These might need to be worn for 2 years or more after having DVT. In severe cases, the clot might need to be removed surgically. Immediate medical attention is necessary to treat PE. In cases of severe, life-threatening PE, there are medicines called thrombolytics that can dissolve the clot. Other medicines, called anticoagulants, may be prescribed to prevent more clots from forming.
Some people may need to be on medication long-term to prevent future blood clots. DVT does not cause heart attack or stroke. There are two main types of blood clots. How a clot affects the body depends on the type and location of the clot:. Both types of clots can cause serious health problems, but the causes and steps you can take to protect yourself are different. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Venous Thromboembolism Blood Clots. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. What is Venous Thromboembolism? Minus Related Pages. View the full infographic. A blood clot forms when cells build up over a damaged blood vessel wall to protect it and stop it from bleeding. A person could think of it as a scab for an internal wound. After the wound has healed, the blood clot dissolves. If this does not happen, the clot may break away and form a blockage. In other cases, blood clots form at random.
DVT is the most common issue involving blood clots, and the following may increase the risk of developing it:. Embolism refers to any material becoming trapped in a blood vessel, and there are several risk factors. Some include:. The best test depends on where they suspect the blockage to be and the specific symptoms.
Some diagnostic strategies include :. Treatment for thrombosis usually involves blood thinners. Also, a surgeon may remove the blood clot, especially if it is very large or does not respond to medication. Treatment for embolism depends on the type of blockage and its location.
If a blood clot is involved, the doctor may recommend a blood thinner. This is generally what happens in cases of pulmonary embolism, unless the embolus is very large. In certain circumstances, a doctor might need to insert a stent into a blood vessel to widen it. Also, a person may need supportive therapy, such as oxygen therapy.
Embolism and thrombosis can block important blood vessels and damage the organs that these blood vessels connect to. Not all blood clots and emboli are preventable, but the following strategies may reduce the risk:.
Anyone who suspects that they have a blood clot should receive immediate medical care, which can prevent life threatening complications. An embolus is any foreign material that moves with blood flow. An embolism happens when an embolus severely blocks the flow of blood. An anticoagulant is a type of blood thinner that slows blood clotting.
Two types of anticoagulants are warfarin Coumadin and heparin. You can take blood thinners as a pill by mouth, through an injection, or intravenously. Most people with DVT take these medications for three to six months.
Blood thinners can make you bleed too much when you get cut because they prevent your blood from clotting. Your doctor may test your blood to see how well it forms clots. Examples of thrombin inhibitors include:. These are a newer type of drug that eliminates the need for routine blood test for monitoring. Another benefit of DOACs is that they may result in significantly fewer complications related to bleeding.
PE is an emergency situation because it can block the airflow through your lungs. Your doctor may give you drugs called thrombolytics to break up the clot very quickly. You can only get this type of medication in a hospital, often in an emergency room. You may get thrombolytics through a catheter. This is threaded right to the clot to break it up. Examples include streptokinase Streptase and urokinase Kinlytic. In this treatment, your doctor inserts a filter inside the inferior vena cava.
This is a large vein that carries blood from your body back to your heart. If you have DVT, one big risk is that the clot may break free, go to a blood vessel in your lungs, and cause a PE.
When a clot lodges in a blood vessel in your lungs, it can prevent enough air from traveling through your lungs and into your bloodstream. If the clot is big, it can completely block the air.
This is life-threatening.
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