WorldThrombosis Day: Early Detection of a Blood Clot isVital
One in four people globally are dying from conditions related to thrombosis. And even when the condition doesn’t kill, it can dramatically affect the quality of life of the people who suffer from it. Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel. This clot can slow or block normal blood flow, and even break loose and travel to an organ, which can be life threatening. Thrombosis is the often-preventable underlying pathology of heart attack, thromboembolic stroke, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) – the top three cardiovascular killers worldwide.
Shockingly, more people succumb worldwide to the life-threatening conditions caused by thrombosis than the total number of people who lose their lives to AIDS, breast cancer, and car crashes combined, every year. Despite thrombosis being a dangerous condition that can affect anyone at any age, many people might not think to check for it or even know that they’re at risk.
According to Dr. Helen Okoye, medical expert and spokesperson for the World Thrombosis Day (WTD) campaign, early identification and knowledge about different types of thrombosis can be critical to preventing those risks.
Arterial and Venous Thromboembolism
Broadly speaking there are two types of thrombosis with the classification depending on where in the body the clot occurs. Venous thrombosis occurs in the veins, while arterial thrombosis occurs in the arteries. Both of these are influenced by risk factors that are either inherited genetically or acquired through lifestyle, says Dr. Okoye.
Arterial thrombosis can result in heart attacks, strokes, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-strokes, and critical limb ischaemia if left untreated. Venous thromboembolism or VTE is a condition in which blood clots form, most often in the deep veins of the leg, known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT, and can travel in the circulation and lodge in the
Preventable and Treatable
The good news, says Dr. Okoye, is that thrombosis is a preventable and treatable condition, especially if detected early. To identify whether a patient is ‘at-risk,’ healthcare professionals will conduct a VTE risk assessment, which is a questionnaire about a patient’s age, medical history, medications, and specific lifestyle factors. Information is then used to discern a patient’s potential risk for developing blood clots.
From there, tests may be done, including a D-Dimer blood test, an ultrasound of the arm or leg to look for the DVT, or a
CAT scan of the chest with intravenous dye to look for a PE.
At-risk patients may be given appropriate prevention, referred to as “prophylaxis”, which can include anticoagulants and mechanical devices (compression stockings, intermittent pneumatic compression devices or rapid inflation venous foot pumps). If patient is in hospital, they may also be instructed to move around or do foot/leg exercises as soon and as often as possible.
“If you’re an at-risk patient at home on bed rest, you might be allowed to occasionally walk around the house or do some leg exercises in bed, at least. Whatever the case, it’s critical that you keep your legs moving and your circulation flowing,” says Dr. Okoye.
No discrimination
Blood clots can affect anyone, regardless of location, age, ethnicity, or race, even though certain factors put one at higher risk. “Thrombosis is a significant public health issue, yet so many people are unaware of it. Risk factors for thrombosis include hospitalisation, surgery, cancer, prolonged immobility, family history, oestrogen-containing medications, and pregnancy or recent birth,” says Dr. Okoye.
It’s imperative, therefore, that people know their risk factor, get tested if needed, and seek out medical treatment if they suspect they may have a blood clot. “Warning signs of a DVT in the leg can include pain, tenderness, swelling, warmth, and redness. For a PE, the warning signs include unexplained shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain, a rapid heart rate, and light-headedness or passing out,” says Dr. Okoye.
If detected and treated early, people who get a blood clot can go on to live long, healthy lives, concludes Dr. Okoye. “Understanding the risk factors and symptoms of a blood clot is knowledge that could very well save your life, or that of a loved one. A little education can go a long way in ensuring this happens.”