If a blood clot breaks off, how long does it take for a person to die? Why did the clot come off? Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Why do blood clots form in blood vessels and how to avoid it? Everyone wants to know this to modern man for effective prevention. Thrombosis is a terrible and dangerous disease that can cause death. Knowing why a blood clot forms and behaving much more carefully. We must remember that it is important to adhere to proper nutrition, refuse bad habits and visit your doctor regularly. Having confirmed, correct information about why blood clots form and why they break off, a person can suspect health problems in time and seek therapeutic help.

What is it about?

Thrombosis is a disease caused by an incorrect rate of blood clotting. With this pathology, clots form in the blood, veins and arteries become clogged, and blood flow is disrupted. Currently, the frequency of cardiovascular pathologies has become greater than several decades ago, and the diseases themselves are steadily getting younger, that is, among patients all more people middle-aged and even young, although previously thrombosis was considered the scourge of those who are older. Doctors have been dealing with the problem of why blood clots form in the vessels of young people for quite some time, but, unfortunately, at the moment it cannot be said that all the causes leading to this disease are known without exception. Yet a number of risk factors have been formulated.

It must be remembered that thrombosis is dangerous for everyone without exception; this disease can even cause the death of the patient. Best option treatment is to know why blood clots form in young people, to take preventive measures and lead healthy image life. This will protect a person from problems with blood vessels for a long time.

At-risk groups

Every person should know why blood clots form and how to avoid it, because almost the entire population of the planet is at risk. If a person knows the main risk factors and is aware that they exist in his life, he is more attentive to his health and undergoes examinations with a doctor more often.

All people aged 40 years and older, without exception, should know why blood clots form and how to avoid it, since age itself is already a danger factor. The likelihood of developing pathology during menopause in women, obesity, vascular and heart pathologies is increased. Often blood clots appear as related problems coagulation disorders. What should be the treatment and why blood clots form in the vessels must be told to a person suffering from alcohol addiction, since the love of strong drinks significantly increases the likelihood of thrombosis and can provoke the most tragic outcome - death. The disease can also affect those who lead, including long time complies Blood clots are more likely to haunt those who face stressful situations, is struggling with cancer or isn’t eating right.

This is important to know!

In some cases, blood clots appear in places where the vascular wall is damaged, and these can be provoked by various factors. Not in last place - surgical intervention. The doctor usually explains why blood clots form after surgery during the patient’s rehabilitation period, and also explains what signs to suspect that something is wrong and when to seek medical help. During surgery, doctors can damage the walls of blood vessels, where a fibrous mesh is then formed - leukocytes and platelets enter it. Over time, this tumor grows large enough and closes part of the blood vessel or even completely blocks it.

Thrombosis can be provoked by pregnancy, since this process is strongly influenced by hormonal levels, which undergo changes during gestation. Doctors to this day do not know exactly why blood clots form in blood vessels with poor heredity, but the very fact of the pattern has been established precisely: a tendency to blood clots can be passed on from parents to children. Also, the likelihood of developing pathology is higher if a person leads a sedentary lifestyle. Everyone should know about this reason why blood clots form in blood vessels. modern people: Most of our fellow citizens work in offices and shops, where they are forced to sit in one place all day. The risk also increases for those who have to spend a lot of time on their feet every day.

Preventing a disease is much easier than curing it, not to mention dangerous consequences up to and including death. At the same time, you need to understand that the blood clot in the process of its formation is static, but still dangerous - its growth leads to blockage of the vessel. As it develops, it can break away from the wall and go “for a walk” through the circulatory system. This leads to unpredictable consequences - in some, the tumor can even resolve on its own, while in others it enters a vital artery and completely blocks it, which provokes a stroke or other life-threatening situation. As can be seen from medical statistics, most often the heart suffers from thrombosis.

The most effective, but at the same time the most radical method to prevent thrombosis is medications. Since doctors have long established most of the reasons why blood clots form in blood vessels, drugs have been developed to reduce the risk of such pathology. Selects drug therapy the doctor assesses the patient’s condition and analyzes the negative and positive consequences of therapy. Usually the doctor tells the patient why blood clots form and break off after surgery, and then selects a course of treatment that lasts rehabilitation period. In some cases, taking specific medications is associated with diagnosing diseases that cause blood clots. The doctor will definitely tell the patient at the appointment about why blood clots form and break off, taking into account the specifics of his particular situation.

Aspirin and blood clots

Why do blood clots form? Most often, the problem is a violation of the quality of the blood: coagulation becomes too high, and the blood itself becomes thick. That is why aspirin and drugs containing it can be used to prevent the formation of blood clots. Before starting a course of treatment, you should consult your doctor to understand in more detail why blood clots form.

Aspirin, when used regularly, thins the blood and prevents congestion. As research has shown, this treatment reduces the risk of the disease by half. Typically, aspirin is constantly taken by those who have already encountered blood clots, as well as when cardiac or vascular pathologies are detected. For example, patients with varicose veins should definitely know about the benefits of aspirin, why a blood clot forms, and why its rupture is dangerous.

An active approach to the problem

If there is reason to believe that the likelihood of developing thrombosis is very high, then the doctor prescribes anticoagulants, while at the same time explaining to the patient why a blood clot forms and how these medications can prevent it. The drugs were developed to improve the quality of the blood - it becomes thinner. Choose them for yourself at will, without a doctor’s recommendation, it is strictly not recommended, this can lead to unpredictable complications.

Among the anticoagulants currently in our country, drugs under the names “Heparin”, “Warfarin”, “Sinkumar” are especially common. They are sold in pharmacies strictly with a prescription from the attending physician. The doctor also determines the dosage and duration of the therapeutic course, based on the characteristics of a particular situation and analyzing the patient’s condition. Usually the course lasts up to one and a half months, after which the patient undergoes several tests, from which the doctor can see why a blood clot is forming (if one appears), or it becomes clear that the risk has passed.

What else will help?

If the patient knows why a blood clot forms and how to prevent it, he can use preventive measures that are convenient for him in everyday life, be sure to strengthen them with a correct lifestyle, refusal fatty foods and bad habits. A good result is shown by the use of specific creams and ointments designed specifically to prevent blood clots.

