Blood clot disease, which goes by the medical name of Thrombosis, is when blood coagulates and forms clots within an artery or vein.
Blood clots can form in any person even if they don't have Thrombosis; usually after long periods of not moving. Blood clot disease is when these clots occur unexpectedly and at a greater frequency. Blood clot disease can be very dangerous if a patient is discovered to have a blood clot in the heart or brain.
Dangers of Blood Clot Disease
Another form of blood clot disease is deep-vein thrombosis. Deep-vein thrombosis is much more dangerous since it involves veins that interact directly with the lungs, and it occurs when the blood clot forms in the leg or pelvic area. Sometimes they do dissolve on their own, but if left unchecked the blood clot can become dislodged and travel to the lungs, which can result in a fatal pulmonary embolism. The location of the blood clot plays a big role in determining how life threatening a blood clot can be. If a blood clot in the heart is formed it can cause a heart attack, and when a blood clot is formed in the brain, it can cause a stroke. Finally, blood clots are fairly difficult to detect and often go unnoticed.
Causes of Blood Clot Disease
Not moving for prolonged periods of time has been known to cause blood clot disease. Those most vulnerable are patients who are bed ridden for an extended period time after surgery and those who have been immobile during a long flight. It is believed that genetics plays a vital role in determining who is susceptible to blood clot disease. One mutation, named the Factor V Leiden mutation, blocks the production of Protein C, which regulates the clotting process. It is believed that this mutation alone occurs in 20% of all Thrombosis patients. That 20% multiplies with the inclusion of the less common genetic mutations that also cause Thrombosis. Other factors that put patients at high risk for blood clot disease are: high blood pressure, overweight, diabetes and smoking.
Treatment of Blood Clot Disease
If a patient is found to have Thrombosis, they are usually prescribed an anticoagulant to keep blood from coagulating and forming blood clots. Lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, exercising, and quitting smoking all decrease the risk getting blood clots.
While the clotting of blood is meant to be a healing process, when a defect in the clotting system occurs it can cause Thrombosis, which can be fatal if clots form in the lung or brain; therefore, it is important to be aware of blood clot disease.
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