On a quiet night, Uncle Chen sat on the sofa at home, but found that his chest was a little stuffy, as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. He tried to take a deep breath to make the discomfort go away, but no matter how hard he tried, the feeling of pressure still refused to leave.
Uncle Chen began to feel a little anxious, he thought of a yawn last night, but he didn't pay much attention to it at the time. The symptoms in front of him made him worried, and he decided to go to the hospital tomorrow morning for a check-up.
Uncle Chen came to the hospital for an electrocardiogram examination, but the results surprised the doctor: there was a blood clot in his heart blood vessels, and this blood clot almost blocked his coronary artery! The doctor told him that if he did not deal with it in time, the consequences would be unimaginable.
01. Definition and formation process of thrombosis
Vascular injury: Damage to the inside of a blood vessel is the first step in thrombosis. Injuries can be caused by external factors such as trauma, surgery, etc., or by internal factors such as arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, etc.
Blood clotting: Once a blood vessel is damaged, the body releases platelets and clotting proteins in response to bleeding at the site of the injury. Platelets quickly accumulate in the damaged area, forming platelet aggregates, while clotting factors in the blood are activated to form thrombin.
Thrombosis: Thrombin production promotes the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, forming a fibrin reticulum. Platelet aggregates are fixed at the site of the injury to form a rudimentary thrombotic structure.
Thrombus growth: Over time, the blood clot grows and expands, gradually clogging the lumen of the blood vessels. The growth of blood clots during this process can be affected by a variety of factors, such as blood flow rate, blood viscosity, etc.
Blood clot detachment: Blood clots may break off. The detached thrombus travels to other parts of the blood with the blood flow, which may lead to the blockage of distal blood vessels, causing serious consequences, such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction.
02. The harm of blood clots
Myocardial infarction: A myocardial infarction occurs when a blood clot blocks a coronary artery, causing ischemia or even necrosis in parts of the heart. Myocardial infarction often presents with severe chest pain, chest tightness, dyspnea and other symptoms, and in severe cases, it can lead to cardiac arrest or even death.
Cerebral infarction: Cerebral infarction occurs when a blood clot blocks the blood vessels in the brain, causing ischemia and death of part of the brain tissue. Symptoms of cerebral infarction may include sudden headache, facial muscle weakness, slurred speech, etc., and in severe cases, it can lead to stroke, paralysis and even death.
Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot breaks off and flows into the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism may cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, palpitations, and in severe cases, shock, respiratory failure, and even death.
Arterial embolism of the lower extremities: Embolism of the arteries of the lower extremities occurs when a blood clot blocks the arteries of the lower extremities. Patients may feel pain, numbness, cyanosis and other symptoms of the affected limb, and in severe cases, tissue necrosis.
03. Six major signals of thrombosis
Yawn: People with ischemic cerebral thrombosis often yawn frequently within 5~10 days before the onset of the disease. Accompanied by symptoms such as tiredness, drowsiness, and confusion, it is one of the signals that your body reminds you to pay attention.
Skin changes: When a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in a specific area, it may cause local skin changes. Common symptoms include purple skin, warmth, and even a burning sensation in severe cases. Of particular note, this change is often associated with deep vein thrombosis.
Cold hands and feet: The cold sensation of the legs and feet may be an important manifestation of arteriosclerosis occlusion of the lower extremities. Due to hardening of the arteries and blockage of blood vessels, the legs may experience ischemia and hypoxia, resulting in a drop in local body temperature and a feeling of coldness.
Nosebleeds: Several nosebleeds, especially when accompanied by fundus bleeding, hematuria and other symptoms, need to be alert to possible cerebral thrombosis. For people with high blood pressure, frequent nosebleeds are a sign to be aware of.
Sudden vertigo: Vertigo is often a precursor to cerebral thrombosis and can occur at any time, especially after waking up in the early morning or after a tired bath. Patients with high blood pressure who experience frequent dizziness, especially when they wake up in the morning, need to see a doctor for examination.
Chest tightness and chest pain: People who do not exercise for a long time can easily form clots in their blood. More serious is the blood clot and as the blood reaches the lungs, people may experience a range of symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and even sudden death.
04. Thromboprophylaxis
Maintain moderate exercise: Exercise can help reduce the risk of blood clots. Proper aerobic exercise is recommended every day to help improve the flexibility of blood vessels.
Eat right: A balanced and nutritious diet can help control the amount of fat and cholesterol in the blood, reduce the viscosity of the blood, and reduce the formation of blood clots.
Maintain your weight: Maintaining a proper weight is very important to prevent blood clots. With proper diet and moderate exercise, the risk of thrombosis can be reduced.
Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption increase the risk of blood clots, so you should try to quit smoking and limit alcohol. Nicotine and alcohol can have an adverse effect on blood vessels, causing vasoconstriction and poor circulation, increasing the likelihood of thrombosis.
Do "ankle pump exercises" often: Ankle pump exercises are a simple and effective way to promote blood circulation in the lower limbs. The risk of thrombosis is reduced through the movement of the ankle joint.
We should always be alert to the possibility of blood clots and take active precautions. Whether it is regular exercise and a reasonable diet, it is an important measure to prevent blood clots. Health is the most valuable asset, and only by maintaining good health can we enjoy the beauty of life. Let's stay away from the threat of blood clots and live a healthy and happy life together!
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