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What Are Blood Clots?

A blood clot develops when blood converts from a free-flowing liquid to a semisolid gel. This is part of the body's normal response to an injury. Normal clotting occurs within seconds and helps limit blood loss by sealing damaged blood vessels when there is an injury. However, blood clots can threaten life if they form inside uninjured blood vessels. Normal blood flow is blocked and function is reduced or lost in the cells the blood vessel carries blood to or from. The result can be heart attacks, strokes, blood clots in the lung, or other disorders.

Blood clots in the lungs, which usually break loose from the legs, are the cause of thousands of deaths each year in the United States. The major cause of strokes is a blood clot in a vessel that supplies the brain. Blood clots can also be directly related to deaths from other problems such as surgical recovery, accidents, long-term immobility, and cancer.

Smokers, those who do not exercise, and obese people have a higher risk for developing blood clots. People with blood vessel problems, such as varicose veins, hardening of the arteries, vessel injury or surgery, are at risk as well. Certain diseases like clotting disorders of the blood also increase the chance of forming blood clots. Blood clots are the main cause of sudden heart attack.

Lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of developing blood clots. Stop smoking, cut back on fats and cholesterol in your diet, and schedule regular exercise workouts. Exercise is known to produce substances that can break up clots. Drugs and blood thinners are given for treatment and to prevent more clots from developing.

For more information, speak with your health care provider. If your health care provider would like to refer you to a cardiologist, ask for a referral to a Saint Vincent Heart Center cardiac specialist. Information is also available by contacting your local chapter of the American Heart Association or call the national office at (800) 242-8721 or visit their website at www.americanheart.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. HIL File CARD4291.RF2 VRS# 6101 Data Version 7.0
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