Passing Blood Clots
The Truth about Passing Blood Clots
Having blood clots can be a very serious medical problem, so if you have been passing blood clots, it is always the best advice to get yourself into your doctor’s office to find out exactly what the problem might be.
Blood clots are known as deep vein thrombosis and they can be representative of a very serious problem. That is why if you have blood clots, seek immediate medical treatment. There are a few times when passing blood clots may not be a cause for concern. For instance, for women who have unusually heavy menstruation, passing blood clots can be quite normal. Still, large clots and heavier than normal bleeding should be checked out. If you are passing blood clots in your urine, that also is a cause for concern. It could be something like an infection that is easily cleared up with antibiotics, or it can be among the signs of bowel disease or cancer.
The problem with blood clots is that there are dozens and dozens of reasons they occur. And, these reasons range from insignificant to life threatening. Blood clots can form in people who don’t move around enough. For instance, if you are in the hospital for any length of time you are given a special medication to stop the formation of blood clots. If this was not the case, a blood clot could form and cause a blockage in an artery or even make its way to the brain and cause instant death.
Some of the other causes of blood clots can be a recent surgery, birth control pills, a broken bone, a bruise, a stroke or heart condition. Blood clots can be formed by varicose veins, cancer or cancer treatments, a lump from a fall, a long trip, or it can even be hereditary. It is not just passing blood clots that are dangerous, but sometimes you can have symptoms of a blood clot that you cannot see. Signs could something as simple as a swollen leg or arm, soreness or pain in an extremity, red skin or a warm spot on any of your arms or legs.
If a passing blood clot is moving from your arms or legs to another place, such as your lungs, you could have what is known as a pulmonary embolism. If you suddenly have respiratory problems, chest pain, a rapid heart beat, a fever and/or cough, you need to get to an emergency room right away. These are all signs of a blood clot in the lungs. You can also cough up blood and blood clots.
If you have been passing blood clots, there are several treatments your doctor might try. You might be given an anticoagulant, which is a blood thinner meant to break up the clot or clots. Most of the time the first medicine that is given is heparin. This is an injection that you may have to give yourself. When you are lying in bed for long periods of time in the hospital, a nurse will give you an injection of heparin every day. You might also start taking a drug called Coumadin ™. The generic name is warfarin, and this drug is taken in the form of pills.
These types of blood thinners can cause side effects, and the biggest one is bleeding. That means that if you are in a car accident or cut yourself, you might bleed a lot, even to the point that it is uncontrollable. Some people who have a history of blood clots or have certain diseases have to take these types of blood thinners for the rest of their lives.