When you get a cut on the hand or scrape a knee, the blood from the damaged blood vessel(s) will begin thickening and clotting to create a semi-solid mass that will eventually harden and develop into a scab. Blood clotting is a normal part of the healing process following laceration, or a cut or tear of the skin.
However, not all blood clotting is normal. Sometimes, an internal blood clot, or thrombus, can form due to a condition called thrombosis, which poses a major health risk to the patient.
This month, we’re diving into the facts about thrombosis, internal blood clotting, and what it can mean for patients.
How Does Blood Clot?
There are four primary components of blood, which include:
- White cells
- Red cells
- Plasma
- Platelets
Under certain conditions, platelets and proteins in the blood will begin sticking together and sticking to artery walls, forming a clot that slows or even blocks blood flow. Once blood flow is slowed too much or stopped completely, patients can risk suffering dangerous events like:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Embolism
- Mesenteric ischemia
Blood clots, or thrombi, can form anywhere in the cardiovascular system, including in the heart, arteries, veins, or blood vessels.
What Causes Thrombosis?
There are two primary reasons a person may develop thrombosis and experience the formation of blood clots: blood vessel damage (endothelial dysfunction) and slowed blood flow (poor circulation). While some people are at a higher risk of either condition because of genetics or hereditary factors, others are at risk because of lifestyle factors.
Blood Vessel Damage, or Endothelial Dysfunction
Blood vessels are lined by the endothelium, a single layer of cells that helps keep blood flowing forward, regulates blood flow, and prevents clotting. If the endothelium becomes damaged for any reason, the patient is more at risk of experiencing thrombosis or internal blood clotting.
Things that can lead to artery damage include:
- Atherosclerosis, or hardened arteries due to plaque buildup on artery walls
- Autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma
- Catheter placement
- Certain drugs or medications, including chemotherapy
- Certain viral or bacterial Infections, including syphilis, chlamydia, or endocarditis
- High cholesterol, or an increase in fatty deposits
- Increased estrogen, especially from pregnancy or birth control pill usage
- Physical injury
- Surgery
- Tobacco use, especially smoking
- Vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels
Slowed Blood Flow, or Poor Circulation
Slowed blood flow is a condition in which blood does not flow through the circulatory system at a strong enough or fast enough rate. If something gets in the way of circulation or causes blood flow to slow down, it could result in the development of thrombosis.
Things that can lead to poor circulation include:
- Age
- Diabetes, or increased amounts of glucose in the blood
- High blood pressure
- Lack of physical movement or mobility
- Tobacco use, especially smoking
- Venous reflux disease
Are There Types of Thrombosis?
There are two main types of thrombosis: arterial thrombosis and venous thrombosis.
Arterial Thrombosis
A thrombus or blood clot that forms in any of the major arteries is considered arterial thrombosis. Blood clots that develop in the arteries and significantly slow or stop blood flow are most commonly the cause of heart attack and stroke.
Venous Thrombosis
As the name suggests, venous thrombosis occurs when a thrombus develops in the veins rather than an artery. Venous blood clots most commonly develop in the legs, arms, or pelvis, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). While venous thrombosis does not lead to heart attack or stroke, it can cause significant pain for patients and even lead to dangerous complications if a section of the clot breaks off, travels through the vein to the lungs, and leads to pulmonary embolism.
Thrombosis vs. Embolism
Thrombosis and embolisms are both blood-clot-related, but each has its own unique qualities and characteristics.
Thrombosis is a blood clot that sticks to the artery wall, while an embolism is a section of a blood clot that breaks off and travels through the artery or vein to become stuck in a different location in the body. Both can lead to major vessel damage and complications, including heart attacks and stroke (arterial thrombosis) and pulmonary embolism (embolism from DVT).
What Are the Symptoms of Thrombosis?
Symptoms of thrombosis can vary from clot to clot since symptoms typically depend on the size of the clot and the location of its development.
Symptoms of a Blood Clot in the Heart
Experiencing a blood clot in the heart typically means experiencing a heart attack, which causes symptoms like:
- Chest pain
- Pain in the left arm, shoulder, upper back, or neck
- Breathing difficulties
- Coughing or wheezing
- Dizziness and fainting
- Fatigue
- Cold sweats
- Stomach pain (for women and AFAB patients)
- Flu-like symptoms (for women and AFAB patients)
Symptoms of a Blood Clot in the Brain
Experiencing a blood clot in the brain or neck typically means experiencing a stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack), which causes symptoms like:
- Lack of muscle control on either the left or right side of the body
- Speech issues
- Drooping face or lack of facial muscle control
- Mental confusion
- Emotional or behavioral changes
Symptoms of a Blood Clot in the Arteries of the Legs or Arms
- Development of blisters or sores
- Necrosis, or tissue death
- Peeling skin due to skin sloughing
- Physical weakness in the arm, leg, or affected body part
- Pins and needles sensations
- Skin that appears paler than normal
- Skin that is cold to the touch
Symptoms of a Blood Clot in the Veins of the Legs or Arms
- Skin that appears darker than normal
- Pain in the leg, arm, or affected area
- Arm or leg swelling
- Vein swelling
- Skin that feels warm to the touch
Symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism
- Sharp chest pain
- Referred pain in the arms, shoulders, back, jaw, or neck
- Pain while inhaling
- Breathing difficulties, whether active or at rest
Middle Georgia Heart Offers Vein Treatments to Treat Thrombosis and Related Conditions.
The circulatory system is complex, dedicated, and all heart-related. Patients experiencing conditions that could lead to thrombosis or patients with blood clots can rely on our heart doctors for effective vein care and vein treatments to resolve blood clots and prevent more from developing.
If you are concerned about arterial thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, or any other condition related to blood clots, talk to the expert cardiologist and vein specialists at Middle Georgia Heart. Schedule a consultation today: 478-207-5224
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