Most anti-thrombosis drugs for external use have a wide spectrum of action. These products strengthen the walls of blood vessels and stimulate blood flow, eliminate swelling and relieve pain syndrome. As can be seen from the information provided by pharmacies, the greatest demand is for Venolife cream, Vishnevsky ointment and heparin ointment. For prevention to be effective, you need to use the product regularly and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Most medications are designed for daily use.

Nutrition and blood clots

Since blood clots often form due to the abundance of cholesterol in the blood, and this is associated with poor nutrition, thrombosis can be prevented by switching to a correct diet. At the same time, you don’t need to try too hard and try to lose weight: most diet programs are built on the effect of dehydration, which makes the walls of blood vessels fragile and provokes the formation of blood clots.

Adjusting the diet to reduce the likelihood of disease does not involve losing weight, but normalizing the diet and diversifying the menu. You should preferentially eat foods that stimulate blood flow and improve blood quality. If you are overweight, before switching to a diet, you should definitely make an appointment with a nutritionist to determine the cause of excess weight and eliminate it without harming the blood vessels.

A varied menu rich in fruits, grains, vegetables, and meat with a minimum level of fat will bring benefits. It will not be superfluous to drink milk and include fermented milk products in your diet. Preference should be given to foods that lower blood cholesterol. Best used as a dressing vegetable oils. Recommended spices include ginger and garlic.

What can't you do?

If there is a risk of developing blood clots, you should absolutely not eat lard, hot dogs and sausage, as well as smoked, fried, fatty foods, including fatty meat. It is necessary to exclude oil, margarine, food from the diet instant cooking, if possible, avoid hard cheeses, sweets, confectionery products and carbonated drinks.

Activity and blood clots

Why do blood clots form in most of our compatriots? We lead too sedentary lifestyles! Most of us spend almost our entire lives at work, standing or sitting, going home while sitting in public transport, and at home sitting down in front of the TV to relax. This lifestyle provokes a deterioration in blood quality and can cause blood clots. The risk of blood clots is greatest due to low mobility in the legs.

To prevent thrombosis, you need to regularly exercise your body. There is no need to strive for athletic excellence, especially if you have cardiac or vascular pathologies - this will only increase the danger to health and life, but you need to find some kind of activity. Often choose Nordic walking, yoga or aerobics. You can go swimming, go for short runs in the morning, or just do gymnastics every day. Exercise allows you to “get your blood flowing”, gives you a boost of energy for the whole day and prevents the formation of blood clots.

Thrombosis: a failed attempt to protect yourself

Surprisingly, but true: blood clots in our body are formed as a result of activity to protect the functioning of internal systems and tissues! Usually the disease is triggered by damage to the capillaries, and in injured areas, peculiar “plugs” quickly appear, allowing blood not to be released outside the vessel. If blood can't clot, it can be fatal. dangerous pathology, but the tendency to form these “traffic jams” also carries a considerable risk for humans.

Slow blood flow causes a high level of blood viscosity. The greatest danger is an occlusive thrombus. With varicose veins and high blood pressure, the likelihood of pathology is higher than in healthy people. Blood clots form due to the tendency to stagnation and turbulent phenomena in the veins.

Blood, vessels and blood clots

Viscous life-giving fluid is one of the very common causes of blood clots in many patients. This is often caused by cancer, autoimmune disease, genetic disorders, dehydration.

Atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels are another very common cause of thrombosis. With this pathology, blood vessels form atherosclerotic plaques- growths of adipose tissue that accumulate calcium. Under the influence of formations, the vessels cease to be elastic, ulcers appear on them, and fragility increases. Since the body is designed to form blood clots in each damaged area, any ulcer becomes a potential neoplasm that covers a certain percentage of the diameter of the blood vessel and in the future may break away from the wall.

Arterial and venous thrombosis

For arteries, the greatest danger is posed by atherosclerosis - it is in this type of blood vessels that plaques grow especially actively. Cholesterol can become attached to the vascular walls, which provokes the deposition of lipids and the formation of a dangerous plaque. Wherein internal systems human body Such plaques are considered as defects to which it is necessary to attach fibrin and platelets to improve the health of the area. This leads to the formation of first a loose and then a dense clot, which does not dissolve over time and blocks the blood vessel.

Veins do not suffer from cholesterol like arteries, but even here blood clots can form - for other reasons. In most cases, the provoking factor is the destruction of vascular tissue. Often it all starts with an inflammatory process that affects the venous wall. This provokes the appearance of a clot and leads to thrombophlebitis. Inflammation can occur due to various reasons- virus, infection, valve defect (from birth or acquired), varicose veins. In some cases inflammatory process provokes sepsis, which is fatal to humans. If the disease is not accompanied by inflammation, but the walls of the veins are still destroyed, then the diagnosis is phlebothrombosis.

Blood clots: life threatening

Thrombosis affects the heart for a number of reasons. Most often it is due to blood flow problems: turbulence or low speed. In some cases, neoplasms are triggered by a heart attack, due to which the heart tissue does not receive sufficient nutrition. The cause may be heart surgery. There is a high risk of thrombosis in the presence of heart defects, both from birth and acquired over the years. Infection, toxicosis affecting the myocardium, atherosclerosis - all this increases the likelihood of a blood clot forming in the heart. If such a tumor appears here, there is a high probability of rupture and unpredictable blockage of a vital vessel, including in the brain.

The formation of a tumor in the blood vessels of the brain is a dangerous phenomenon that can lead to severe consequences. The main cause is atherosclerosis, but often problems are provoked by a hypertensive crisis, vascular malformation or aneurysms.

Probably every person has heard about blood clots and thrombosis, but not everyone understands how dangerous this can be. It is the thrombus that is responsible for the development of such fatal diseases, such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.

