or tenderness
• Warmth in the affected area
• Red or discolored skin

It’s important to note that many of these symptoms can overlap with less serious conditions, making diagnosis challenging. Dr. Key points out that there is relatively low awareness of DVT symptoms compared to heart attacks or strokes. This underscores the need for increased public education on the signs of various types of blood clots.

Diagnosing Blood Clots: The Importance of Prompt Medical Attention

If you suspect you might have a blood clot, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention. How are blood clots diagnosed? The process typically involves a combination of physical examination, patient history, and diagnostic tests.

Blood Tests

Certain blood tests can help detect clotting abnormalities or elevated levels of substances associated with clot formation. These may include:

• D-dimer test: Measures a substance released when blood clots break down
• Complete blood count (CBC): Assesses overall blood composition
• Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT): Evaluate clotting factor function

Imaging Tests

Various imaging techniques can be used to visualize blood clots directly or indirectly:

• Ultrasound: Often used to detect DVT in the legs
• CT scan: Can identify clots in the lungs, brain, or other organs
• MRI: Provides detailed images of blood vessels and potential clots
• Venography: Uses contrast dye to highlight blood flow in veins

The choice of diagnostic tests depends on the suspected location of the clot and the patient’s overall health status. Prompt diagnosis is crucial, as it allows for timely intervention and treatment.

Treatment Options for Blood Clots: Breaking the Blockage

Once a blood clot is diagnosed, the treatment approach depends on several factors, including the clot’s location, size, and how long symptoms have been present. What are the primary methods used to treat blood clots?

Anticoagulant Medications

Also known as blood thinners, these drugs help prevent existing clots from growing larger and reduce the risk of new clots forming. Common anticoagulants include:

• Heparin
• Warfarin
• Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) like apixaban and rivaroxaban

Thrombolytic Therapy

For more severe clots, especially those causing heart attacks or strokes, clot-busting drugs may be administered. These medications can dissolve existing clots but must be given within a specific timeframe after symptom onset to be effective.

Thrombectomy

This surgical procedure involves physically removing the clot from the affected blood vessel. Dr. Waleed Brinjikji, an expert on stroke at the Mayo Clinic, notes that thrombectomy has been a significant advancement in clot treatment, especially for patients who don’t qualify for clot-busting drugs due to timing or other factors.

Vena Cava Filters

In some cases, particularly when anticoagulation is contraindicated, a filter may be placed in the large vein called the vena cava to prevent clots from traveling to the lungs.

Advancements in Blood Clot Research and Treatment

The field of blood clot research and treatment has seen significant progress in recent years. What are some of the latest developments in this area?

Personalized Treatment Approaches

Researchers are increasingly recognizing the diversity of blood clots. Dr. Brinjikji’s team is studying the composition of removed clots to better understand their structure and origin. This research could lead to more targeted treatments based on the specific type of clot a patient has.

Improved Thrombectomy Techniques

Advances in thrombectomy procedures have expanded the window of treatment for certain types of clots, particularly in stroke cases. This has significantly improved outcomes for many patients who might not have been candidates for treatment in the past.

Novel Anticoagulants

The development of new anticoagulant medications, particularly direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), has provided more options for long-term clot prevention with fewer monitoring requirements compared to traditional drugs like warfarin.

Genetic Research

Ongoing studies are exploring the genetic factors that contribute to increased clotting risk. This research may lead to more precise risk assessment and preventive strategies for individuals with genetic predispositions to clotting disorders.

COVID-19 and Clotting

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred intense research into the relationship between viral infections and blood clotting. This work may have far-reaching implications for understanding and treating infection-related clotting disorders beyond COVID-19.

As research continues to advance our understanding of blood clots, new treatment options and preventive strategies are likely to emerge. This ongoing progress offers hope for improved outcomes and quality of life for individuals at risk of or affected by blood clots.

Preventing Blood Clots: Lifestyle Changes and Medical Interventions

While not all blood clots can be prevented, there are several steps individuals can take to reduce their risk. How can you lower your chances of developing dangerous blood clots?

