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What Makes a Blood Clot Go All the Way Up a Vein in the Arm?

Blood circulation processes deliver needed oxygen and nutrient supplies to the body’s cells and tissues. Blood clots form when problems develop in the circulatory system. Diet and lifestyle factors play a significant role in how efficiently blood circulates through the body. Clots that form in the arm can fragment over time, sending pieces of the clot through the bloodstream.

  1. Identification

    • The body’s circulatory system involves the heart, arteries, veins and lungs. According to MedicineNet, arteries send fresh, oxygenated blood from the heart throughout the body, while veins return “used” blood to lungs to be oxygenated once again. Unlike veins, artery passageways have muscle tissue that helps to drive blood throughout the body. With no muscle tissue at work, veins must rely on the pressure exerted by surrounding muscles to move blood along. According to the APS Foundation of America, blood clots form when blood gets backed up in the veins.

    Risk Factors

    • According to MedicineNet, blood clots can develop in the arms, legs, and chest as well as in other areas of the body. Risk factors that contribute to clots in the arms can vary depending on a person’s genetics, diet and lifestyle. Age and weight play a significant role in blood circulation, so an older, overweight individual with a relatively inactive lifestyle may be more prone to developing blood clots. Chemotherapy or radiation treatments can also impair blood clotting functions, according to the APS Foundation of America.

    Blood Flow

    • When clots become large, the blood that does move through vein passageways can break off portions of a clot along the way. As a result, a clot that forms within the arm can fragment when blood passes through. According to the APS Foundation of America, blood flow can carry these fragments up the arm where they can relodge in various places along the vein. Certain chemical mechanisms within blood enable it to dissolve potential clot formations, though some individuals may inherit a condition that prevents these mechanisms from working normally. According to MedicineNet, ongoing inactivity can also cause blood to stagnate in areas, which increases the likelihood of clotting.

    Treatment

    • According to the APS Foundation of America, conditions involving blood clots can occur within the deep areas of the muscles or near the surface area of the skin. Deep vein thrombosis develops in veins that run through deep muscle tissue. Superficial venous thrombosis develops in veins that run near the surface of the skin. Medication treatments used to reduce or eliminate blood clotting include anticoagulants, such as warfarin or heparin. Other newer medications, known as thrombin inhibitors, alter the blood’s chemistry and reduce the rate of clotting.

    Prevention/Solution

    • As diet and lifestyle can have a major impact on blood circulation rates, eating a healthy, low-fat, high-fiber diet can reduce the amount of cholesterol moving through the bloodstream. A regular exercise routine can also improve blood circulation levels and prevent blood from stagnating inside vein passageways. Individuals with a history of clotting should maintain regular checkups with their doctors and take medications as prescribed, according to the APS Foundation of America. Followup appointments may warrant regular blood testing to keep abreast of any medications changes that need to be made.

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