If you get an injury it's due to blood clots that the injury gets healed. There are complex mechanisms which are carried out during the process of clotting which helps in repairing broken blood vessels. Before we go into the mechanism of blood clots, it's necessary to know what blood consists of. The main components of blood include red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and blood plasma. The red blood cells contain hemoglobin which help in carrying oxygen to far off cells and removing carbon dioxide, white blood cells help in killing germs in the body, platelets help in clotting of the blood and blood plasma help in the proper functioning of the body.
Whenever there is an injury to the blood vessels, platelets come to the surface, which in turn release chemicals. These chemicals start the process of clotting and finally a mesh is formed which is the blood clot. When clots are formed during the normal repair process, it's considered fine, but if they are formed when there is no external injury, it may result in serious consequences. You may like to know more on what causes blood clots.
Causes of Blood Clotting
Blood Clot in Leg
Many a times blood clots have been found in legs and if they reach the lungs, it can be fatal. There are two main veins in the legs - deep veins and superficial veins. It's from the superficial veins that blood flows to the deep veins and they pass through perforator veins. Both the perforator and superficial veins consists of one-way valves and these valves are responsible for letting the blood flow in the direction of the heart. Blood clots in the deep veins are common and these clots are usually dissolved in the body. However, there are times in which they don't get dissolved and they travel to the heart and the lungs, potentially making it fatal. Blood in the legs should always keep flowing and if it stagnates, the potential for clots increases. Clots block blood circulation thereby causing pain, warmth and swelling.
Blood Clots During Period
Many a times, women find dark to bright red colored blood clots during periods. Usually they are shed during the days of heavy bleeding. Blood clots during menstruation usually are nothing to worry about as it is the body's way of releasing anticoagulants, so that the blood does not clot when released. However, if blood is released rapidly and if the anticoagulants don't get enough time to work, clots may be formed. If clotting is excessive, it's better to consult a health care provider immediately so that you can be sure it's normal and there is no underlying condition.
Blood Clots in Lungs
Blood clots usually don't form in the lungs, clots generally travel from another part of the body to the lung tissues. Clots normally form in one of the veins of the body and then break off. These broken off clots enter the circulatory system and gets lodged in the arteries of the lungs. If the blood clot in lungs enter the pulmonary artery, it can stop the blood supply which in turn would kill the lung tissues and may be fatal. Moreover, there may be blood clot in the brain thereby, leading to brain hemorrhage.
Blood Clots in Urine
If you find blood clots in urine it may mean some underlying medical condition. There may be several reasons, but usually if the urinary tract is infected or if a person suffers from kidney stone, the chances of clots in urine is high. Moreover, if there is any injury in the urinary tract or if the urethra is inflamed, clots may be found in urine.
Blood Clots During Pregnancy
There are reports that blood clots occur during pregnancy, especially in the legs. During the process of pregnancy there are several changes in the circulation of blood and this may result in blood clots. There is a slowdown of blood flow to the legs as the uterus exerts a lot of pressure on the blood vessels of the legs thereby increasing the chances of clots. This condition is usually not serious as clots dissolve in the blood, but if they reach the heart and lungs they may be life threatening.
Symptoms of Blood Clots
Usually the blood clot symptoms are felt in the arms and legs and they include pain, redness, warmth and swelling. Pain occurs as the affected area does not get adequate supply of blood. In case, there is a blood clot in the lungs, there would be shortness of breath and chest pain. In addition to that, if there is a clot in any other part of the body, that area may appear white, there may be a loss of sensation, feeling of weakness and in some extreme cases, it may lead to paralysis. If there are blood clots in legs symptoms, you should immediately get in touch with your doctor as it may be dangerous later on.
Even though blood clots can potentially be harmful, yet it has its advantages. Clots are mainly formed to prevent the loss of blood in case of an injury and that's perfectly normal. Clots can also be formed in the legs if you sit for long hours, especially, during traveling and this can harm you in the long run. So while traveling make sure that you don't sit for long hours at one place.
Whenever there is an injury to the blood vessels, platelets come to the surface, which in turn release chemicals. These chemicals start the process of clotting and finally a mesh is formed which is the blood clot. When clots are formed during the normal repair process, it's considered fine, but if they are formed when there is no external injury, it may result in serious consequences. You may like to know more on what causes blood clots.
Causes of Blood Clotting
Blood Clot in Leg
Many a times blood clots have been found in legs and if they reach the lungs, it can be fatal. There are two main veins in the legs - deep veins and superficial veins. It's from the superficial veins that blood flows to the deep veins and they pass through perforator veins. Both the perforator and superficial veins consists of one-way valves and these valves are responsible for letting the blood flow in the direction of the heart. Blood clots in the deep veins are common and these clots are usually dissolved in the body. However, there are times in which they don't get dissolved and they travel to the heart and the lungs, potentially making it fatal. Blood in the legs should always keep flowing and if it stagnates, the potential for clots increases. Clots block blood circulation thereby causing pain, warmth and swelling.
Blood Clots During Period
Many a times, women find dark to bright red colored blood clots during periods. Usually they are shed during the days of heavy bleeding. Blood clots during menstruation usually are nothing to worry about as it is the body's way of releasing anticoagulants, so that the blood does not clot when released. However, if blood is released rapidly and if the anticoagulants don't get enough time to work, clots may be formed. If clotting is excessive, it's better to consult a health care provider immediately so that you can be sure it's normal and there is no underlying condition.
Blood Clots in Lungs
Blood clots usually don't form in the lungs, clots generally travel from another part of the body to the lung tissues. Clots normally form in one of the veins of the body and then break off. These broken off clots enter the circulatory system and gets lodged in the arteries of the lungs. If the blood clot in lungs enter the pulmonary artery, it can stop the blood supply which in turn would kill the lung tissues and may be fatal. Moreover, there may be blood clot in the brain thereby, leading to brain hemorrhage.
Blood Clots in Urine
If you find blood clots in urine it may mean some underlying medical condition. There may be several reasons, but usually if the urinary tract is infected or if a person suffers from kidney stone, the chances of clots in urine is high. Moreover, if there is any injury in the urinary tract or if the urethra is inflamed, clots may be found in urine.
Blood Clots During Pregnancy
There are reports that blood clots occur during pregnancy, especially in the legs. During the process of pregnancy there are several changes in the circulation of blood and this may result in blood clots. There is a slowdown of blood flow to the legs as the uterus exerts a lot of pressure on the blood vessels of the legs thereby increasing the chances of clots. This condition is usually not serious as clots dissolve in the blood, but if they reach the heart and lungs they may be life threatening.
Symptoms of Blood Clots
Usually the blood clot symptoms are felt in the arms and legs and they include pain, redness, warmth and swelling. Pain occurs as the affected area does not get adequate supply of blood. In case, there is a blood clot in the lungs, there would be shortness of breath and chest pain. In addition to that, if there is a clot in any other part of the body, that area may appear white, there may be a loss of sensation, feeling of weakness and in some extreme cases, it may lead to paralysis. If there are blood clots in legs symptoms, you should immediately get in touch with your doctor as it may be dangerous later on.
Even though blood clots can potentially be harmful, yet it has its advantages. Clots are mainly formed to prevent the loss of blood in case of an injury and that's perfectly normal. Clots can also be formed in the legs if you sit for long hours, especially, during traveling and this can harm you in the long run. So while traveling make sure that you don't sit for long hours at one place.
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