Know the signs and symptoms of blood clots
If you’ve nicked a finger while chopping onions or gotten a gash on your knee from a fall, you likely experienced blood clotting, or coagulation, which prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured.
When you receive an injury that causes bleeding, platelets and proteins in the plasma — the liquid part of blood — work to stop the bleeding by forming a clot. Typically, the body naturally dissolves the blood clot after the injury has healed. But sometimes, clots don’t dissolve on their own, and the consequences can be severe.
Dangerous blood clots can be prevented and, if they do occur, they can be stopped before they cause illness, disability or even death. That’s why the National Blood Clot Alliance and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are partnering on the “Stop the Clot, Spread the Word” campaign for Blood Clot Awareness Month, which happens to be March. So I’m doing my part to “spread the word.”
Why clots are dangerous
An abnormal clot that forms in a vein may keep blood from returning to the heart, causing pain and swelling. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a clot that forms in a major vein, usually in the leg, restricting blood flow. If it detaches and travels through the heart to the lungs, it becomes a pulmonary embolism, which constitutes a medical emergency.
The first line of treatment are blood thinners that may help the body dissolve the clot on its own. If that doesn’t work, there may be therapy, surgery or other interventions. About a third of people with a pulmonary embolism die before they get a diagnosis and treatment, according to the Cleveland Clinic, so get to the ER — and fast.
Who’s at risk?
As a private patient advocate, I work with many patients who have been in the hospital for a long time or are in nursing care. As a result, blood clots are something I watch for because confinement to a bed or wheelchair raises the risk. Age, smoking and too much sitting are also risk factors, as are major surgeries, hip and knee replacements and trauma, such as a car accident. Pregnancy and childbirth raise the risk for women.
There are also a couple of genetic clotting disorders that can affect younger people throughout their lives.
What to watch for
Blood clot symptoms can seem minor at first, and sort of random. A clot in an arm or leg may cause swelling, charley horse type pain or tenderness, skin that is warm to the touch and redness of discoloration of the skin. A pulmonary embolism causes scary symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, cough (sometimes coughing up blood) and faster or irregular heartbeat.
If you are a caregiver for a loved one in a nursing home or hospital, be alert to the signs and symptoms and summon the medical staff right away if you suspect a clot. Sometimes, medical staff will be quick to dismiss concerns, so it’s important to be a knowledgeable and vocal advocate. A private patient advocate could be a help if your concerns are falling on deaf ears.
A doctor may use blood tests, CT scan or ultrasound to confirm the presence and location of the clot (or clots) so treatment can begin.
Stopping clots before they start
Exercise, it seems, prevents almost anything, and clots are no exception. Walking boosts heart and lung health, strengthens muscles and improves circulation. Stuck at a desk? You can also lower your risk of DVT by getting up and walking around every one to two hours or just moving your legs while sitting, like raising your heels or tightening and releasing leg muscles.
Staying hydrated is also important because dehydration can narrow blood vessels and thicken the blood. Drink plenty of water, and reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption.
One of the most important things you can do to prevent a dangerous clot is talk to your health care provider. Review your risk factors, and be sure to discuss the potential for clots before any major surgeries. After surgery, you may receive a blood thinner, wear compression stockings or be given a sequential compression device — leg coverings that inflate and deflate — to minimize risks. Getting out of bed as soon as possible after surgery is also important.
It's estimated that more than 100,000 people die from blood clots each year, many as a result of pulmonary embolism. It pays to be aware — not just during March, but all year round.
• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg is a board-certified patient advocate. A critical care registered nurse for 30+ years, she is founder of NShore Patient Advocates (www.NorthShoreRN.com). Her book, “How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones,” is available on Amazon. She is offering a free phone consultation to Daily Herald readers; email her at teri@northshorern.com.