Also, due to the formation of blood clots, gangrene can develop, and if it comes off, thromboembolism can occur. pulmonary artery. Very often in means mass media You can hear that it was a blood clot that caused the death of this or that popular artist or director. At first glance, there is nothing scary about this word, but many people wonder why it could be dangerous. So what is a blood clot? A thrombus is a blood clot that forms in blood vessel or heart cavity. It consists of proteins, mainly fibrin, and can be parietal or occlusive, i.e. completely closing the lumen of the vessel. Occlusion thrombi most often form in small vessels, while parietal thrombi form in large veins of the lower extremities and the cavity of the heart.

What causes blood clots?

The formation of blood clots is a protective reaction of the body aimed at stopping bleeding. Everyone knows that with small cuts, the blood stops quite quickly, and this happens due to the closure of damaged capillaries with small blood clots. If the thrombus formation process is disrupted, life may be threatened. For example, the death of Tsarevich Alexei, who had hemophilia.

Blood clots did not form in his body, so a small wound turned out to be fatal for him. But the opposite situation, in which the formation of blood clots increases, can become fatal.

There are three main reasons why blood clots form in blood vessels:

• Changes in the vascular wall;
• Increased blood viscosity;
• Disturbed blood flow.

Atherosclerosis most often leads to changes in the vascular wall. With poor diet, excess cholesterol forms plaque in the arteries. Under the influence various factors Calcium is deposited in these fatty growths. That is, soft and elastic vessels turn into fragile and ulcerated. Since the main function of blood clots is to close wounds, they love to form in these damaged areas.

In some diseases (oncological, autoimmune), genetic defects of the coagulation system, as well as dehydration, an increase in blood viscosity is observed. The intravascular fluid becomes more viscous, causing blood clots to form.

Slow blood flow through the veins as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, as well as turbulent blood flow (at the branches of blood vessels with high blood pressure), can contribute to thrombus formation.

Please remember that a side effect of some medicines, for example, oral contraceptives, there may be thrombophilia. Therefore, self-prescribing medications can be exactly what causes blood clots to form.

Thrombus. Symptoms

Symptoms of a blood clot will vary depending on the type of vessel in which it formed.

Arterial thrombosis leads to the development of:

• myocardial infarction,
• stroke,
• gangrene of the limbs,
• intestinal necrosis.

Characteristic manifestations of arterial thrombosis, depending on the affected organ, are:

• pain in the heart area during a heart attack,
• neurological disorders for a stroke,
• pain, numbness, coldness and discoloration of the limb, as well as
• intestinal obstruction and abdominal pain.

Diseases associated with venous thrombosis also vary depending on the location:

• thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities,
• portal thrombosis liver veins,
• thrombosis jugular vein and cerebral venous sinus.

Symptoms of venous thrombosis are:

• Swelling, pain, redness of the affected area of ​​the leg;
• Abdominal pain, manifestations of pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis;
• Neck pain, blurred vision.

Vein thrombosis is also dangerous because microorganisms quickly multiply in them, which leads to inflammation first of the surrounding tissues, and then of the entire body (sepsis).

Therefore, with a blood clot, the symptoms can be different, but always very serious.

Why does a blood clot break off and why is it dangerous?

Movement of a blood clot inside of cardio-vascular system possibly with blood flow.

This requires two basic conditions.

1. The thrombus must be non-occlusive, i.e. freely placed inside the vessel. Typically, such blood clots form in the veins of the legs and heart cavity.

2. The blood speed must be sufficient to break off the blood clot.

The danger of migrating blood clots is that they can travel considerable distances, fragment and lead to blockage of a large number of vessels.

The most common example of thrombus rupture is pulmonary embolism from the veins of the lower extremities. It would seem that not the most serious disease (varicose veins and thrombophlebitis) can lead to sudden death.

No one can say why a blood clot breaks off exactly at the moment when you least expect it. For example, a patient is already recovering after surgery and is preparing for discharge. He gets up and begins to pack his things, but suddenly begins to choke and loses consciousness. This is usually how pulmonary embolism develops. In this regard, timely prevention and effective treatment of blood clots are urgently needed.

Prevention of blood clots

The principles of blood clot prevention are:

• Healthy eating;
• Active lifestyle;
• Maintaining normal blood viscosity.

The principle of healthy eating is aimed mainly at reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. To do this, it is necessary to limit the intake of animal fats and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables, as well as fish and herbs in the diet. These simple rules for preventing blood clots will help keep your blood vessels elastic. long years. In addition, there are foods that reduce blood clotting. These include cherries, green tea, and beets.

Not only to prevent the formation of blood clots, but also to keep the body in good shape, you need to devote at least 30 minutes to physical exercise every day. What kind of load this will be, everyone chooses for themselves. But much more useful are walks on fresh air than working out in a stuffy gym.

It is also necessary to remember that the risk of blood clots in the veins of the legs increases sharply with prolonged stay in a forced position (for example, on an airplane) and during bed rest (for example, after surgery). To prevent blood clots in these cases, it is necessary to get up and walk around as often as possible. In patients in postoperative period the use of elastic leg bandaging is justified.

To maintain normal blood viscosity, your doctor may recommend taking Aspirin or Warfarin. They affect different stages of blood clot formation and have their own strict indications and contraindications. Taking these drugs without a doctor's prescription can be dangerous.

Treatment of blood clots

Treatment for blood clots primarily depends on where the blood clot is located.

In case of arterial thrombosis, it is necessary to restore blood flow in the affected vessel as quickly as possible. If the catastrophe happened in the brain, then the doctor takes no more than 2-3 hours to treat blood clots, if in the heart it takes no more than 6 hours. The tissues of the limbs and intestines were the most resistant to malnutrition. There are two main ways to eliminate a blood clot.

1. Surgical method, which includes

• shunting,
• stenting and
• mechanical removal of a blood clot.

During bypass surgery, the surgeon creates an additional blood supply that bypasses the affected vessel. This open surgery and it is performed under anesthesia. A more modern way of troubleshooting is stenting. This method involves placing a stent (a hollow cylinder similar to a spring) in the area of ​​narrowing of the vessel. It is performed through a puncture in the artery and does not require anesthesia. Before stenting, the clot is sometimes removed by suction with a special syringe.

2. Therapeutic method

It consists of dissolving a blood clot with the help of special medications (thrombolytics) administered intravenously.

