Proper blood flow through the body is essential for every organ. The heart needs sufficient blood flow in order to keep beating. The brain needs sufficient blood flow so oxygen can flow through it. But if there is a clot in the bloodstream, it can build up and cause different kinds of issues. Take the aorta artery for example; it distributes oxygenated blood throughout the entire body. If this artery becomes clogged, it could be fatal, especially if it bursts. With that said, there are certain types of blood thinners that can be taken to prevent blood clots.
In most cases, a blood clot is created during an injury to stop excess bleeding from occurring. The body usually dissolves the blood clot once the injury is fully healed. However, if a blood clot forms inside the arteries or veins without a sustained injury, the body may not be able to dissolve it. Because of this, people often experience a stroke. This is why blood thinners are that much more essential.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 130,000 Americans parish each year from a stroke. The CDC also states that every 40 seconds someone in the United States is having a stroke. Each year, there are about 795,000 cases of strokes, and to make matters worse, it’s the leading cause of long-term disability.
Before I get into the types of blood thinners, I want to further discuss blood clots. Let’s start with the arterial clot. I have already mentioned that blood clots can develop in the arteries. They can block blood and oxygen from reaching certain organs. These types of clots will often form in the hands and feet. But in more severe cases, they can also develop in the brain, causing a stroke.
I have a personal story to share regarding blood clots. Two years ago, my brother was involved in a motorcycle accident. It sent him 60 feet through the air where he landed harshly on the asphalt, breaking almost every bone in his body. As horrifying as it sounds, that wasn’t the main concern. What was a major concern is that he had a blood clot in his aorta. If the blood clot was to burst, he would bleed internally and would be dead within minutes. So as you can see, if a blood clot bursts, it can also cause damage as well. I am happy to say that he had an emergency bypass surgery which was successful, and he is making a full recovery.
The easiest way to determine if you have a blood clot is to get it checked out. But you need to look out for certain symptoms. If you experience cold hands or feet, loss of color in the affected area, muscle pain, or weakness in a certain area, you should make an appointment with your doctor.
There are risk factors that contribute to blood clots. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, suffer from diabetes or are addicted to smoking, they all increase the risk of you developing blood clots.