Blood clot, risk factors

 

The risk factor of blood clots are common with the risk factors to all diseases that cause narrowing of blood vessels, rupture of plaque, and also cholesterol plaque formation, such as:


Hypertension

High cholesterol levels

Diabetes mellitus

Family history of blood clot

Cigarette smoking


Other conditions are also risk factors for blood clot formation:

Recent surgery

Prolonged immobility, bed rest or sitting (during flight, a long car ride)

Heart attack

Heart failure

Fractures in the hip, thigh, or lower leg

Live in high altitude

Recent childbirth

Obesity

Contraceptive users

Old age

 

Blood clot treatments

 

The treatments depend on the location of clots, and it can be symptomatic or agressive treatment.

 

1. Venous blood clots

■ Warm compresses

■ Drugs: ibuprofen, acetaminophen

■ Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) needs special treatment called anticoagulation, such as: enoxaparin, warfarin. Patients need hospitalization.

■ Blood clots below the knee have lower risks for emolization to the lung. It may need serial ultrasonography examinations to monitor the clot’s growth.

■ If pulmonary emboli occurs, the treatment is similiar to DVT and also need hospitalization to monitor patients’ condition.


2. Arterial blood clots

■ It should be more seriously treated.

■ Surgery is needed to remove the clot

■ Medications: tenecteplase, alteplase (TPA), especially for peripheral arterial disease to restore blood supply.

■ If blood clots occur in the heart, cardiac catheterization is need to relocate blocked artery and a ballon is used to open the occluded area, restore blood circulation, and then a stent (ring) is placed to keep it open. If there is no contraindication, blood clots in brain (stroke) need TPA to restore brain blood flow and prevent more damage.