A slightly different treatment tactic for venous thrombosis. Here everything is determined by how high the danger of its separation from the wall of the vessel is.

In case of floating blood clots (freely moving in the lumen of the vessel), the vein is ligated or a special trap for blood clots is installed - a vena cava filter. To stabilize a blood clot, heparin or its analogues (fraxiparine, clexane) can be used.

When the lumen of the vein is completely closed, medications can be used that will destroy the blood clot and, in some cases, will lead to the restoration of blood flow through the damaged vessel. These include heparin and warfarin. In rare cases, surgical removal of a blood clot from a vein is used to treat a blood clot.

The formation of blood clots is like a medal that has two sides. On the one hand, this protects the body from bleeding, on the other, it can lead to sudden death. Therefore, it is very important to know the main symptoms of thrombosis in order to get medical help in time.

Preventive measures are also important, consisting mainly of healthy eating and moderate physical activity. Don’t forget about the risk of blood clots during forced physical inactivity (on an airplane or after surgery). In this case, elastic leg bandaging or the use of compression stockings is justified. Published

Blockage of blood vessels by a blood clot reduces the speed of blood flow, which is manifested by ischemia (arterial thrombosis), venous stagnation. The most common consequences of thrombosis include chronic occlusion of the vessels of the extremities, angina pectoris, transient attacks of cerebral ischemia, ischemic colitis. With an acute stop in tissue nutrition, organ infarctions and gangrene of the extremities occur.

A thrombus is a blood clot that forms when the wall of a vein or artery is damaged. In some cases, it can form inside the heart, as well as in healthy vessel. It consists of blood cells (mainly platelets) and fibrin strands.

If the thrombus is large, then it becomes an obstacle to the movement of blood - its inflow through the arteries or outflow through the venous system. In the first case, the cells lack nutrition and oxygen, which leads to their death. This is how infarctions of internal organs (myocardium, lungs, kidneys, intestines) and brain (stroke) occur.

Venous thrombosis causes swelling and pain in the limbs, but the greatest danger is a detached blood clot. It travels with the bloodstream and enters the pulmonary artery system. There is a blockage of the branch - pulmonary thromboembolism which may result in the death of the patient.

What substance is involved in the formation of a blood clot?

The main substance that participates in the formation of a blood clot is fibrin threads. They are formed from a blood protein - fibrinogen. This transformation requires the enzyme thrombin to “cut off the extra” parts. Fibrinogen is synthesized in liver cells and enters the bloodstream from them.

With a deficiency, increased bleeding occurs, and with an excess amount, the risk of thrombosis increases. To study the fibrinogen content, a blood test is prescribed - a coagulogram. The norm is considered to be in the range from 1.8 to 3.5 g/l.

Where do blood clots form - in veins or arteries?

Blood clots form in the veins or arteries, as well as in other parts circulatory system, where there is blood. It can be:

• capillaries;
• small branches of blood vessels: venules and arterioles (microcirculatory link);
• heart cavity.

For the formation of arterial thrombosis main factor– this is tissue injury (the inner lining of a vessel or heart). With venous it is important to thicken the blood and slow its movement. In the case of small vessel occlusion, plasma composition, intravascular coagulation, and low blood flow are critical.

Diagram of blood clot formation

The formation of a blood clot can be simplified as follows:

1. Vessel damage.
2. Platelet adhesion and connection.
3. Activation of coagulation factors and its result – the formation of fibrin threads.

Two groups of factors are important for vessel damage:

• destruction of the membrane - injury, infection, immune complex, increased content of glucose molecules;
• functional - a decrease in the protective properties of the natural anticoagulant system, which happens during stress, atherosclerosis, burns, and radiation.

For pathological thrombus formation, the presence of 2 groups of signs is required. Normal when defense mechanisms They work well; with active blood movement, there are no conditions for the formation of a large blood clot.

If the process has already started, then another condition is important to maintain it - high blood coagulation activity. It's called thrombophilia. Occurs when the number and rapid activation of platelets increases, blood thickening (dehydration, high cholesterol, glucose).

Stages of thrombosis

Several successive stages of thrombus formation have been identified:

1. Injury to the inner lining of the vessel.
2. Release of tissue coagulation factors.
3. Fixation of platelets at the site of injury.
4. The release of platelet substances, which trigger a chain of sequential reactions to form fibrin threads.
5. A mesh of fibrin strands traps blood cells.
6. A clot forms.
7. The thrombus contracts with the release of plasma and becomes denser.

Causes of thrombosis

Thrombogenic risk factors include:

The first signs of a blood clot

The early stages of vascular thrombosis are manifested by symptoms of poor blood supply and impaired outflow from the affected area. They occur during exercise, disappear or decrease after rest, periods of deterioration of the condition alternate with a fairly long normalization of well-being. It should be noted that it is the initial signs that are reversible and respond well to treatment, since at this time irreversible changes in the organs have not yet had time to develop.

Thrombosis can be suspected based on the following symptoms:

Localization location	Symptoms
Arteries of the extremities	cold hands or feet, fatigue, low exercise tolerance, intermittent claudication after a long walk
Veins on the arms or legs	swelling at the end of the day, heaviness, feeling of fullness, tingling, appearance of a network of dilated vessels on the skin
Coronary arteries	after physical or emotional stress of high intensity, discomfort or pressing pain in the heart, weakness, difficulty breathing appears
Brain vessels	tinnitus, occasional dizziness, blurred vision, forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, decreased ability to coordinate movements, slight or occasional unsteadiness of gait
Intestinal arteries	abdominal pain without clear localization and connection with food intake, worsens after physical exertion, bloating, alternating diarrhea and constipation

All these signs are not specific to thrombosis; they also occur in other diseases, so it is important to be examined as early as possible. To detect blockage of a vessel and determine the cause, you need to contact a surgeon (pain and swelling of the extremities), a cardiologist, a neurologist for symptoms of the heart, brain, or a gastroenterologist for digestive disorders.

Diagnosis is carried out using angiographic studies, and often with stress tests.

