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Yearly more individuals are dying from avertable blood clots than AIDS, cancer of the breasts & road accident cases in combination.
Annually amid a lakh to 180000 people in the U.S. are dying from pulmonary embolism, a complication due to blood clots developing in the lungs. The VDF (Vascular Disease Foundation) has urged everyone in America, particularly females to become aware of the risks of venous blood clot formations to assist in preventing such mortalities. Even though both genders are at analogous risk, the risk for DVT (deep vein thrombosis) or blood clot formations vary based on where women are in their life cycles, their hormonal levels & whether they are having a kin history of blood clot disorders.
Deep vein thrombosis or DVT develops due to blood clot forming in the deep veins; generally of the pelvic or leg areas and can turn lethal is duo ways. Firstly, the disorder could turn lethal due to blood clot breaking loose from the veins of the legs & charting its course via the heart & lodging in the arteries of the lung causing a complication known as pulmonary embolism (PE). Secondly, blood clots could cause lasting harm to the veins since almost fifty percent of those surviving DVT could be experiencing lasting leg pains, heavy feeling & swell up which could advance to problems when trying to walk, skin colour alterations & bare sore formations on the legs called as ulcers. Such a disorder is known as chronic venous insufficiency which could cause considerable impairment in quality of existence.
Some people might be at higher risk of suffering from DVT; however it could develop in any person. Triggers which in most likelihood impact females are gestation & the 6-8 weeks post-delivery, the use of oral contraceptives or HRT use among females in their post-menopause phase, cancers & their therapies & major surgical procedure.
Any person might be at risk for developing DVT however greater risk factors one has, more one’s likelihood of suffering from it. Being aware of one’s risk factors offers one the opportunity of taking pre-emptive measures against it:
- Being hospitalized due to some medical sickness or any sickness.
- Latest major surgical procedure (particularly orthopaedics operation) or injuries or traumas.
- Personal past of a clotting condition or earlier deep vein thrombosis.
- Aging.
- Cancer & their therapies.
- Kin past of DVT.
- Protractedly bedridden.
- Being obese.
- Smokers.
- Being seated for lengthy spans of time when one travels (more than six to eight hours).
Deep vein thrombosis & pulmonary embolism must be deemed medical emergency situations which necessitate prompt care when any of the below mentioned symptoms arise:
Likely Deep Vein Thrombosis signs & symptoms are:
- Recently surfaced swell up in one of the legs.
- Inexplicable pains or soreness in one of the legs.
- Variations in colour of the skin or warmness in skin sensed.
Likely Pulmonary Embolism signs & symptoms are:
- Latest or abrupt breathlessness.
- Piercing chest pains particularly when one inhales.
- Bloody coughs or abruptly collapsing.
Novel Blood Clot Therapy shows Promise
Therapy with medicines for dissolving blood clots is administered for blood clot developing in the leg which might enhance the chances of recouping regular functioning of the vein & avert long-term harm. Although currently offered therapy halts blood clot movement, however doesn’t avert lasting harm to the vein. As a result several patients might be suffering from lasting swellings & pains in their leg area.
Presently, blood thinner drug warfarin is the usual line of treatment for such sufferers & they require wearing support hose for up to 2 years.
A venture helmed by Doctor P.M. Sandset from Oslo Univ. Hosp. would be examining if sufferers would be benefiting from further therapy with medications which would be dissolving the blood clots – thrombolysis therapy.
Early results following the initial 6 months of the scientific study reveal that there was a tendency of the vein in staying open more frequently in sufferers receiving thrombolysis therapy alongside conventionally offered therapy. This suggests that the vein is operating as it must be & drains off blood from the leg. The scientists would be following up on the sufferers till 5 years for charting the lasting impact of the therapy.
Doctor Sandset asserted that in case they are successful in showing that sufferers are experiencing lesser incessant conditions or discomforting sensations – and lesser side-effects – it would be a huge advance. They could then give recommendation to offer thrombolysis globally to treat deep vein thrombosis in the leg.
