Blood Clots What They Are, How They Are Diagnosed, Signs & Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention & More

00:00 What is a blood clot?
00:37 Where blood clots can form
00:47 Types of problem they cause
01:41 Who is at risk for blood clots?
02:21 Symptoms of blood clots?
03:03 How are blood clots diagnosed?
03:21 What are the treatments for blood clots?
03:49 Can blood clots be prevented?

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What is a blood clot?
A blood clot is mass of blood that forms when platelets, proteins, and cells in the blood stick together. When you get hurt, your body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding. After the bleeding stops and healing takes place, your body usually breaks down and removes the blood clot. But sometimes the blood clots form where they shouldn't, your body makes too many blood clots or abnormal blood clots, or the blood clots don't break down like they should. These blood clots can be dangerous and may cause other health problems.

Blood clots can form in, or travel to, the blood vessels in the limbs, lungs, brain, heart, and kidneys. The types of problems blood clots can cause will depend on where they are:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis. It can block a vein and cause damage to your leg.
A pulmonary embolism can happen when a DVT breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. It can damage your lungs and prevent your other organs from getting enough oxygen.
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare blood clot in the venous sinuses in your brain. Normally the venous sinuses drain blood from your brain. CVST blocks the blood from draining and can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.
Blood clots in other parts of the body can cause problems such as an ischemic stroke, a heart attack, kidney problems, kidney failure, and pregnancyrelated problems.

Who is at risk for blood clots?

Certain factors can raise the risk of blood clots:

Atherosclerosis
Atrial fibrillation
Cancer and cancer treatments
Certain genetic disorders
Certain surgeries
COVID19
Diabetes
Family history of blood clots
Overweight and obesity
Pregnancy and giving birth
Serious injuries
Some medicines, including birth control pills
Smoking
Staying in one position for a long time, such as being in the hospital or
taking a long car or plane ride

What are the symptoms of blood clots?

The symptoms for blood clots can be different, depending on where the blood clot is:
In the abdomen: Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
In an arm or leg: Sudden or gradual pain, swelling, tenderness, and warmth
In the lungs: Shortness of breath, pain with deep breathing, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate
In the brain: Trouble speaking, vision problems, seizures, weakness on one side of the body, and sudden severe headache
In the heart: Chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath, and pain in the left arm

How are blood clots diagnosed?

Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose blood clots:

A physical exam
A medical history
Blood tests, including a Ddimer test
Imaging tests, such as
Ultrasound
Xrays of the veins (venography) or blood vessels (angiography) that
are taken after you get an injection of special dye. The dye shows up
on the xray and allows the provider to see how the blood flows.
CT Scan

What are the treatments for blood clots?

Treatments for blood clots depend on where the blood clot is located and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

Blood thinners
Other medicines, including thrombolytics. Thrombolytics are medicines which dissolve blood clots. They are usually used where the blood clots are severe.
Surgery and other procedures to remove the blood clots

Can blood clots be prevented?

You may be able to help prevent blood clots by:

Moving around as soon as possible after having been confined to your bed, such as after surgery, illness, or injury
Getting up and moving around every few hours when you have to sit for long periods of time, for example if you are on a long flight or car trip
Regular physical activity
Not smoking
Staying at a healthy weight

Some people at high risk may need to take blood thinners to prevent blood clots.

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