Knowing thrombosis, is it dangerous?

Platelets or platelets are one of the components of human blood. The main function of platelets is to clot the blood when there is bleeding. However, when there is a disruption or abnormality in the platelets, various problems can threaten your health. One of them is thrombosis, which is a blood clot that forms even though there is no wound or bleeding. Is this condition dangerous? How to handle it?

What is thrombosis?

Thrombosis is the abnormal formation of blood clots in an artery or vein. This blood clot is called a thrombus.

Under normal conditions, the body does need a blood clotting process when there is injury and bleeding. However, sometimes the blood clotting process doesn't work properly and actually blocks the flow in the blood vessels. This condition is known as thrombosis.

This abnormal blood clot is divided into 2 types, depending on the location of the blood clot or thrombus found.

• Arterial thrombosis, when a thrombus blocks an artery commonly found in the heart and brain.
• Venous thrombosis, when the thrombus blocks the flow of the veins normally found in the legs. This condition causes superficial thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis), as well as pulmonary embolism.

The thrombus that is formed can also travel to other parts of the body and form new blockages. This phenomenon is called embolism in medical terms.

If thrombosis is not treated properly, blood flow to all important organs in the body can be hampered. As a result, the body can experience serious complications because the function of the vital organs is disturbed.

What are the signs and symptoms of this condition?

Each person may experience symptoms of thrombosis that vary. The reason is, thrombosis in each person can occur in different parts of the blood vessels.

If the blood clot is in an artery, the symptoms that appear are usually related to problems with the heart and brain. Some of the signs and symptoms of arterial thrombosis are:

• chest pain
• hard to breathe
• dizzy
• mild stroke
• one or both sides of the body are weakened
• irregular speech

If the veins are affected by a thrombotic condition, the symptoms you may experience are:

• swelling in the arms and legs suddenly
• pain and warmth in the area of ​​the blood clot
• swelling feels tender to the touch
• the skin turns red or bluish in color resembling a bruise

You should watch out for more severe symptoms because they may indicate a blood clot has blocked blood flow to important organs, such as the heart, lungs, and even the brain. If any of the following symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately:

• shortness of breath that appears suddenly
• chest pain that gets worse when you inhale or cough
• coughing up blood
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• pulse getting faster

What are the causes of thrombosis?

Thrombosis is a condition that can be caused by various health problems or pre-existing congenital diseases. In cases of arterial thrombosis, the main cause is hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis occurs when excess fat or calcium builds up on the artery walls and causes the arteries to thicken. This buildup will harden and form plaque, which can then narrow the arteries.

The thickened plaque in the artery walls can break at any time, so the platelets will try to form a blood clot to overcome the damage to the artery wall. As a result, these blood clots have the potential to block blood flow.

The buildup of plaque in the arteries can be triggered by various things, such as:

• smoke
• unhealthy eating patterns
• lack of exercise or not actively moving
• suffer from hypertension, high cholesterol, or diabetes
• old age
• have excess body weight (obesity)

Meanwhile, thrombosis that forms in the veins is caused by several factors that hinder circulation or blood circulation normally. Some of the triggers for thrombosis in veins include:

• wound in a vein
• surgical procedure
• smoke
• pregnancy
• inherited blood clotting disorder
• have blood that tends to thicken more easily (hypercoagulation)
• consumption of certain drugs
• less active
• old age
• have excess body weight (obesity)

How to treat thrombosis?

Thrombosis is a condition that can be treated with anticoagulant drugs or blood thinners. Anticoagulant drugs are able to break down clots (thrombus) in the blood and prevent blood clots from forming again.

There are several types of blood thinning drugs that can be used to treat thrombosis. According to the National Blood Clot Alliance website, the three most common are heparin, warfarin, and low molecular weight heparin.

1. Heparin

Heparin is an anticoagulant drug that can work quickly to treat thrombosis. The administration of heparin drugs is usually done through a syringe or infusion in a hospital.

The dose of heparin will depend on your health condition and the results of your blood tests. Sometimes, heparin is also combined with other anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin.

2. Warfarin

Warfarin is an anticoagulant that is given in oral or oral form. The duration of warfarin drug consumption depends on the severity of thrombosis suffered by the patient. This drug works by slowing down the process of blood clotting through the liver.

3. Low molecular weight heparin

The low molecular weight heparin drug is actually similar to regular heparin. However, these drugs are easier to use and take longer to work in the body. In addition, this drug can be used alone at home in the form of an injection.