10 Causes Of Blood Clots
Blood flows throughout the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all tissues and organs. It also carries away waste and toxins for excretion. However, when an injury occurs, continued flow of blood would drain all the blood from the body and lead to death. To prevent this from happening, a blood clot forms to plug the cut and stop the bleeding. A blood clot is a mass of different types of blood cells bound together by platelets and fibrin.
Blood clots can also form within the circulatory system if blood coagulates into a mass. Such clots may reduce or stop the flow of blood to parts of the body. When this happens, it poses a serious health threat and leads to problems like rupture of blood vessels, embolism, heart attack, stroke or even death. But what are the causes of blood clots?
Cause #1: Sitting for Long Periods of Time
The risk posed by prolonged sitting without activity is similar to that of surgery or injury. According to the CDC, the longer you sit, the higher the chances of getting a blood clot. The risk is even higher in people with a history of deep vein thrombosis, also referred to as DVT, diabetes or inherited blood clot disorders.
When traveling for long distances by air, road, or water, it is advisable to take frequent walks every two or three hours. There are other activities that you can try to keep your legs active. These include stretching and flexing your ankles with legs spread out. These activities increase blood flow to other parts of your body thus reducing the risk of developing blood clots. For people with DVT, anticoagulants and compression stockings may be recommended by your doctor.
Cause #2: Surgery or Injury
Surgery can be a major cause of blood clots for two reasons. First, the introduction of foreign objects in the body can cause the blood to clot. This is because blood tends to thicken when it comes into contact with foreign materials.
Secondly, a surgical operation may take hours to complete. This means that the body will be inactive and the flow of blood will be reduced during this period. Additionally, even after surgery, patients will usually have long periods of rest and inactivity. This state poses an increased risk of blood clot formation. Post-Surgical patients should try to move around regularly to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Cause #3: Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are a common cause of blood clots. Sometimes called spider veins due to their similarity with spider webs, varicose veins occur close to the surface of the skin. This unsightly condition arises when blood does not flow freely from the lower limbs toward the heart. Instead, the valves allow some backward flow of blood. This poses a significant health risk by causing a blood clot.
As a consequence, the difficulty of blood flow leads to the development of varicose veins, a condition that is normally painful. To reduce the risk of developing blood clots, avoid long periods of inactivity. If you work in an office, try to move around or exercise your legs throughout the day.
Cause #4: Obesity
Obesity prevalence has more than tripled in the last forty years. Nearly a third of the world’s population is obese or overweight. The health risk factors for this condition are high and dangerous. Obesity is one of the causes of blood clots and diabetes as well. The extra fat lining on the arteries puts pressure on the veins which restricts blood flow.
This increases the risk of blood clot formation significantly. Being overweight or obese is also associated with a sedentary lifestyle which is another risk factor. Obesity often leads to diabetes which also increases the risk of blood clots. Practice a healthy lifestyle including engaging in physical activities and eating healthy meals to reduce your risk of obesity and consequently the risk of blood clots.
Cause #5: Irregular Heartbeat
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition characterized by irregular heartbeats. The condition can lead to serious life-threatening conditions. Most people with irregular heartbeats may not be aware of the gravity of the condition.
An irregular heartbeat can be a cause of blood clots because when the heart fails to beat regularly, it can end up causing periods of stagnancy of blood which can lead to clotting. This is extremely dangerous because blood clots that form in the heart can break off and travel to the brain causing a stroke. There are various treatment options for irregular heartbeat including surgery and pacemakers.
Cause #6: Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another common cause of blood clots due to the hormonal and body changes that comes with it. Pregnancy increases weight which, in turn, puts pressure on the pelvis, compressing the blood vessels in this area and the legs. This raises the risk of developing blood clots. Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can be risk factors as well.
For instance, the increased estrogen levels can lead to the formation of a blood clot during pregnancy or postpartum. The postpartum risk of blood clots reduces significantly after the seventh to the twelfth week. During pregnancy, drink plenty of fluids and stay active to lower the risk of blood clots.
Cause #7: Smoking
Smoking poses a lot of health risks due to its adverse effects in the body. It is also one of the potential causes of blood clots because of the effects it has on the lining of the blood vessels. Studies have established that smokers have a higher chance of developing blood clots than non-smokers. The risk is even higher if a smoker has another preexisting condition that is also a risk factor like inherited blood clot conditions, or using oral contraceptives.
However, smoking is one of the most easily preventable risk factors. If you are worried about the effects of smoking and would like to quit, there are numerous solutions to help you quit. This may include joining a smoking cessation program.
Cause #8: Advanced Age
Looks like there is no end to the problems associated with advancing age! While people of all ages can develop blood clots, it has been found that people over the age of 50 have an increased risk compared to those below that age.
Although the exact reason for this has been difficult to establish, it is thought that because older people are more likely to get DVT or cancer, which are also risk factors, they are also more likely to develop blood clots. Besides, older people are also more likely to suffer from other conditions that may affect blood circulation like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Cause #9: Cancer and Cancer Treatment
Cancer and cancer treatment are potential causes of blood clots. There is an increased risk of developing blood clots in cancer patients especially during treatment. Cancer patients tend to have long periods of inactivity during chemotherapy or bed rest. This inactivity increases the chances of blood coagulating to form clots. Cancer medication such as chemotherapy can also increase the chances of blood clots because it works by destroying cancerous cells. These may coagulate and form masses within the circulatory system.
Not much can be done concerning these risk factors caused by cancer and the medication. However, close monitoring of signs and symptoms of blood clotting is crucial so seek medical attention as soon as possible if a clot is suspected.
Cause #10: Oral Contraception
Oral contraception is another potential cause of blood clots. Oral contraception works by increasing or reducing certain hormones in the body so as to reduce the chances of getting pregnant. Increased amounts of estrogen hormone in the body pose the biggest risk of getting blood clots. The risk is higher for smokers and people who have a history of blood clotting conditions in the family.
Newer oral contraceptives such as the mini-pill contain progestin which reduces the chances of blood coagulation. It is advisable to quit smoking if you are on oral contraceptives to reduce the risks of blood clotting.
