Guest blog post by Gary Gwertzman, MD, FACS, RPVI.
Blood needs to flow everywhere in the body. However, blood flow needs to be controlled, or blood could end up in an undesirable place. . .like the sidewalk! Therefore, blood flow is a “balancing act”—the body tries to keep blood moving on the “inside”, but forms barriers to keep it from flowing to the outside. These barriers are called blood clots.
This balance act is not perfect. Some people cannot make blood clots and can bleed heavily. Other people make internal clots when blood should be flowing freely. These internal clots can cause major problems. For example, a clot can stop the flow of blood into an organ. If that organ happens to be the eye, a clot can lead to blindness. If the clot is in the brain, it can lead to stroke.
Blood clots can form in veins too, and stop blood from returning to the heart. When a vein clot forms, the area behind it becomes swollen and painful. If the vein clot should break off and travel downstream to the lung, it is an emergency called “pulmonary embolus.”
The best way to keep blood flowing is to. . .keep blood flowing. When blood stops moving, it tends to form clot. This can happen if the heartbeat becomes irregular (i.e., atrial fibrillation). Blood can stop flowing and form a clot when someone stops moving around (i.e., during a long airplane ride or a long surgery). Unfortunately, some people make clots despite having no obvious risks.
Treatments for clotting might include commonly prescribed medications (aspirin, Plavix, heparin, Coumadin). Other powerful medications actually dissolve clots directly. All medications need to be monitored by a physician.
If you develop a sharp pain or swelling for no obvious reason, a blood clot could be responsible. You should see a physician as soon as possible for further testing and treatment.
Gary Gwertzman, MD, FACS, RPVI, is the Director of Vascular Surgery at Beth Israel Brooklyn.