How to recognize a blood clot

A blood clot can be recognized if it interferes with blood circulation and symptoms of thrombosis appear:

Type of thrombosis	Symptoms
Deep veins of the leg	Distension, pain, it becomes stronger when palpated in the area of ​​the affected vessel, swelling, redness or bluish color of the skin, an increase in its temperature, a pronounced venous network, congested veins.
Pulmonary artery	Sudden onset of shortness of breath, bluish skin with a gray tint, drop in blood pressure, pain in chest, heart rhythm disturbances, bulging neck veins, fainting, cough, wheezing, pinkish sputum, increased body temperature, pain in the right hypochondrium.
Coronary arteries of the heart	Pain behind the sternum, radiating to the back and neck, occurs during stress, physical activity, and is accompanied by shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat.
Arterial network of the legs	Chilliness, numbness of the feet, burning, pain when walking, which stops when you stop, the skin becomes pale, and then the fingers turn blue.
Cerebral arteries	Dizziness, unsteadiness, various visual disturbances, unclear speech, decreased muscle strength and sensitivity in the arm and leg, memory loss.

The main signs of formation and symptoms

The formation of a blood clot in the veins or arteries becomes an obstruction to blood circulation. At the stage of pronounced clinical manifestations, patients develop ischemic syndrome varying degrees intensity or venous stagnation.

Vein thrombosis of the extremities

The presence of a blood clot in the venous network of the upper or lower extremities (more common) may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• swelling;
• heaviness in the legs or arms;
• increased fatigue;
• decreased load tolerance;
• pain along the vein;
• redness of the skin;
• expansion of subcutaneous vessels (mesh pattern);
• an increase in local temperature.

At first, these signs appear only during exercise, and disappear after a night's rest. As they progress, they also appear at rest.

Arterial thrombosis in the arm or leg

Symptoms are associated not only with blockage of blood vessels, but also with spasm of the arterial walls. The main manifestations of ischemia of tissues of the extremities:

• pale and cold skin;
• chilliness of the feet or hands;
• pain of varying intensity, changing with movement;
• weakening of the pulsation of the arteries below the site of blockage;
• numbness of the limbs, tingling.

In heart

The occurrence of chest pain during physical or emotional stress is the main sign of thrombosis coronary vessels. In the vast majority of cases, it is associated with atherosclerosis of the arteries. The attacks can be short-term, and the pain is tolerable or long-lasting, unbearable with fear of death.

In addition to the heart area, painful sensations spread to the left half of the body, shoulder blade, or may be atypical (stomach, right limbs). Relief occurs at rest, after taking Nitroglycerin.

Thrombosis of coronary vessels

In my head

Headache due to thrombosis

Headache due to thrombosis occurs when the arteries, veins and sinuses of the brain are blocked. Typical signs:

Type of thrombosis	Symptoms
Arterial (ischemic stroke)	Elderly patients, the condition gradually worsens, speech, movement and sensitivity of the limbs are impaired (paralysis), visual fields are lost. Headache occurs more often in the occipital or temporal region.
Venous	It begins with a severe headache with nausea and vomiting, impaired consciousness, movement of arms and legs on half the body, convulsions are possible, and symptoms change as they progress.
Venous sinuses	Occurs as a complication of otitis, sinusitis, there is a constant increase headache, it is not affected by painkillers, it intensifies with physical stress, in a lying position, fever, and vomiting are noted.

Pain from a blood clot

Pain from a blood clot may appear in different parts body, symptoms depend on the location of the blockage, the type and caliber of the vessel, and the presence of bypass circulatory pathways. The following signs are possible:

• deep veins of the leg - distension in the leg, pain along the affected vein, increases when palpated, there is swelling, redness of the skin, a distinct venous pattern;
• coronary arteries - attacks of angina pectoris (retrosternal pain), intensifying with movement, subsiding with rest, relieved with Nitroglycerin, possibly spreading to the left half of the body, neck, a prolonged attack means the development of a heart attack;
• cerebral vessels - focal signs of destruction of brain tissue ( muscle weakness, sensitivity disorders), speech disorders, swallowing, unsteadiness when walking, blurred vision;
• pulmonary arteries - sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, fever, bluish skin;
• renal - lower back pain similar to renal colic, blood in urine.

Intestinal ischemia

Pain in the abdomen becomes almost constant, stool becomes more frequent, mucus and blood streaks appear in it, and then blood is almost always found in the stool. Eating and physical activity contribute to increased pain. The duration of the attack can be from 0.5 to 5 hours. There is loss of appetite, emaciation, nausea and periodic vomiting.

How to find out if there are blood clots in the body

To find out whether there are blood clots in the body, you must first contact a phlebologist, who examines the limbs and conducts a march test - applies an elastic bandage to the entire leg from the toes to the groin. After this, the patient needs to walk until pain appears. If it occurs after a few minutes, and superficial veins have not disappeared, then there is most likely a blockage. To confirm the diagnosis, the following is prescribed:

• Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities with Doppler sonography;
• phlebography;
• rheovasography;
• radionuclide scanning (if indicated).

To identify arterial thrombosis, clinical manifestations are taken into account:

• pain in the heart during physical and emotional stress, angina attacks;
• intermittent claudication – you need to stop when walking due to severe pain;
• dizziness, headaches, memory impairment, fatigue during mental work.

In the first case, further examination is carried out by a cardiologist using:

• medical examination - identifying edema, changes in skin color, measuring blood pressure, listening to heart sounds;
• ECG, EchoCG, if necessary, with stress tests;
• blood tests for coagulability and cholesterol content (coagulogram and lipid profile), glucose level;
• general blood test with platelet count.

Example of a blood test with platelet count

If there are signs of blood clot formation, then to resolve the issue surgical treatment Coronary angiography is required. When there is blockage of the vessels of the lower extremities with attacks of pain in the legs when walking, the patency of the arteries is assessed by a vascular surgeon during:

• inspection;
• measuring pressure on the legs and arms;
• feeling the pulse;
• Ultrasound with duplex scanning;
• angiography (injection of a contrast agent) and assessment of its distribution using X-rays or tomography.

