Blood Clots

Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. Platelets (a type of blood cell) and proteins in your plasma (the liquid part of blood) work together to stop the bleeding by forming a clot over the injury. Typically, your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed. Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These situations can be dangerous and require accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Clots can occur in veins or arteries, which are vessels that are part of the body's circulatory system. While both types of vessels help transport blood throughout the body, they each function differently. Veins are low-pressure vessels that carry deoxygenated blood away from the body's organs and back to the heart. An abnormal clot that forms in a vein may restrict the return of blood to the heart and can result in pain and swelling as the blood gathers behind the clot. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a type of clot that forms in a major vein of the leg or, less commonly, in the arms, pelvis, or other large veins in the body. In some cases, a clot in a vein may detach from its point of origin and travel through the heart to the lungs where it becomes wedged, preventing adequate blood flow. This is called a pulmonary (lung) embolism (PE) and can be extremely dangerous.

It is estimated that each year DVT affects as many as 900,000¹ people in the United States and kills up to 100,000.² Despite the prevalence of this condition, the public is largely unaware of the risk factors and symptoms of DVT/PE. Do you understand your risk? Check out ASH's five common myths about DVT.

How DVT Can Lead to Pulmonary Embolism

Arteries, on the other hand, are muscular, high-pressure vessels that carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body. When your doctor measures your blood pressure, the test results are an indicator of the pressure in your arteries. Clotting that occurs in arteries is usually associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a deposit of plaque that narrows the inside of the vessel. As the arterial passage narrows, the strong arterial muscles continue to force blood through the opening, and the high pressure can cause the plaque to rupture. Molecules released in the rupture cause the body to overreact and form an unnecessary clot in the artery, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke. When the blood supply to the heart or brain is completely blocked by the clot, a part of these organs can be damaged as a result of being deprived of blood and its nutrients.

Blood Clots: A Patient's Journey

Am I at Risk?

The risk factors for developing a venous clot are different from those for an arterial clot, and people at risk for getting one are not necessarily at risk for getting the other. Different risk factors or events can cause unnatural clotting; however, each factor may initiate clotting in a different way. There are molecules in your system that signal your body to let it know when, where, and how quickly to form a clot, and genetics plays a role in how quickly your body reacts to these signals. Certain risk factors, such as obesity, slow the flow of blood in the veins, while others, such as age, can increase the body's natural ability to clot. Even certain medications can affect how quickly your blood clots.

The following factors increase your risk of developing a blood clot:

Obesity
Pregnancy
Immobility (including prolonged inactivity, long trips by plane or car)
Smoking
Oral contraceptives
Certain cancers
Trauma
Certain surgeries
Age (increased risk for people over age 60)
A family history of blood clots
Chronic inflammatory diseases
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Prior central line placement

What Are the Symptoms of a Blood Clot?

In addition to knowing your risk factors, it is also important to be aware of the symptoms of blood clots, which vary depending upon where the clot is located:

Heart - chest heaviness or pain, discomfort in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, light-headedness
Brain - weakness of the face, arms or legs, difficulty speaking, vision problems, sudden and severe headache, dizziness
Arm or Leg - sudden or gradual pain, swelling, tenderness and warmth
Lung - sharp chest pain, racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, fever, coughing up blood
Abdomen - severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea

How Are Blood Clots Treated?

Blood clots are treated differently depending on the location of the clot and your health. If you are experiencing symptoms and suspect you may have a blood clot, see a doctor immediately.

There have been many research advances that have improved the prevention and treatment of blood clots. Some current treatments include:

Anticoagulants - medicine that prevents clots from forming
Thrombolytics - medicine that dissolves blood clots
Catheter-directed thrombolysis - a procedure in which a long tube, called a catheter, is surgically inserted and directed toward the blood clot where it delivers clot-dissolving medication
Thrombectomy - surgical removal of a clot

If you are diagnosed with a venous clot, your doctor may refer you to a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in treating blood diseases. People diagnosed with arterial disease who are at risk for developing a clot in their arteries may have several doctors involved in their care, including a cardiologist (a doctor who specializes in conditions of the heart), a neurologist, and possibly a hematologist.

For some patients, participating in a clinical trial provides access to novel therapies. If diagnosed, you can talk with your doctor about whether joining a clinical trial is right for you.

Are Blood Clots Preventable?

Blood clots are among the most preventable types of blood conditions. There are several ways to decrease your chances of developing a blood clot, such as controlling your risk factors when possible. If you think you may be at risk because of genetic or behavioral factors, talk with your doctor. Also, make sure your doctor is aware of all the medications you are taking and any family history of blood clotting disorders.

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Patient's Journey

Where Can I Find More Information?

If you find that you are interested in learning more about blood diseases and disorders, here are a few other resources that may be of some help:

Results of Clinical Studies Published in Blood

Search Blood, the official journal of ASH, for the results of the latest blood research. While recent articles generally require a subscriber login, patients interested in viewing an access-controlled article in Blood may obtain a copy by e-mailing a request to the Blood Publishing Office.

Patient Groups

A list of Web links to patient groups and other organizations that provide information.

References

Beckman et al. Venous Thromboembolism: A Public Health Concern. AJPM April 2010.
Raskob et al. Surveillance for Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: Recommendations from a National Workshop. AJPM April 2010.

Patients