Stay Active

Regular physical activity helps improve circulation and reduces the risk of clot formation. Even simple exercises like walking or stretching can make a significant difference, especially for those with sedentary jobs or lifestyles.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obesity is a known risk factor for blood clots. Maintaining a healthy weight through proper diet and exercise can help reduce this risk.

Stay Hydrated

Proper hydration helps maintain blood volume and prevents blood from becoming too thick, which can contribute to clot formation.

Quit Smoking

Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of clot formation. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce your risk of blood clots and other cardiovascular problems.

Manage Underlying Health Conditions

Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can increase clotting risk. Working with your healthcare provider to manage these conditions effectively can help reduce your overall risk.

Use Compression Stockings

For individuals at higher risk of DVT, especially during long periods of inactivity, compression stockings can help improve blood flow in the legs.

Be Aware of Medication Risks

Some medications, including certain hormonal therapies, can increase clotting risk. Discuss potential risks with your healthcare provider and explore alternative options if necessary.

Follow Post-Surgery Protocols

If you’re undergoing surgery, follow your doctor’s instructions regarding early mobilization and any prescribed preventive medications to reduce the risk of post-operative clots.

By implementing these preventive measures and working closely with healthcare providers, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing dangerous blood clots. However, it’s important to remember that even with preventive measures, clots can still occur. Being aware of the symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention when necessary remains crucial for early detection and treatment.

Blood Clots Explained | NIH News in Health

May 2021

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Clearing Blockages in the System

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Your blood is an amazing, multi-purpose substance. It flows continuously through the body, carrying oxygen and nutrients to your cells. But if you get a scrape or cut, some of this flowing liquid quickly turns to a protective clot.

Clots are tangles of molecules and blood cells that clump together. They help prevent blood loss when the skin breaks open. They also help stop infections from getting inside the body. But when clotting happens inside a blood vessel, it can be dangerous.

Clots can form on the blood vessel walls to help them heal if they get damaged. Afterward, the clots usually dissolve. But sometimes a clot doesn’t get broken down as it’s supposed to. Clots may also form when they’re not needed.

Sometimes, clots break off a vessel wall and travel through the blood to other parts of the body. They may cause a lot of damage, depending on where they block blood flow. Blood clots can potentially harm the brain, heart, lungs, or other organs.

But researchers have made great progress over the last few decades in managing blood clots. They continue to develop new ways to treat and prevent such blockages.

Clogs in the System

Three main things can lead to dangerous blood clots, explains Dr. Mitchell Elkind, an expert on stroke at Columbia University. “One is an abnormality in the blood that makes it more likely to clot. For example, geneticHaving to do with genes. Genes are stretches of DNA you inherit from your parents. They define features like your risk for certain diseases. causes, cancer, or damage from smoking,” he says. “The second is when blood doesn’t flow properly.” This can be a side effect of diseases and disorders of the heart or blood vessels.

The third is damage to the lining of blood vessels. One cause of such damage is cholesterol buildup in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that can clump together to form plaques. If a plaque breaks apart, it can damage the blood vessel.

Blood clots can happen to anyone, at any age. But some people are at increased risk. These include older adults and those with certain heart conditions.

Major surgery or a serious injury also add risk. Obesity, being physically inactive, and some medications can boost the chance of a dangerous clot, too.

“And once you’ve had one blood clot, you’re at high risk of another one,” notes Dr. Nigel Key, an expert on blood disorders at the University of North Carolina.

Some infections may also increase the risk of blood clotting. Recent studies have shown that the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, can cause blood clots in some people.

Symptoms of a Clot

Blood clots can occur anywhere in the body. That makes it difficult to find them before they cause a problem, Elkind explains. The symptoms of a blood clot depend on where they are.

A clot blocking blood flow to the brain can lead to a stroke. Strokes can cause sudden difficulty seeing, speaking, or walking. They can also make you feel weak, numb, dizzy, or confused.

A clot that blocks blood flow to the heart can cause a heart attack. The most common signs are crushing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Others range from cold sweats to arm or shoulder pain.

A clot in the lungs can cause shortness of breath, pain when breathing deeply, or even coughing up blood. A clot in a vein deep within the body is called a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. Symptoms include swelling, pain, warmth, or red or discolored skin. These usually happen in your legs. Long periods of inactivity can increase your risk.

