Table of contents:
- The types of people who are at risk with blood clots
- 1. People who are obese
- 2. Smoker
- 3. Pregnant women
- 4. Women taking birth control pills
- 5. People who have certain diseases
- 6. People who rarely move
- 7. Heredity
- 8. People who have had previous blood clots
Blood clots (blood clots) are not always bad. Because, when the body is injured and bleeding, the blood clot can stop the bleeding and start the healing process. However, a blood clot that forms inappropriately can cause problems. Who is at risk for blood clots? Check out the following reviews.
The types of people who are at risk with blood clots
Dangerous blood clots can block blood from getting to the brain and cause a stroke. When blood clots stop the flow of blood to the heart it will cause a heart attack. Besides, there are diseases deep in thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to the formation of blood clots in the legs, which can attack the lungs if left untreated. This condition is called a pulmonary embolism. There are some people who are very susceptible to blood clots, namely:
1. People who are obese
People who are obese are at risk of developing blood clots. This is because obese people are usually less active to move. Lack of movement for a long period of time allows blood to build up. To increase bodily activity, it is necessary to do sports. Apart from moving, exercise can also help you lose weight.
2. Smoker
Smoking not only affects the lungs but also affects the blood vessels. This is because smoking damages the lining of blood vessels and makes blood tend to stick together and eventually thicken and clot. To prevent this from happening is to stop smoking and stay away from cigarette smoke.
3. Pregnant women
Pregnant women are prone to having blood clots. This happens because the fetus is in the stomach pressing on the blood vessels in the abdomen and pelvis. Eventually blocking blood flow directly and causing blood clots.
4. Women taking birth control pills
Use of birth control pills that have a high estrogen content can cause DVT. Estrogens change the composition of the blood and make it more prone to clot. However, nowadays many birth control pills have reduced the dose of estrogen and do not even contain estrogen at all. If you are taking this kind of medicine, it is necessary to check for blood clots.
5. People who have certain diseases
Several types of diseases can cause blood clots, such as:
- Cancer (including brain cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and kidney cancer)
- Diabetes
- HIV / AIDS
- Crohn's disease
Professor Mark Whitely, founder of the Whitely Clinic and a lecturer at Oxford University, said that blood clots can occur especially during surgery on the abdomen. This is caused by dehydration and still under anesthetic. Dehydration can increase blood viscosity. Apart from that, surgery also puts direct pressure on the blood vessels.
6. People who rarely move
Many things keep us immobile for a long time. For example being on a plane, being seriously ill, having a sedentary lifestyle (lazy to move), and so on. The oxygen level in the blood at that time becomes low and begins to coagulate and clot.
To avoid clots, you should avoid caffeinated drinks and drink lots of water. You can change positions or move your legs.
7. Heredity
If one of your family has a problem with blood problems, which is blood clots easily, then you are likely to be at risk of experiencing the same thing. It can also be caused by the protein that is supposed to destroy blood clots not functioning normally. You may have to do tests first to find out if you have this inherited disorder or not.
8. People who have had previous blood clots
If you have a previous history of blood clots, it is very likely that they will happen again. If you don't want this to happen again then avoid everything that can trigger your blood to clot. For example, quitting smoking, maintaining diet, and maintaining blood sugar levels.
Diagnosing blood clots is not easy to do. If the feet are swollen, short of breath, or chest pain, consult a doctor immediately. Usually you will be recommended to do a non-invasive ultrasound, this test will show an image of the blood vessels and help the doctor make a diagnosis and determine what caused it so that you can get the right treatment.