What are blood clots? What is a thrombus?
A thrombus is a blood clot that occurs in one of your veins. A thrombus does not move and partially or entirely stops the flow of blood through that vein.
Your arteries allow oxygen within your blood to flow from your heart to your body. Arteries deliver oxygen via blood to all of your tissues and organs.
Your veins do the opposite. They carry blood back to your lungs to trade carbon dioxide for more oxygen. Every cell in your body requires this steady supply of oxygen-rich blood to stay alive.
Clotting is an important process in which blood thickens and creates a scab. This stops the bleeding from an injury. When this coagulation happens inside of your circulatory system, it can cause problems.
If a clot forms within your artery or vein, or breaks off and travels to the heart or lungs, you will have a medical emergency. This is because the clot blocks the flow of blood to or from your heart. Your brain and body do not receive enough oxygen when this happens.
Symptoms of blood clots and a thrombus
When a clot forms in one of your veins and does not move, it is called a thrombus. A thrombus is more likely to form in your veins than in your arteries. This is because the overall pressure of the blood flow through your veins is lower.
Arteries are more likely to develop hardening, also known as atherosclerosis. The higher pressure and speed of blood flow in your arteries makes a thrombus or blood clot less likely to form there.
Symptoms of a thrombus include:
- Pain or discomfort
- Heaviness or tenderness in the affected area
- Swelling, itchiness, or warmth near the clot
- Skin changes such as discoloration or thickening
Causes of blood clots and a thrombus
A thrombus is most likely to form in your legs or arms. They can occasionally occur in your pelvis or core.
A thrombus can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Disease or injury to leg veins
- Immobility or not being able to move around
- A broken bone
- Certain medications
- Obesity
- Autoimmune disorders
Other risk factors for developing a thrombus include:
- A hospital stay
- Surgery
- Injury or trauma
- Infection
- Active cancer or chemotherapy
- Estrogen-containing birth control pills
- Pregnancy
- History of heart attack or stroke
- Prior blood clots
- Family history of blood clots
- Genetic or acquired clotting disorders
Diagnosis for a thrombus
Only a licensed healthcare professional can diagnose a thrombus. There are a few ways that your doctor will determine whether you are experiencing a thrombus.
First, you will likely undergo duplex ultrasonography, which is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in your veins. Your doctor will look for any blockages that may be caused by a thrombus.
An alternative to duplex ultrasonography is a procedure called contrast venography.
In this procedure, your doctor injects your vein with a special highly-visible liquid and then takes an X-ray to locate any blockages. This is the most effective way to locate a thrombus. Since it is invasive and has more risks for infection, most doctors prefer to rely on duplex ultrasonography exams.
Finally, your doctor may perform a blood test called a D-dimer that looks for the enzymes present after a blood clot starts to break up. If your test is negative, you probably do not have a thrombus or blood clot.
Treatments for a thrombus
The treatment for this blood clot that is stationary in one of your veins is a type of medication known as a blood-thinner.
The blood-thinners that are most often administered to treat a thrombus are heparin and warfarin.
Blood clots can also be prevented by:
Possible complications and side effects
The possible complications from a thrombus or blood clot are very serious.
If the clot breaks away and travels to your lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism.
If the clot reaches your heart, it can cause a heart attack.
If it travels to your brain, it can cause a stroke.
In order to avoid these serious and potentially lethal complications, it is important to seek medical care immediately if you think you have a blood clot or thrombus.
Quick intervention can make all the difference and be life-saving in this situation.
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American Association for Clinical Chemistry: "D-dimer."
American Society of Hematology: "Blood Clots."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism."
Harvard Health Publishing: "How to Prevent Clots in the Legs and Lungs."
Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Thrombosis."
National Blood Clot Alliance: "SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BLOOD CLOTS."
National Blood Clot Alliance: "TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS."
North American Thrombosis Forum: "What is Thrombosis?"
St. Luke's Hospital: "Complications of Deep Vein Thrombosis."
UNC Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center: "What is a blood clot?"
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Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. See a picture of Blood Clot and learn more about the health topic.
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT, Blood Clot in the Legs)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in the deep veins, and can be caused by broken bones, trauma to a limb, immobility, medications, smoking, cancer, genetic predisposition, and cancer. Symptoms and signs of a deep vein thrombosis in a leg are swelling, tenderness, redness, warmth, and pain. Treatments for DVT include medications and surgery.fresh frozen plasma
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Heparin is a natural anticoagulant compound in the body that prevents the formation of blood clots (thrombosis). Heparin is used to treat venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation with embolization and other conditions. Common side effects of heparin include hemorrhage (gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, adrenal bleeding with resultant adrenal insufficiency, ovarian hemorrhage, retroperitoneal hemorrhage, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, bruising, blood vessel spasm (vasospasm), and heparin resistance. Heparin overdose may result in severe bleeding. Consult your doctor if pregnant and do not use if breastfeeding.
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A blood clot is a solid or semisolid clump of blood. When the tissues of our body are injured, excessive blood loss is prevented by the clotting of blood. When a blood clot occurs inside the blood vessels it may lead to serious medical conditions. When a blood clot occurs inside the arteries to the lungs, the condition is called pulmonary embolism (PE).
How Do You Know If You Have a Blood Clot in Your Leg?
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Rivaroxaban is a blood thinner prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation (not due to a heart problem), treat and reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) and blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism), and to reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs of patients who have just had hip or knee replacement. You should review the side effects, drug interactions, dosage, storage, and pregnancy safety information prior to taking this medication.
What Does a Blood Clot Feel Like?
Blood clots are semi-solid masses of blood that may be immobile (thrombosis) and impede blood flow or dislodge to other parts of the body (embolism). Deep vein clots, if dislodged, can travel through veins through the lungs to the arteries in the lungs. This is referred to as a pulmonary embolism and can be deadly. Blood clots can also lead to a heart attack or stroke.