The condition of the cerebral arteries is examined by a neurologist. It determines reflexes and changes in sensitivity and movements. For visualization of blood vessels the following is used:

• rheoencephalography;
• electroencephalography;
• Ultrasound with Doppler sonography;

MRI of cerebral vessels

How to check blood vessels for plaques and blood clots

In order to check the vessels for the presence of plaques and blood clots, an ultrasound with Doppler ultrasound is performed. Using this method you can evaluate:

• the presence of an obstacle to the movement of blood;
• the total diameter of the vessel and its patency;
• blood flow speed;
• thrombus density;
• its danger (mobility).

Dopplerography of blood vessels

If the data obtained is not enough to choose a treatment method, then angiography is used. It involves the introduction of a contrast agent. Most often it is prescribed before surgery. One method of searching for a blood clot is the injection of fibrinogen labeled with radioisotopes. He will indicate hidden blood clots, but will not be able to determine their structure, size and risk of rupture.

A thrombus (floating clots, or floating clots) comes off if its attachment to the wall of the vessel is fragile. A sharp jump in pressure or physical stress is enough for it to begin to move through the venous or arterial network. A blockage occurs in the branches of the pulmonary artery carrying venous blood, if it was in the veins or arteries of internal organs when forming in the arterial network, the left atrium.

Signs of a broken blood clot

The detached blood clot moves through the vessels until it causes blockage; signs appear depending on the size and location:

• sudden death (with damage to a large pulmonary artery) within a few minutes;
• increased pressure in the vessels of the lungs (medium-caliber branches are blocked) - shortness of breath, cough, attacks of suffocation, bluish skin;
• focal destruction lung tissue(heart attack-pneumonia) – chest pain, aggravated by coughing and breathing, hemoptysis, high fever.

The rupture of an intracardiac thrombus, which was previously located in the left atrium, leads to the circulation of clots in the blood through the arterial network. They can get into the brain and internal organs. This leads to the following symptoms:

Consequence of a detached blood clot	Symptoms
Stroke	Facial asymmetry, noticeable when trying to smile, speech impairment, immobility of half the body, partial loss of visual fields.
Myocardial infarction	An attack of chest pain that lasts more than 15-20 minutes with cold sweat, redness of the upper half of the body, severe weakness, and fear of death.
Kidney infarction	Sharp pain in the lower back, increased blood pressure, blood in the urine, fever, nausea.
Intestinal infarction	Cramping pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and soreness may disappear, which is a bad sign, since it may mean a perforation of the intestinal wall.
Gangrene of the limbs	Pallor and then blackening of the skin, absence of pulse, skin sensitivity, wrinkling of tissues or their disintegration with a fetid odor.

Why a blood clot breaks off in a person, the main reasons

When a blood clot breaks away from the wall of a vessel, the cause is:

• its free location in the vessel (washed by blood on three sides);
• small attachment area;
• weak fixation in a place of increased blood flow (for example, a large vein of the lower extremities);
• addition of infection (purulent melting);
• increased body temperature (hot bath, sauna, fever);
• heavy lifting, sudden physical effort;
• straining with constipation;
• changes blood pressure – hypertensive crisis, strong fluctuations;
• change of body position after a long period of bed rest.

Such factors are characteristic of the most common form of thrombosis – the veins of the lower extremities. In 10% of cases, a blood clot that has formed in the heart cavity breaks off. The provoking condition is an attack severe cough, as well as restoration of heart rhythm after atrial fibrillation.

What will indicate a detached blood clot?

A blood clot can be tightly attached to the wall of the vessel, in which case it causes a gradual progression of circulatory disorders. The most dangerous variant of the development of the disease is the rupture of a blood clot and acute blockage of veins or arteries. Provoking factors are:

The consequences of acute occlusion of blood vessels in the arms or legs are:

• numbness and stabbing sensations;
• loss of sensitivity to touch (paresthesia);
• decreased ability for active movements (paresis) or their complete impossibility (paralysis);
• absence of arterial pulsation;
• cold, pale, then bluish skin.

If blood flow is not restored in time, gangrene of the limb begins. The tissues die with the appearance of a typical black color due to the breakdown of hemoglobin. At first, there is a strong pain syndrome, as the nerve fibers are destroyed, the pain stops, and signs of intoxication increase. Treatment requires amputation of a limb or part thereof.

Watch the video about the first symptoms of varicose veins:

Pulmonary artery thrombosis

Stroke

Acute blockage of a cerebral vessel leads to the cessation of nutrition of part of the brain tissue. This shows up:

• sudden weakness in the limbs followed by loss of movement and sensitivity;
• decreased clarity of speech, up to complete aphasia;
• severe headache, nausea, vomiting;
• disturbance of consciousness;
• distortion of the face, looking away to the side;
• hearing, vision, and swallowing disorders.

Acute blockage of a cerebral vessel leads to the cessation of nutrition of part of the brain tissue

Myocardial infarction

Thrombosis of the coronary vessels leads to a complete blockage of blood flow to part of the heart muscle. In a typical course, intense pain occurs in the heart or behind the sternum, progressing to left shoulder, arm, back, lower half of the neck, teeth. The nature of the pain is burning, sharp, pressing or squeezing.

The larger the area of ​​myocardial destruction, the stronger the pain. The attack lasts from half an hour to a day, the use of nitrates is not removed, and is accompanied by agitation, severe weakness, rhythm disturbances, changes in blood pressure, shortness of breath and fear of death.

Intestinal infarction

The cessation of blood flow to part of the intestinal wall may be indicated by a significant deterioration in the patient’s condition:

• dry and pale skin;
• reduction of pain and its disappearance (the ghost of complete destruction of the intestines);
• bloating, but it remains soft for a long time (until the inflammation of the peritoneum increases);
• nausea, frequent vomiting.

As intestinal necrosis progresses, patients become apathetic, fall into a coma, and at this stage death occurs in most cases.

Watch the video about intestinal infarction:

A blood clot breaks off in the heart - instant death?

