In daily life, we have certainly heard that "So-and-so had a clot in his brain" or "He was taking blood thinners because he had clots in his blood"... So, what is a clot and why are we doctors afraid of clots?
Clots are actually normal body functions. It is the end product of a series of processes we call coagulation, which is vital for blood clotting. This product, called "thrombus" in the medical literature, prevents bleeding by blocking the hole in the vein in case of injury. If this clotting does not occur properly, people may experience serious bleeding and die from minor blows. So why does this substance, which is essential for life, also threaten life? If a clot forms in a place where it should not be and cuts off blood flow there, it can disrupt the nutrition of the organ. Depending on the situation, this condition may end with a stroke or heart attack and death.
Deep Vein Clot (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism
There are deep veins inside your body, away from your skin. DVT mainly happens in your leg or hip (lower extremity thrombosis), but it can also develop in the arm or shoulder (upper extremity thrombosis). Small clots sometimes dissolve on their own. Large clots that do not move or go away can block blood flow in the vein. If they separate, they are dangerous because they can go to the lungs. In this way, it can obstruct blood flow and because the lung tissue dies, it cannot clear the blood properly. It can also damage other organs. Because your lungs cannot provide them with enough oxygen. If the clot is very large or there is more than one, a pulmonary embolism can be fatal.
Heart Attack
The arteries of your heart can become narrowed by a structure containing fat and calcium called plaque. If the surface of the plaque becomes damaged, a clot that forms on the plaque can cut off blood flow to the heart. If not treated quickly, part of your heart muscle may die. A heart attack usually causes tightness pain in your chest. Elderly people, diabetics and sometimes women; He or she may have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, back pain, or fatigue.
Paralysis (Stroke)
When a clot blocks blood flow in one of the arteries of your brain, that part of your brain begins to die. Symptoms of a stroke include loss of strength in your face and arms and difficulty speaking, inch loss, imbalance may occur. If you think you are having a stroke, you need to act quickly. It can cause permanent problems with speaking or using one side of your body. The sooner it is treated, the more likely your brain is to recover.
Clot Formation in the Retinal Vein
It is one of the most common causes of vision loss in elderly people. A clot that blocks blood flow in the central vein or smaller side veins in your retina prevents the normal flow of blood. Blood leaks out of the vein and causes edema. This can lead to serious vision problems such as glaucoma or retinal detachment.
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