| Blood clots are a vital part of our body's defense | | | | to the doctor or hospital. Your medical history will be |
| against the outside world. Blood cells and strands of | | | | looked at and you will receive a detailed physical |
| fibrin combine to stop the flow of blood after a cut or | | | | examination. The doctor will likely choose to give you a |
| scrape. If our blood was not able to clot a simple | | | | doppler ultrasound, MRI or CAT scan to help them |
| scrape or cut would lead to death. | | | | make an accurate decision. The location of a blood |
| Aside from the useful reason's that blood clots there | | | | clot means a great deal as to how dangerous it is. |
| are many times that it can become problematic. For | | | | There are a variety of things that can lead to a risk of |
| example, blood clotting in an artery or vein can be | | | | developing blood clots. If you are a smoker then you |
| dangerous because the flow of blood can be | | | | should try to quit as soon as possible. Obesity is a |
| obstructed. This can lead to either a stroke or heart | | | | major contributor to developing blood clots. Problems |
| attack. | | | | with blood clotting has strong ties within the family. If |
| A blood clot in the lung is likely to cause some sharp | | | | one family member has had problems with it then you |
| pains in the chest, inability to catch your breath, | | | | are in a risk group. |
| increase in heart rate, coughing up blood and a fever. | | | | The type of treatment that is given depends on where |
| Abdominal blood clots lead to major pain in the | | | | the clot has formed and whether it is in a vein or an |
| abdomen, purging and diarrhea. Artery clots in the arm | | | | artery. A clot that has formed in an artery and caused |
| or leg is often signified by sharp and sudden pains, | | | | a heart attack or stroke can be dissolved by using |
| swelling, tender or a bluish color to the skin. A blood | | | | thrombolytic medications that are given through an IV. |
| clot in the brain can be indicated by a seizure, tiredness | | | | If a clot forms in a vein there is a risk that it could |
| (as if you had the flu), problems with the vision and | | | | dislodge and end up in a lung. The doctor is likely to tell |
| words not coming out right. | | | | you to use heat, drugs that kill the clot and painkillers to |
| If you think that you might have a blood clot, based on | | | | try and dissolve the clot. If the clot is a high risk factor |
| the symptoms described above, then you should rush | | | | then emergency surgery will become necessary. |