If a blood clot breaks loose in the heart, instant death does not occur in all cases. This will depend on the size of the clot and where it is moving. If a large clot was located in the right side of the heart, then the risk of an unfavorable outcome is high, since it enters the pulmonary artery system. When its major branch is blocked, death can be sudden.

If a blood clot is localized in the left half of the heart, its movements can lead to blockage of the arteries of the brain (stroke), heart (heart attack), kidneys, intestines, and lower extremities. In these cases, the severity of the condition and prognosis will be determined by the caliber of the blocked vessel and the timeliness of initiation of treatment.

Another difficult option is blocking the valve hole. It is caused by mobile blood clots, which, at the moment of ventricular contraction, fall between the valve leaflets. In this case, cardiac arrest is possible and immediate resuscitation measures are required.

What to do if a blood clot breaks loose

If a blood clot breaks loose, immediate hospitalization is required. This must be done when it is detected, especially a mobile, floating species. Prescribe complete rest and urgent treatment:

• installation of a trap - vena cava filter;
• suturing a vessel (vein);
• administration of drugs for resorption - enzymes (Streptokinase), low molecular weight heparins (Fraxiparin).

The formation of a blood clot in blood vessels occurs with circulatory disorders, congestive processes, atherosclerosis, changes in the rheological properties of blood, and its clotting ability. At chronic course blood clots disrupt blood flow with the development of ischemic syndrome. Acute blockage when a blood clot breaks off leads to heart attacks and gangrene.

Venous thrombosis is accompanied by edema and congestion of the veins with expansion of the visible network of vessels and impaired outflow. A complication of blood clot movement from the extremities can be pulmonary embolism.

Useful video

Watch the video about how blood clots kill people:

According to statistics, 70% of people have blood clots in their veins. A thrombus is a pathological blood clot that has formed in the lumen of a vein and attached to its wall. Most often, such blood clots form in the veins of the lower extremities, which leads to the development of various diseases of the legs. And if a blood clot in the leg breaks off, a person may develop a fatal disease - thromboembolism.

When a blood clot breaks off in the leg, the symptoms can be very different. Symptoms depend on which vessel the blockage occurred in. It is also necessary to take into account that a detached clot can split into several parts and clog several veins at the same time.

• A blood clot located in a blood vessel in the brain can lead to a stroke. During a stroke, the patient's speech slows down, the swallowing reflex is impaired, and the face becomes asymmetrical. As a result of significant damage to the vessels located in the brain of the head, tactile sensitivity and movement are impaired.
• When a blood clot blocks the vessels responsible for supplying blood to the brain of the head, a person suffers from intense pain in the head and neck. In this case, visual impairment may occur.
• If a blood clot breaks loose in a coronary artery and its blockage occurs, the patient will experience pressing acute pain in the chest and may develop myocardial infarction. Most often, pain caused by damage to blood vessels is localized in the heart area, but in some cases pain can be transmitted to the abdomen, lower jaw, neck, arm, or between the shoulder blades.
• When the lumen of a vein located in the intestine is blocked, peritonitis develops and severe abdominal pain is felt.
• As a result of a blood clot breaking off in the leg and blocking a vessel, the affected limb becomes bluish, swells significantly and hurts. There is redness at the site where the blood clot is located. skin, and the temperature of the sore leg is below normal body temperature. If not treated promptly, gangrene may develop and the leg will have to be amputated. However, you should know that the process of blocking a lower limb vein with a blood clot proceeds slowly, and thanks to this, the patient has time to go to a medical facility and begin treatment.
• When a vessel located in the lung is blocked, the patient suddenly develops oxygen starvation, shortness of breath, cessation of breathing and heartbeat, possible hemoptysis. The victim's skin takes on a bluish tint. This condition is called pulmonary embolism. If a person experiences the listed symptoms, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance and take him to a medical facility. If this is not done, the patient will die from embolism.

What to do if a blood clot breaks off

If you suspect a detached blood clot, it is necessary to urgently hospitalize the victim. Often after separation, the patient’s death occurs within a few minutes, and the ambulance does not have time to deliver him to the hospital. It is almost impossible to predict the further behavior and path of movement of a blood clot, and the doctor makes a decision to save the patient based on the current situation. this moment situations.

The location of the detached clot is of decisive importance for the patient’s life. If the victim was nevertheless managed to be taken to the hospital, then the following measures can be used as treatment:

• Performing an operation to remove an embolus stuck in a vessel.
• Installation of a vena cava filter into the vein cavity, capable of intercepting a detached clot and preventing it from moving further along the artery.
• Injection of Heparin into a vein in large quantities.

It should be taken into account that any surgery into the vessels in itself is a threat to the risk of the formation of new blood clots in the future. Therefore, high-quality prevention of varicose veins, atherosclerosis, and thrombophlebitis is of utmost importance in the fight against this problem. In the presence of listed diseases it is necessary to carry them out timely treatment and avoid complications.

Why do blood clots form?

No person is immune from blood clots. However, understanding what factors influence their formation can prevent the development severe complications thrombosis, and sometimes save lives.
Blood clots can form as a result of:

• Slow blood circulation.
• Staying in a stationary position for a long time.
• Formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
• Physical damage to the walls of blood vessels.
• After surgery.

In addition, abnormal blood clotting contributes to the formation of blood clots. If a patient has a predisposition to thrombosis, then he is recommended to periodically take tests for prothrombin and undergo other diagnostic procedures.

When blood clots just begin to form, they have a soft consistency, so in the initial stages of the disease they are easily treatable. Over time, blood clots become denser and it becomes more difficult to dissolve them using special chemicals. The greatest danger is the separation of a blood clot located in a large blood vessel. This can lead to a heart attack, vein blockage, stroke, pulmonary embolism and death of the patient.

In small veins, the flow rate and blood pressure are insignificant, due to which the clots in them almost never come off.

Diagnostic procedures

Timely detection of thrombosis avoids surgery and the risk of serious complications. Patients at risk should undergo regular examinations to detect blood diseases. Such examinations are carried out using:

• Thrombin generation test.
• Thrombodynamics.
• Prothrombin test.

