| When there is damage to the lining of a blood vessel, | | | | You have to sit in one place for many hours without |
| your body automatically sends blood platelets to the | | | | moving much during travel. This is one of the reasons |
| injured area. This releases chemicals that make your | | | | it's important to take breaks often if you're on a long |
| blood start to clot. This process protects the damaged | | | | driving trip, or to get up and walk of stretch if you're on |
| area and helps the injury repair itself.Medical | | | | an airplane.. |
| professionals call a blood clot a "thrombus." | | | | You have an injury that requires you to remain in one |
| A thrombus can also form if blood is obstructed and | | | | place or a part of your body has been put in a cast. |
| remains stagnant. When blood "back ups" in this way, it | | | | You're pregnant, because your growing fetus may |
| can become very dangerous. Once formed, blood | | | | obstruct the flow of blood in certain veins. |
| clots can start traveling through the circulatory system | | | | You're born with a genetic condition in which your |
| and keep other organs from getting nutrients they | | | | blood coagulates faster than it should. When this is the |
| need to function. | | | | case, you are said to be "hypercoagulable." |
| The type known as a pulmonary embolism can be | | | | Arterial thrombi are blood clots that form in an artery. |
| extremely dangerous. A pulmonary embolism is a | | | | Usually, they are not due to an injury or immobilization |
| clump that travels to the lungs where it can cause | | | | like venous thrombi. Arterial thrombi form because |
| tissue death (known as necrosis) or a condition called | | | | fatty deposits have built up on the wall of an artery. |
| hypoxia (which is a form of oxygen starvation). | | | | The artery becomes narrow, and less blood can flow |
| Blood clots are categorized in several different ways. | | | | through. |
| Venous thrombus (or, if there's more than one, thrombi) | | | | An arterial thrombus can also result from rupture. A |
| These form in a vein. They usually happen when you | | | | clot forms at the site of the rupture and blocks |
| become immobilized and your blood doesn't circulate | | | | circulation even more. |
| as well. To put it another way, it's not getting any help | | | | You're at risk for arterial thrombi if you have diabetes, |
| from muscles that normally contract and facilitate the | | | | high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoke tobacco |
| movement of blood back to the heart. Your blood | | | | products, or you have a family history of circulatory |
| stagnates in certain areas. Over time, tiny clumps form | | | | issues. |
| and begin to grow. Eventually, they restrict blood flow | | | | Treatment for blood clots usually entails taking |
| even more, contributing to additional growth. | | | | anti-coagulation medications like warfarin (Coumadin). |
| Venous thrombi tend to occur in the following | | | | Warfarin, however, usually takes about a week to |
| circumstances. | | | | work. If the situation is more urgent, your doctor may |
| When you're hospitalized or bedridden after an | | | | recommend injections of a drug known as enoxaparin |
| sickness or surgery. | | | | or Lovenox. |