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• What is thrombosis?
• Types of thrombosis
• What are the causes of thrombosis
• What are the risk factors of thrombosis?
• What are the symptoms of thrombosis?
• How is thrombosis diagnosed?
• What are the treatment options for thrombosis?
• How to prevented from thrombosis?

Thrombosis

Thrombosis refers to blood clots forming inside blood vessels. It causes blockage, resulting in diminished blood flow through the blood vessels, which can lead to life-threatening conditions like strokes or heart attacks.

What is thrombosis?

Thrombosis refers to blood clots forming inside blood vessels. It can cause blockage at the site of its origin or somewhere else in the body if the clot breaks off and dislodges at a new location, leading to life-threatening conditions like strokes or heart attacks.

Individuals with atrial fibrillation, diabetes, cancer, or CAD have an increased risk of developing thrombosis. Once formed, a thrombus or blood clot can grow larger and longer over time; hence, the earlier the treatment, the better the chance of a good outcome.

Types of thrombosis

Thrombosis is of two groups: arterial thrombosis and venous thrombosis.

• Venous thrombosis: This refers to the formation of blood clots in veins. It is a common cause of pulmonary embolism.
• Arterial thrombosis: Blood clots forming in an artery, which causes ischemia and tissue necrosis.

What are the causes of thrombosis?

Thrombosis can occur when the lining of blood vessels is damaged or when blood flow decreases. These two causes lead to the clumping of blood into a clot. Additionally, thrombosis can be caused by medication, health problems, and other factors such as obesity, bone fractures, autoimmune disorders, and certain contraceptives.

What are the risk factors of thrombosis?

Certain medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle choices can heighten the risk for thrombosis. These include:

• Atherosclerosis
• Family history of blood clots
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Hypertension
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Paraplegia
• Sitting for a long time, such as during a long flight.

What are the symptoms of thrombosis?

Symptoms of thrombosis depend on the size, location, and complications of the blood clots.

Symptoms of thrombosis in various body regions include:

• Lungs
  • Pain felt in the chest with breathing
  • Sudden shortness of breath
• Brain/neck
  • Confusion, behavioral changes
  • Slurred speech
  • Monoplegia (weakness in one limb of the body)
• Heart
  • Angina
  • Dizziness
  • Breathing difficulty
• Mesenteric arteries
  • Severe abdominal pain, especially after eating
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
• Artery in extremities
  • Weakness in the affected limbs of the body
  • Blisters
  • Numbness
  • Skin sloughing
  • Pallor (pale skin)
  • Tissue necrosis and gangrene
• Veins in extremities
  • Swelling
  • Reddened or darkened skin
  • Pain in the affected areas

How is thrombosis diagnosed?

Medical investigations for diagnosing thrombosis include:

• Physical exam: A doctor looks for visible signs of thrombosis
• Blood tests: Blood tests to check the blood components, clot-formation markers, and heart-damage markers.
• Imaging tests: CT scans, MRI, duplex ultrasound, angiography, or venography to allow the doctor to see the inside of the body and blood vessels.

What are the treatment options for thrombosis? 

Several medications and minimally invasive surgical techniques can treat thrombosis, including:

• Blood thinners: Antiplatelets and anticoagulants can help prevent blood from clotting easily.
• Thrombectomy: This is the most direct way to retrieve blood clots through a minimally invasive technique.
• Thrombolytic therapy: Dissolves blood clots through medication. It is a go-to emergency treatment for strokes, heart attacks, and other complications caused by thrombosis.

How long before the symptoms improve after the treatment?

Therapies for thrombosis alleviate symptoms once treatment restores blood flow, a process that varies from minutes to hours depending on the size and location of the clots.

How to prevented from thrombosis?

It is easier to manage its risk factors. The preventive measures for thrombosis include:

• Maintain a healthy weight through exercise and diet.
• Take blood pressure medications.
• Blood thinners.
• Lower cholesterol levels through medications.
• Avoid sitting for a prolonged duration.
• Stop or don't start smoking.

A note from MedPark's doctor

Thrombosis can be instantly life-threatening once it occurs. It is crucial to prevent it from happening to begin with. Knowing the symptoms can facilitate early seeking of medical attention. If you have regular health checkup appointments, see your doctor regularly.