“Compared with a heart attack or stroke, there’s low awareness of the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis,” Key says. Many symptoms overlap with less dangerous conditions, such as a muscle sprain.

If you have symptoms of a blood clot, call your health care provider or 911 immediately. You may need to go to the hospital to have blood or imaging tests.

Busting Blockages

Treatment depends on where a clot is and how long you’ve had symptoms. Certain drugs can break up and dissolve some types of clots. But they have to be given within a few hours of when symptoms start.

A type of surgery called a thrombectomy can be used to remove clots in large blood vessels. It can be used even if people don’t get to the hospital in time to receive clot-busting drugs. “That’s been a huge benefit for patients,” says Dr. Waleed Brinjikji, an expert on stroke at the Mayo Clinic.

This technique has also let researchers study what clots are made of after they’re removed. “We’re starting to realize how different clots can be,” says Brinjikji.

Different types of clots might benefit from different removal techniques or drugs. So Brinjikji’s team is now testing ways to identify the type of clot before it’s removed. That way they can start to test which treatments work best.

Stopping a Clot

If you have a clot that’s forming, certain medications may help shrink it or stop it from growing. These drugs are called anticoagulants. They’re more commonly known as blood thinners.

Sometimes, people with certain heart conditions are given blood thinners to prevent blood clots from forming. But blood thinners can have side effects, including an increased risk of bleeding. So doctors don’t give them to everyone.

Elkind’s team has been researching which heart conditions may benefit from this type of preventive treatment.

Recent research has shown that blood thinners may help in COVID-19. They might reduce the risk of blood clots and organ damage in people hospitalized with COVID-19. More work is underway to figure out how best to prevent and treat blood clots for those with the disease.

This work will also help researchers better understand how other viruses can affect the blood, Elkind explains. “I think we’re going to learn a lot about how other infections also trigger clotting from studying COVID-19,” he says.

There are many things you can do to decrease your risk of harmful blood clots. See the Wise Choices box for tips.

5 Body Parts Where Blood Clots Can Form

Nov 01, 2021

A blood clot is formed when blood interacts with substances on vessel walls or in the skin. Clotting is a process that prevents too much blood loss in certain instances, like when you have an injury or cut.

Blood clots have long strands of fibrous proteins that strengthen them and permit them to act like durable plugs and tough.

Are blood clots dangerous? Yes, they can be, especially when they fail to dissolve after forming inside a vein. Immobile blood clots are harmless, but if it breaks free and moves to the heart and lungs through the veins, it can get stuck preventing blood flow. In such a case, you will require immediate treatment.

What Causes Blood Clots?

Blood clots can form due to various factors such as underlying medical conditions and a sedentary lifestyle that makes the blood clot differently or reduce the blood flow in the circulatory system.

Genetic factors and family history may also increase your risk for blood clots

The following are factors that can increase one’s chances of developing a blood clot:

• Obesity or overweight
• Recently having cancer
• Age
• Pregnancy
• Taking estrogen based on hormone therapy or birth control
• Bed rest or extended travel
• Having an inflammatory illness like rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease
• Smoking cigarettes
• Major surgery, especially of the abdomen, pelvis, knee, or hip

If you have any of the named risk factors and are displaying symptoms of blood clots, contact or visit an ER near you.

How to Get Rid of Blood Clots?

Some blood clots dissolve on their own with time. However, getting rid of a blood clot may require a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.

Improving circulation and maintaining a constant blood flow can reduce the risk of blood clots. This can be done by wearing compression stockings or socks and frequent physical activity.

Compression socks apply pressure to the leg and foot to improve blood flow and bring down swelling.

Doctors treat certain blood clots with anticoagulant medications (also referred to as blood thinners) in instances where the blood clot is blocking a deep vein or if it presents a danger of getting loose and moving to the heart. Blood thinners prevent clots from enlarging and stops new clots from forming.

Some patients may require a surgical procedure to remove the clot, but such cases are very rare.

Vena cava filters are used in cases where a patient is unable to take blood thinners. A filter is placed in the inferior vena cava (the largest vein in the body) to apprehend blood clots that travel to the lungs.

Blood clot treatment options depend on the severity of the clot and the location.