Signs of a detached blood clot indicate advanced disease. The main risk groups include:

• Men over 40 years of age, since their blood clotting changes at this stage of life.
• Women who have reached menopause.
• People who are overweight, because cholesterol accumulates in their blood vessels.
• People who do not follow a diet.
• People who regularly drink large amounts of alcoholic beverages.
• Pregnant women and young mothers.
• People leading a sedentary or sedentary lifestyle.
• Patients who have undergone surgery on the joints and abdominal area.
• People with cancer.
• People with diseases that lead to increased blood clotting.

Preventive measures

To prevent the formation of blood clots and avoid their rupture, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• Follow your diet and nutrition regimen. Do not abuse foods rich in cholesterol: fatty broths, fried foods, spreads and margarine.
• People at risk are recommended to take anticoagulant drugs. These include Heparin, Warfarin, Aspirin and others. However, taking such drugs should be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.
• To reduce blood clotting, strengthen the heart muscle and speed up blood circulation, physical activity is necessary.

Patients undergoing treatment for a blood clot in the leg are prohibited from any physical activity on the lower extremities, since any sudden movement can lead to the blood clot breaking off.

Many people have come across this concept at least once in their lives, but not everyone fully understands what it means. How to deal with this disease, the main methods and means, how death occurs and why - the answers to all these questions will be presented below.

What is thrombosis

This is a blood clot that can be located in any area, depending on this there are several varieties of this. It appears due to the fact that disturbances in the function of blood coagulation occur, and in order for this disease to appear, there must be damage to the wall from the inside, in which case this disease manifests itself. And if you take certain measures and decisions in a timely manner, you can achieve excellent results in the field of treatment and prevention of the disease in general.

Thrombosis is the lifelong process of blood clots forming in blood vessels or chambers of the heart. Every person has encountered this phenomenon, since in order for the bleeding to stop, clotting occurs. If scratches or abrasions appear, after a while the blood thickens and the flow stops.

In order for the blood in the body to remain in a liquid state, there is an anticoagulant system; it uses enzymes, which in turn break down masses and cellular aggregates that lead to blockage of blood vessels.

If clots appear with enviable regularity, the body cannot cope with them. When there are diseases of the circulatory system, and pathologies are also observed vascular walls, then prerequisites arise that entail the formation of blood clots. When blood clots have a certain diameter and can even be located in the area. A blood clot forms, making it difficult for blood to move, causing tissue disturbances.

If the clot is too large and occupies about 90% of the lumen of the vessels, then a heart attack is quite possible.

What does a blood clot look like?

To see a blood clot in a vein in the leg, you need to carefully examine the lower extremities. If redness or hardening is found in the area of ​​the arteries, pain on palpation, then we can talk about thrombophlebitis. Sometimes the temperature in a compacted area increases significantly. Often, symptoms of a blood clot in the leg are not present at all, but the neoplasm is visually visible through small swelling and bluish areas.

Signs

After a blood clot forms in a vein, completely different symptoms may appear. Often the patient experiences pain in the calf muscles when bending the feet, distension in the area of ​​the affected vessels, inflammation of the knee joints, and severe heaviness of the legs, especially at the end of the day. Secondary symptoms are general malaise, weakness, high fever, swelling.

Bedridden patients often suffer from phlebothrombosis of the deep veins of the legs. Seeing a doctor after the first symptoms of a blood clot in the leg is a must. The doctor will evaluate the signs of pathology in the body and prescribe diagnostic procedures: Ultrasound scanning and blood clotting tests. The treatment method is selected individually, depending on the type and location of the blood clot, and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Symptoms of a detached blood clot

Immediately after the separation of a dense clot, a person experiences an increase in heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure. The blood supply to the organs deteriorates, collapse occurs, accompanied by chest pain. Such symptoms are characteristic of myocardial infarction. The patient experiences urinary retention, difficulty pronouncing words, swallowing food, and sometimes the person loses consciousness. Due to the malfunction of the stomach and the fullness of the internal organs, abdominal pain is felt.

Lack of air and shortness of breath cause respiratory failure, which provokes cyanosis. Often, infarction pneumonia develops or pleurisy is detected, in which the body temperature increases. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by hemoptysis. If the blood clot is not treated, then after a while reactions of the immune system appear: a rash appears on the skin, reactive pleurisy develops, and the concentration of eosinophils in the blood increases.

What to do if you have a blood clot in your leg

As soon as the first signs of a blood clot in the leg are noticed, the patient should immediately be provided with bed rest, complete rest and call an ambulance. It is impossible to predict the future fate of the patient, because sometimes death occurs within a few minutes. To save the patient, the doctor makes a decision based on the current situation. The location of the thrombus is important. If a person is managed to be taken to the hospital, the following measures will be taken to save his life:

• surgery to remove the stuck clot;
• installation of a venous vena cava filter, which is capable of intercepting a detached thrombus;
• injection of a large amount of anticoagulant into the vessel (Heparin is often used).

Although thrombosis deep vein tantamount to a disaster, blood clot rupture in the lower extremities is rare. For this to happen, three reasons must come together:

1. Inflammation of the veins. It even signals pathology initial degree varicose veins Availability on feet spider veins– already a mild inflammatory process. He needs timely therapy so as not to wait for a blood clot to form.
2. Slowing blood flow. Occurs with a sedentary lifestyle. Out of employment muscular system there will be no normal tone of the venous walls. Doesn't have to be done strength exercises or run. You need to walk regularly and learn to breathe from your stomach to help your blood circulation.
3. Increased blood clotting. As a result, blood viscosity increases and clots form. To liquefy, it is necessary to include in the diet foods such as beets, garlic, oatmeal, eggs, sunflower seeds, and sour milk products. In addition to a special diet, you can additionally take medications (Aspirin).

Consequences

Sometimes blood clots resolve on their own. This happens with a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, and abstinence from drinking alcohol and smoking. However, this does not happen immediately. Sometimes it takes several years to get rid of a blood clot. If the disease is not treated, poor circulation can lead to poor skin condition, dry mucous membranes, and autoimmune changes. As a result of insufficient nutrition of tissues, their death will gradually occur - gangrene will occur, which will lead to the loss of a limb.