Both arterial and venous thrombosis can reduce or totally impede blood flow. This can lead to severe and even life threatening complications. A thrombus does not usually cause any symptoms until it blocks or heavily restricts the flow of blood. A thrombus in a vein, usually a deep vein in the leg, may lead to the following symptoms :. DVT can be a life threatening condition; emboli can travel through the bloodstream before blocking arteries elsewhere in the body.
Doctors use several different methods to diagnose the presence of a thrombus. For example, they may use:. A doctor may request blood tests to check for a genetic blood clotting disorder. This may be necessary in cases of repeated unexplained blood clots. The procedure can involve directly accessing and unblocking an affected artery. In other cases, the surgeon will divert blood flow or completely bypass the blocked artery.
Inferior vena cava IVC filters are small mesh devices that a surgeon can put in the inferior vena cava a large vein , usually under local anesthetic. The IVC filter traps fragments of the blood clot and prevents them from reaching the heart and lungs. An IVC filter can be permanent, and doctors typically combine this treatment with anticoagulation medication therapy where possible.
Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, have a misleading name; they do not give the blood a thinner consistency. When taking anticoagulant medications, a person should visit a specialized anticoagulant management service instead of a primary care physician. If anticoagulants are not effective, or if a person does not tolerate them well, a doctor will consider other treatment options.
Doctors may recommend that people wear compression stockings while taking anticoagulant therapy for DVT. As well as wearing compression stockings, people should try to keep the affected leg elevated above hip level during the night.
Arterial thrombosis is a blood clot in an artery, which can be very serious because it can stop blood reaching important organs. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body and the heart muscle. A blood clot does not usually have any symptoms until it blocks the flow of blood to part of the body.
These conditions are all medical emergencies. Get medical help straight away by calling if you or someone in your care is experiencing these symptoms. Medication Medication can help dissolve clots and restore the flow of the blood to the brain or heart. Surgery Surgery involves a surgeon accessing the affected artery. It's also vital that you live a healthy lifestyle.
This includes: stopping smoking if you smoke doing some physical activity reducing the amount of salt and saturated fat that you eat Find out more about preventing arterial thrombosis.
Symptoms of arterial thrombosis Depending on where the clot is in your body, a bloodclot in an artery arterial thrombosis can cause: angina heart attack stroke peripheral vascular disease Find out about each of these below.
Heart attack A heart attack can happen when a blood clot completely blocks an artery that pumps blood to your heart muscle. You may experience: a crushing central chest pain or mild chest discomfort shortness of breath a clammy, sweaty and grey complexion dizziness nausea and vomiting If you suspect you or someone you know is having a heart attack, dial immediately.
Find out more about the symptoms of a heart attack Stroke Arterial thrombosis can cause a stroke if a blood clot is blocking an artery that supplies blood to your brain. The symptoms of a stroke can come on suddenly and may include: numbness or weakness down one side, ranging in severity from weakness in your hand to complete paralysis of the whole side of your body weakness in your face, which can make you drool saliva dizziness difficulty talking and understanding what others are saying problems with balance and co-ordination difficulty swallowing If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, dial immediately.
If you have any of these symptoms, it's important to talk to your GP. Causes of arterial thrombosis Arterial thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms within an artery, slowing or stopping the flow of blood. How it happens Your blood contains cells called platelets and proteins clotting factors.
If this happens, a blood clot can form within a vein or artery thrombosis. What causes it to happen Most cases of arterial thrombosis are caused when an artery is damaged by atherosclerosis. The risk factors for a blood clot in an artery include: eating a high-fat diet smoking alcohol misuse obesity lack of exercise diabetes both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes high blood pressure hypertension. Diagnosing arterial thrombosis The tests used to diagnose blood clots in the arteries arterial thrombosis will depend on what medical condition the blood clot has triggered.
Find out more about having an ECG Blood test Blood may also be taken to measure levels of a protein called troponin. Find out more about blood tests Scans Suspected cases of stroke are diagnosed by producing a scan of the brain using a computed tomography CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan.
Treating arterial thrombosis There are two main types of treatment for a blood clot that develops in an artery arterial thrombosis : medication surgery Medication Medication can help dissolve clots and restore the flow of the blood to the brain or heart. Surgery You may need a heart procedure if the blood clot is in an artery that supplies blood to your heart. Coronary angioplasty A coronary angioplasty is the most common type of procedure for a heart attack.
Find out more about having a CABG Carotid endarterectomy Another type of surgery for arterial thrombosis is called carotid endarterectomy, which you may have if you have had a blood clot in an artery in your neck causing a stroke. The surgeon makes a cut in your neck to open up the artery and remove the fatty deposits.
Preventing arterial thrombosis It's not possible to prevent blood clots altogether, but there are a number of ways to reduce the risks of developing a blood clot in an artery. Medication If you've had blood clot in an artery before, you might need to take medication to prevent it from happening again.
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