If you require emergency care, don’t hesitate to contact Express ER (Harker Heights). We have a team of medical professionals that provide the best medical care, and they are also in possession of the latest technology to provide quick and effective treatment options.

Where Can Blood Clots Form?

Clots can occur in various parts of the body, each with different symptoms:

• Legs and arms

Blood clot symptoms vary in extremities. They can include cramping, pain, swelling, red skin, tenderness, and a warm sensation. Clots in larger veins are known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

• Heart

A blood clot in the heart can result in a heart attack. Some common symptoms of clots in the heart include sweating, pain in the left arm or chest, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness.

• Lungs

A clot that travels to the lungs is referred to as a pulmonary embolism (PE). Symptoms of PE are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, sweating, skin discoloration, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and swelling in the legs.

• Brain

An ischemic stroke can cause difficulty understanding speech or speaking, sudden decreased, blurred, or double vision, general weakness, severe headache, and seizures.

• Abdomen

Symptoms can include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stools, and nausea.

You should go to an emergency room near you if you think you have a blood clot.

How to Prevent Blood Clots?

It’s impossible to eliminate the potential for blood clots completely, but you can lower the risk through the following ways:

• Stay active, engage yourself in regular physical activity
• Avoid sitting for long periods
• Stay hydrated. Drinking water regularly improves your general health, and you are less likely to develop a blood clot.
• Quit smoking. Cigarette components can have a negative impact on your blood circulation.
• Maintain a moderate weight. Obesity adds more pressure to the veins, increasing your risk of blood clots.

how varicose veins are diagnosed in Yekaterinburg – 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 in the legs, sclerotherapy

07/07/2020

Thrombus is a deadly, invisible enemy living in vessels, and only diagnostics reveal it. Therefore, it is so important to undergo a vein examination on time, especially now, when more and more often the press writes about cases of thromboembolism against the background of coronavirus. Ultrasound will also show the presence of varicose veins in a person, because this disease may not have external signs in the form of venous nodes and meshes, but this does not mean that the person is healthy.

So that as many Yekaterinburg residents as possible could be tested and recognize one of the dangerous diseases in time, the phlebology clinic “No Varicose Veins”, which turned one year old this summer, held free appointments with doctors and ultrasound of veins in June. Due to numerous requests from patients – and more than 3,000 of them have already been here in a year – the promotion has been extended for the whole of July.

During the last two weeks of June, 380 residents of the Urals applied to the “No Varicose Veins” clinic. More than 200 patients were examined and consulted by a phlebologist for free, of which half have already signed up for treatment, because they realized that it was no longer possible to delay.

Of course, there are more female patients than male patients (74% versus 26%). There is a belief that varicose veins are a female disease. Phlebologists “No varicose veins” say that vein disease is indeed more common in the fair sex, but women are also more attentive to their health and appearance. We noticed “nets” on the legs – and became worried, called the doctor. Men are more inclined to pull to the last, as a result – “clusters” of veins, trophic ulcers, thrombophlebitis and other complications on their legs.

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– They themselves see everything, but for years they hide such veins under their trousers, and now they are already sore, they decided to be cured, especially with a free examination, – says phlebologist, doctor of the highest category Ivan Bobrov. “Such actions of patients always encourage them to set aside time and finally take care of their health. Many of them have known for a long time that they have varicose veins, but they cannot find the means or simply decide on treatment.

Of course, patients do not always immediately trust the clinic, especially when services are offered free of charge. Some are looking for a catch, but after talking with doctors, they realize that they can be trusted.

“Sometimes patients tell us how other clinics tried to deceive them by stating the cost of treatment and imposing loans,” Ivan continues. – We never insist on treatment, if you need time to think, the patient has every right to do so. When he sees that no one is calling or demanding anything, he trusts us and comes to be treated himself. Our free examination in no way obliges the patient to continue treatment, it is only his choice. It’s good that after the ultrasound, many guests of the clinic understand that it’s no longer possible to pull, and decide to get rid of varicose veins.

Some symptoms suggest that patients may have varicose veins. These are fatigue, heaviness, swelling of the legs, the notorious stars and nets, cramps, the inability to stand on your feet for a long time. In the summer, in the heat, all this is exacerbated.

