Risks of Blood Clots

A blood clot is a deadly mass of solidified blood in a vein, thereby blocking blood flow. Though there are no normal symptoms, according to MD Health Network, blood clots can cause different symptoms--or none at all--depending on where the clot forms.

Types

• Venous thrombosis is a blood clot within a vein, and is classified differently based on the location of the clot and the vein, such as deep vein thrombosis. Arterial thrombosis is a blood clot within an artery, and includes strokes.

Identification

• Blood clots have some obvious symptoms including pain in the limb affected, blood in the urine or in the sputum and swelling of the affected limb.S ome blood clots can affect 25% of hospitalized patients to some extent, yet it is often undetected.

Warning

• Blood clots can cause a pulmonary embolism if part of the clot breaks off and cuts off the blood to the lungs, or a stroke if the clot cuts the blood flow off from the brain. Having an ultrasound done can potentially diagnose the issue if other symptoms are present.

Prevention/Solution

• Blood clots can be prevented by elevating your legs during sleep, moving your legs, feet, and toes during long periods of inactivity, or wearing compression stockings. Solutions to blood clots include blood thinners such as warfarin or heparin or aspirin, with the possibility of a surgically implanted filter to prevent pulmonary embolisms.

Famous Ties

• Dick Cheney, George W. Bush's vice president, suffered from deep vein thrombosis in 2007, and was treated with blood thinners. David Bloom, a reporter for NBC, died in Iraq from a pulmonary embolism that occurred due to deep vein thrombosis.