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. This can cause several serious problems, including: These conditions are all medical emergencies. Get medical help straight away by calling 999 if you or someone in your care is experiencing these symptoms. Arterial thrombosis usually affects people whose arteries are clogged with fatty deposits. This is known as atherosclerosis. These deposits cause the arteries to harden and narrow over time and increase the risk of blood clots. The following can increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis: Sometimes arterial thrombosis can be due to a condition that makes your blood more likely to clot, such as atrial fibrillation or antiphospholipid syndrome. It's not possible to prevent blood clots entirely, but you can reduce your risk by lowering your risk of atherosclerosis. The main things you can do are: If you're at a high risk of getting a blood clot, your doctor may also recommend taking medicines such as: If you develop arterial thrombosis, it may need to be treated with medicine or surgery. Treatments include:
As well as arterial thrombosis, there are several other types of blood clot, including:
Page last reviewed: 09 January 2020
ABOUT CAUSES DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT NEXT STEPS
A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that develops in a blood vessel in the body (often in the leg). It then travels to a lung artery where it suddenly blocks blood flow. A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel in area of the body, breaks off, and travels to another area of the body in the blood is called an embolus. An embolus can lodge itself in a blood vessel. This can block the blood supply to an organ. This blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus is called an embolism. The heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins make up the body's circulatory system. Blood is pumped with great force from the heart into the arteries. From there blood flows into the capillaries (tiny blood vessels in the tissues). Blood returns to the heart through the veins. As it moves through the veins back to the heart, blood flow slows. Sometimes this slower blood flow may lead to clot formation.
Blood clotting is a normal process to prevent bleeding. The body makes blood clots and then breaks them down. Under certain circumstances, the body may be unable to break down a clot. This may result in a serious health problem. When blood clots in a vein, it may be due to the slowed blood flow, an abnormality in clot forming, or from an injury to the blood vessel wall. Blood clots can form in arteries and veins. Clots formed in veins are called venous clots. Veins of the legs can be superficial veins (close to the surface of the skin) or deep veins (located near the bone and surrounded by muscle). Venous clots most often happen in the deep veins of the legs. This is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Once a clot has formed in the deep veins of the leg, there is a potential for part of the clot to break off and travel through the blood to another area of the body, often the lung. DVT is the most common cause of a pulmonary embolism. Other less common causes include:
Risk factors for pulmonary embolism include:
Each person may experience symptoms differently. The most common symptoms include:
You may also have symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), such as:
If your healthcare provider thinks you have a PE, he or she will check your legs for signs of deep vein thrombosis. The type and extent of symptoms of a PE will depend on the size of the embolism and whether you have heart or lung problems. The symptoms of a PE may look like other medical conditions or problems. Always talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms of PE are a lot like those of many other conditions and diseases. Along with a complete medical history and physical exam, tests used to look for a PE may include:
Treatment choices for pulmonary embolism (PE) include:
An important aspect of treating a PE is treatment to prevent more embolisms.
A pulmonary embolism (PE) can cause a lack of blood flow that leads to lung tissue damage. It can cause low blood oxygen levels that can damage other organs in the body, too. A PE, especially a large PE or many clots, can quickly cause serious life-threatening problems and even death. Treatment of a PE is often done with anti-coagulation medicines or blood thinners. These medicines can put you at a risk for excessive bleeding if they thin your blood too much. Excessive bleeding is bleeding that won't stop after you apply pressure for 10 minutes. Other symptoms of bleeding to watch for include: Signs of bleeding in the digestive system:
Signs of bleeding in the brain:
If you have any of these symptoms, you need to get medical care right away.
You can help prevent a PE by:
You can help prevent DVT with:
Many people are still at risk for DVTs for a time after they go home from the hospital. It is important to continue treatment to prevent DVTs until this risk goes away. That usually takes about 3 to 6 months. Key points about pulmonary embolisms
Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
Medical Reviewer: Deepak Sudheendra MD Medical Reviewer: Rita Sather RN Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN © 2000-2022 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. |