What You Need to Know About Blood Clots

If you get a cut, your blood will clot to stop the bleeding so the wound can heal. But when your blood starts clotting inside your vein, it’s the opposite of healing and can even be fatal.

“On average, blood clots kill around 100,000 people in the U.S. every year,” said Timothy B. Daniel, MD, interventional vascular radiologist at VITA Surgery/Vascular. “But if detected early, we can treat clots before they turn deadly.”

Are You at Risk for Blood Clots?

Some people have a higher risk of blood clots than others. This includes:

• People who are overweight
• People who smoke
• People with diabetes
• People with heart disease
• Pregnant women

Blood clots can also form after surgery or while sitting in one position for a long time, like on a flight. Clots are often likely to form in the leg and travel to the lung, causing a pulmonary embolism. A blood thinner can treat smaller clots, while larger ones can be removed in a vascular interventional lab using minimally invasive techniques.

Mild COVID-19 Can Cause Blood Clots

Research has shown that about one in 200 people with mild COVID-19 who did not require hospitalization develops a serious and life-threatening type of blood clot. About five in 200 people with moderate COVID-19 have one.

“The best way to prevent this type of blood clot – as well as COVID-19 – is to get one of the safe and effective vaccines for the disease,” Dr. Daniel said.

Stop the Clot

Remember the warning signs of blood clots by learning this mnemonic device:

• Swelling in the leg
• Tenderness or leg cramps
• Out of breath
• Pass out, feel lightheaded
• Chest pain or back pain when breathing
• Leg discoloration (red/blue hue)
• Overdrive, racing heart
• Time to call 911

If you could be at high risk for blood clots, make an appointment with an Archbold provider. Find a provider at archbold.org/providers.