Blood Clots Overview
Learn About Blood Clots
Blood clots are clumps that occur when blood hardens from a liquid to a solid.
- A blood clot that forms inside one of your veins or arteries is called a thrombus. A thrombus may also form in your heart.
- A thrombus that breaks loose and travels from one location in the body to another is called an embolus.
A thrombus or embolus can partly or completely block the flow of blood in a blood vessel.
- A blockage in an artery may prevent oxygen from reaching the tissues in that area. This is called ischemia. If ischemia is not treated promptly, it can lead to tissue damage or death.
- A blockage in the vein will often cause fluid buildup and swelling in the area where blood is drained by that vein.
Clot; Emboli; Thrombi; Thromboembolus; Hypercoagulable state
Situations in which a blood clot is more likely to form in veins include:
- Being on long-term bed rest
- Sitting for long periods, such as in a plane or car
- During and after pregnancy
- Taking birth control pills or estrogen hormones (especially in women who smoke)
- Long-term use of an intravenous catheter
- After surgery
Blood clots are also more likely to form after an injury. People with cancer, obesity, and liver or kidney disease are also prone to blood clots.
Smoking also increases the risk of forming blood clots.
Conditions that are passed down through families (inherited) may make you more likely to form abnormal blood clots. Inherited conditions that affect clotting are:
- Factor V Leiden mutation
- Prothrombin G20210A mutation
Other rare conditions, such as protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III deficiencies.
A blood clot may block an artery or vein in an organ, affecting the:
- Heart (angina or a heart attack)
- Intestines (mesenteric ischemia or mesenteric venous thrombosis)
- Kidneys (renal vein thrombosis)
- Leg or arm arteries
- Legs (deep vein thrombosis)
- Lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Neck or brain (stroke)
Public Hospital Dist No 1 Skagit
Sandeep Bal is an Internal Medicine provider in Mount Vernon, Washington. Dr. Bal and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Blood Clots. Her top areas of expertise are Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, and Shingles. Dr. Bal is currently accepting new patients.
Public Hospital Dist No 1 Skagit
Vidhu Paliwal is a Cardiologist in Mount Vernon, Washington. Dr. Paliwal and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Blood Clots. His top areas of expertise are Familial Ventricular Tachycardia, Arrhythmias, Cardiomyopathy, and Adenosine Deaminase 2 Deficiency. Dr. Paliwal is currently accepting new patients.
Public Hospital Dist No 1 Skagit
Mark Litton is a Family Medicine provider in Stanwood, Washington. Dr. Litton and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Blood Clots. His top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Embolism, Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism. Dr. Litton is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: The main aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylaxis with recombinant von Willebrand factor (rVWF) in children. This study will enroll those participants who have been previously treated with VWF product or with a plasma-derived VWF (pdVWF) product. In this study, participants will be treated with rVWF for 12 months. During the study, participants will visit the study clinic 6...
Summary: In parallel with the growth of American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network's (ATHN) clinical studies, the number of new therapies for all congenital and acquired hematologic conditions, not just those for bleeding and clotting disorders, is increasing significantly. Some of the recently FDA-approved therapies for congenital and acquired hematologic conditions have yet to demonstrate long-term safet...
Published Date: June 17, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Anderson JA, Weitz JI. Hypercoagulable states. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 138.
Cross SS. Ischaemia, infarction and shock . In: Cross SS, ed. Underwood's Pathology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 7.
Schafer AI. Approach to the patient with bleeding or thrombosis: hypercoagulable states. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 157.