– Recently, for example, there was a patient with severe varicose veins and a trophic ulcer, she was simply forbidden to work until she treated her veins, since she is a cook and spends a lot of time on her feet, – says the cardiovascular surgeon, phlebologist of the clinic ” No varicose veins” Grant Ambaryan. – The vein itself was also large, tortuous, and the patient was of a large build. Weight also negatively affects the development of varicose veins. In any case, varicose veins are almost always treatable, the main thing is to treat it correctly. It happens that conservative measures are enough – venotonic drugs, compression stockings, the right lifestyle, but sometimes surgery is simply necessary.

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Not every vein can be removed with a laser, sometimes sclerotherapy or miniphlebectomy is needed – for very tortuous veins, tributaries of the main veins. But all these are minimally invasive procedures without injuries and anesthesia, so there is no need to be afraid of treatment. Contraindications for such treatment can only be pregnancy, acute deep vein thrombosis, oncology and other serious diseases.

The patient goes home to do his own business immediately after the operation. For a couple of weeks, heavy loads are prohibited, and then you can live as before, only the quality of life will be on a completely different level. There is nothing to be afraid of, you just need to make up your mind – and first, sign up for a free examination at the “No Varicose Veins” clinic, especially now it is difficult to get an appointment in municipal hospitals. It is impossible to continue living with such a disease, enduring pain and fatigue of the legs, because the consequences of varicose veins in the future can be sad.

The “No Varicose Veins” clinic employs real professionals who specialize in vascular surgery, phlebology and ultrasound diagnostics. All doctors have a safe for the patient method of laser treatment of varicose veins using advanced equipment.

Source: https://www.e1.ru/news/spool/news_id-69352135.html

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cardiologist spoke about the risks of thrombosis after COVID-19

Blood clots are one of the most common and dangerous consequences coronavirus. Even young people who previously had no problems with the cardiovascular system are at risk of earning thrombosis in addition to covid, not to mention the elderly and hearts. The biggest danger that increased blood clotting can cause is strokes and heart attacks.

Cardiologist Yulia Marshintseva told Mir24.tv about how to minimize the risks of thrombosis, which blood clots are the most dangerous and what blood parameters must be monitored even after recovery.

As a rule, mild forms of coronavirus, in which the course of the disease is limited to catarrhal symptoms (cough, runny nose, loss of smell), do not lead to thrombosis. It is worth fearing in those cases when pneumonia begins, the doctor explains.

“Covid pneumonia, unlike other viral or bacterial pneumonias, is a vasculitis. That is, it is associated with homeostasis and hematopoiesis, and the blood begins to thicken. This pneumonia manifests itself precisely in the formation of small blood clots. Therefore, with covid, they always take an analysis for such an indicator of our blood as D-dimer. When it rises, it is imperative to use anticoagulants,” says Marshintseva.

Older people are the first to be at risk, because our blood gets thicker anyway. In addition, special attention to the state of the blood should be paid to patients with varicose veins. With varicose veins, the blood constantly stagnates anyway, and because of the covid, it also becomes thick and viscous – this increases the risk of blood clots several times. Quite often, blood clots come off in young people, the doctor complains.

Blood clots most often occur in the legs, as they bear the bulk of the load, Marshintseva adds. But he is in a hurry to reassure: not every blood clot threatens with such terrible consequences as heart attacks and strokes. Dangerous are only those blood clots that have a so-called floating head – a movable upper part of a blood clot that is not attached to the walls of the vein.

“If a clot does not have a floating head that dangles, then, as a rule, it will not go anywhere and will slowly dissolve. And if, for example, with the help of ultrasound, they see that the clot is going tightly, there is some movement in it – especially for deep vein thrombosis – then, of course, there is a risk that the clot will come off and fly away to the heart, to the head and cause heart attack or stroke,” says Yulia Marshintseva.

Deep vein thrombosis is usually treated with cava filter surgery. This is a special metal structure in the form of a mesh, which is implanted into the lumen of the inferior vena cava to catch blood clots. The cava filter is currently the best way to prevent pulmonary embolism in deep vein thrombosis.

Fortunately, in most cases treatment can be limited to medications.