Are blood clots life-threatening? Yes, if your blood thickens an artery or vein may be cutting the supply of blood to it’s ultimate destination which may lead to a stroke or hemorrhage which can in many instances, result in death. VTE or Venous Thromboembolism is a possible medical condition in which the formation of a blood clot takes place in the deep veins of the legs, arms, or even in the lungs. It has become one of the foremost causes of death and ailment worldwide. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of this condition and they do not know that blood clots can be prevented.
TYPES OF VTE:
· DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS {DVT} – A blood clot occurring deep inside the veins of the legs or the arm,( biologically known as upper-extremity DVT) the common symptom being pain in legs or arms, swelling, and redness.
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· PULMONARY EMBOLISM {PE} – PE causes a life-threatening situation because blood clots may circulate and enter inside the lungs. It may cause breathing problems and in serious conditions can render the patient unconscious. The common symptom of this includes chest pain, dizziness, and a more rapid heart-beat.
DVT + PE = VTE
WHAT CAUSES VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM [VTE]?
· Any surgery or injury to your veins.
· Age 60 or over
· Genetics, the risk factor may be inherited
· Pregnancy
· Paralysis
· No movement in legs for a long period of time
· Taking oral contraceptives or any hormone balancing therapy
· Heart failure
· Obesity
HOW CAN VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM BE PREVENTED?
Many diseases can be prevented if you understand the cause for them and undergo the correct treatment. VTE is so dangerous that it requires immediate medical attention as soon as it is diagnosed. Again, different patients react differently on medication so the treatment also varies from person to person.
Patients must be given blood-thinning medication such as WARFARIN [COUMADIN] which is an anticoagulant. It prevents the formation of a blood clot, thus reducing the risk of stroke. These are prescribed with other recommendations such as compression stockings that help the blood to flow appropriately. If you are prescribed WARFARIN, your health care providers advise you to regularly monitor the PT/INR level so that they can adjust the dose of WARFARIN. Patients can self test their INR in the convenience of their own home using a home PT/INR MONITOR from Patient Self Testing. Patient Self Testing uses the most accurate INR monitor for the home environment, which has a clinical variance of only ~2 percent. Which is really good!
Patients can also reduce the risk of VTE by diet, exercise and monitoring their INR levels for a healthy lifestyle.