Blood clots

What Is Blood clots?

Blood clots are masses resembling a jelly-like substance produced after an injury to the body to stop the continuous bleeding. Protein and platelets in the blood are responsible for the formation of blood clots in the injured part of the body. Usually, the body is able to dissolve the clots after the injury heals itself.

Sometimes, clots can develop inside veins and arteries even without any injury to the body and these are not able to dissolve either. Such clots can lead to pulmonary embolism or stroke. Such fatal medical conditions occur because the blood blocks the arteries from carrying oxygen to the heart and other parts of the body. Any such issue due to blood clots may require immediate medical attention.

What Is Blood clots?

What Are The Symptoms Of Blood clots?

Blood clot formation in the arm or leg

A common place of blood clot formation is a person's limb. Symptoms that occur during blood clot in an arm or leg include a bluish or pale discoloration, a warm sensation at the region, tenderness, pain, and swelling. Medical experts say that the symptoms also depend upon the blood clot size. So, many patients may not even witness any symptoms or just minute swelling in the area without much pain. However, if the clot is large, then it is possible that the entire leg gets swollen with severe pain.

Blood clot formation in the heart:

While an uncommon region for a blood clot, its formation in the heart can lead to heaviness or pain in the chest. This accompanies with shortness of breath and light-headedness as well.

Blood clot formation in the abdomen:

Formation of a blood clot in the abdomen includes symptoms like swelling and excessive abdominal pain.

Blood clot formation in the brain

Blood clots in the brain lead to an acute and painful headache, including symptoms such as finding it hard to see or speak.

Blood clot formation in the Lungs

Clot formation in the lung commonly initiates within a vein deeply located in the leg or arm. Usually, starts out in a deep vein in your arm or leg, then stops and reaches the lung. This is what is called as pulmonary embolism, which is regarded as a fatal condition.

Besides these, there may also be symptoms like sweating, coughing, pain in the chest, heaviness in breathing, dizziness.

What Are The Causes Of Blood clots?

Formation of the blood clots is due to the thickening of plasma proteins and platelets to form a semi-solid mass. Usually, a blood clot occurs due to an injury, but this can also happen inside the body without any injury. After forming, the blood clot can travel around to other areas of the body, which can be harmful. Causes of a blood clot include:

Cancer:
Research says that some types of cancer increase the amount of substance in the body leading to more chances of clotting. When veins are damaged during such a medical case, the blood vessels release pro-clotting materials that may cause blood to blot.
Smoking:
Toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke may cause nerves to damage, leading to DVT. This further increases the risks of blood clot formation.
Surgery:
Surgeries make a patient immobile temporarily. This increases the chances of injuries to the blood vessels, ultimately the formation of blood clots.
Hereditary:
A number of cases point to blood clot formation due to family history. People who inherit disorders such as Factor V Leiden, certain kidney diseases, dysfibrinogenemia can witness blood clot formation easily.

Other causes of a blood clot include:

Antiphospholipid syndrome, Obesity, Peripheral artery disease
Pregnancy, Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), Factor V Leiden
Family history of blood clots, Heart arrhythmias, Hiatal hernia, Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), Factor V Leiden
Heart failure, Various medications like hormone therapy drugs, oral contraceptives and certain breast cancer drugs
Prolonged bed rest or sitting
Pulmonary embolism (blood clot formation in the lung)

What Are The Things One Should Do To Manage Blood clots?

Few tips to follow to prevent or treat the blood clots are:

Wear clothes that are loosely fitted.
Make sure that the person raises the legs 6 inches above the heart periodically. For this, the bottom portion of the patient's bed can be raised up using pillows or some other object.
Get compression stockings if a medical practitioner prescribes one.
Exercise regularly as instructed by a doctor.
While on a long trip, make sure to change positions very often.
Try moving around or stay active as much as possible.

What Are The Things One Should Avoid To Manage Blood clots?

Certain things to avoid preventing or cure the blood clots are:

Avoid consuming too much salt. As this can lead to high blood pressure, which is fatal during blood clot.
Avoid standing or sitting for more than an hour at a time.
Avoid sitting with crossed legs and also avoid concoctions
Avoid placing pillows under the knees to blood clot formation.

What Are The Best Foods For Blood clots?

For reducing the risks of blood clots inside the body, people should follow a diet that consists of fiber and saturated fat-rich vegetables and fruits. There are certain foods that will help in dissolving the blood clots, hence preventing blood clot formation.

Salicylates
Salicylates are important inhibitors when it comes to preventing blood clot formation. Natural foods that include salicylates are spices and herbs such as peppermint, licorice, ginger, turmeric, thyme, paprika, cayenne, and curry. There are also fruits that contain salicylates which include cranberries, blueberries, prunes, raisins, grapes, oranges, and strawberries. Besides these, salicylates are also found in cider, honey, vinegar, and wine.
Omega- 3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids also consist of properties such as thinning of blood to prevent strokes due to blood clots. The best source for omege-3 fatty acids is fish which includes specific species like mackerel, herring, lake trout, salmon, and anchovies. Even fish oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. For vegetarians, plant sources include soy, safflower oil, corn oil, canola oil, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed.
Vitamin E
Another popular blood thinning nutrient is Vitamin E, which is commonly found in wheat, chickpeas, oats, palm oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts.
Alcohol (Red Wine)
Alcohol also acts as a potential blood thinning agent. This is because alcohol causes the reduction in the platelet accumulation and decrease of fibrinogen levels (which are known to cause blood clots). Alcohol increases a process called fibrinolysis that dissolves blood clots.

What Are The Worst Foods For Blood clots?

It is advisable to avoid the following foods to prevent the formation of blood clots:

Vitamin K
Vitamin K-rich foods increase the chances of blood clots. Vitamin K-rich foods such as bananas, peaches, asparagus, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, and kale should not be consumed to avoid blood clot formation.
Calcium-rich foods
Calcium is one of the nutrients that help in blood coagulation during an injury. And it does the same when there is blood clot formation inside as well. So, it is prudent to avoid dairy products containing calcium such as yogurt, cheese, and milk. Other calcium-rich foods that need to be avoided are soy products, cereals, orange juice (calcium-fortified), canned sardines and salmon.
Niacin (Vitamin B3)-rich foods:
Niacin, or Vitamin B-3, is an essential vitamin that helps in providing energy to various reactions in the body. Unfortunately, this also helps in increasing chances of blood clotting. Niacin occurs in the body in the form of NAD (Nicotinamide dinucleotide) or NADP (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). Foods with niacin include cereals, fortified bread, etc.
Fat-rich foods:
Foods containing fats are unhealthy for the body because of cholesterol. This may lead to higher risks of blood clot formation. Unhealthy fatty foods such as butter, egg yolks, full-fat cheese, and fatty meats should be avoided.

What Are The Medicines For Blood clots?

What Are The Tips To Manage Blood clots?

Make sure that the person with blood clot moves around and does not stay idle for too long.
Maintain healthy sleeping postures that ensure a healthy supply of blood through the body.