A blood clot is a gel-like accumulation of red blood cells and other parts of the blood, like platelets, in a blood vessel. Blood clots form for various reasons: they can form when you’re injured or because of certain medical conditions. While their main purpose is to protect you, they can also be dangerous in certain situations.
Blood vessels are very fragile and easily injured. For example, a bruise may form quickly if you bump your knee on a table. This is the result of several blood vessels bursting. Blood clots protect you from that damage, making sure you stop bleeding if you’re injured – whether it’s a paper cut or surgery causing you to bleed.
Blood clots are specifically made of two clotting factors that naturally exist in the blood: fibrin and platelets. Fibrin is a protein that triggers a clotting response, and platelets are cell fragments made from your bone marrow. They work together to heal your blood vessels and stop bleeding.
Blood clots often appear red, even though platelets and fibrin have no colour. This is because red blood cells often get tangled up in the injured area as blood flows past. You can think of your red blood cells as getting caught in the blood clot.
Blood clots can happen throughout the body, but there are certain places where they may be more dangerous. Particularly, the legs, the lungs, the brain, and the heart pose the most risk of causing stroke, high blood pressure, or heart attack.
Blood clots that break free of their blood vessels and travel can also be dangerous. For example, a clot in the legs (a deep vein thrombosis) could travel to the lungs (a pulmonary embolism). A pulmonary embolism can be very dangerous if left untreated.
Blood clotting is a natural process, and there’s no need to be alarmed about the rare clots forming in areas that could pose a danger to you. If a clot forms, the first symptoms are a change in skin colour and swelling. Many of us notice these symptoms as bruises; when a bruise forms, there’s nothing to be alarmed about.
You may notice leg pain if you have a clot deep in the legs. If a clot has travelled to the heart or lungs, you may notice shortness of breath or chest pain. Familiarise yourself with the symptoms of stroke, as well. If a clot travels to the brain, you may notice intense headaches and classic one-sided symptoms like facial drooping and speech slurring.
If you notice any unusual symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek medical help.
While blood clots are meant to protect us, blood clotting disorders can occur. These can lead to a failure to form blood clots or an increased risk of having blood clots in the first place.
Bleeding disorders put the person affected at risk of bleeding so much that it could be life-threatening. In these diseases, the mechanisms for clotting aren’t working properly. Common blood clotting disorders include:
Von Willebrand disease and haemophilia are inherited disorders, while thrombocytopenia occurs because someone doesn’t have enough platelets.
Blood clotting disorders increase your risk of getting a blood clot. These can be inherited or appear over the course of a lifetime. Common blood clotting disorders include:
Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation are inherited conditions that increase the risk of developing a blood clot by affecting certain parts of the clotting pathway (Factor V and prothrombin). Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that can lead to increased blood clotting.
Factors that may increase the risk of developing a blood clot include pregnancy, cancer, being overweight, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, birth control pills, and being 65 or older.
Bleeding disorders like haemophilia or thrombocytopenia are usually treated with a combination of replacement of the missing factor in the clotting pathway or blood component needed for clotting and avoiding activities that put one at risk for injury.
Blood clotting disorders like Factor V Leiden are usually treated by managing the symptoms, usually with medications that help prevent and dissolve blood clots quickly.