Blood clot
A bleeding disorder is a condition that affects the way your blood normally clots. The clotting process, also known as coagulation, changes blood from a liquid to a solid. When you’re injured, your blood normally begins to clot to prevent a massive loss of blood. Sometimes, certain conditions prevent blood from clotting properly, which can result in heavy or prolonged bleeding.
Symptoms
The
symptoms can vary depending on the specific type of bleeding disorder. However,
the main signs include:
unexplained and easy bruising
heavy menstrual bleeding
frequent nosebleeds
excessive bleeding from small cuts or an
injury
bleeding into joints
Schedule
an appointment with your doctor right away if you have one or more of these
symptoms. Your doctor can diagnose your condition and help to prevent
complications associated with certain blood disorders.
There are
many types of blood clot. Some types of blood clot are given below-
Coagulopathy
Coagulopathy is a condition in which the
blood’s ability to clot is impaired. This condition can cause prolonged or
excessive bleeding, which may occur spontaneously or following an injury or
medical and dental procedures. Coagulopathy can be a
primary medical condition or a complication of some other disorder.
Thrombosis
Thrombosis
is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of
blood through the circulatory system. When a blood vessel (a vein or an artery)
is injured, the body uses platelets (thrombocytes)
and fibrin to form a blood clot to prevent blood loss. Even when a blood vessel
is not injured, blood clots may form in the body under certain conditions. A clot, or a piece of the clot, that breaks free and begins to
travel around the body is known as an embolus.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia
is not one disease but rather one of a group of inherited bleeding disorders
that cause abnormal or exaggerated bleeding and poor blood clotting. The term
is most commonly used to refer to two specific conditions known as hemophilia A
and hemophilia B. Hemophilia A and B are distinguished by the specific gene
that is mutated (altered to become defective) and codes for a defective
clotting factor (protein) in each disease. Rarely, hemophilia C (a deficiency
of Factor XI) is encountered, but its effect on clotting is far less pronounced
than A or B.
Factor
V Leiden
Factor V
Leiden thrombophilia is an inherited disorder of
blood clotting. Factor V Leiden is the name of a specific gene mutation that
results in thrombophilia, which is an increased
tendency to form abnormal blood clots that can block blood vessels.
Embolism
An
embolism is a blocked artery caused by a foreign body, such as a blood clot or
an air bubble.
Treatment for Blood Clots
If you
have been told you have a blood clot, your doctor may give you medicine to
treat it. This type of medicine is called a blood thinner (also called an
anticoagulant. In most cases, your doctor will tell you to follow this
treatment plan:
For the
first week you will receive medicine called heparin that works quickly.
This
medicine is injected under the skin. You will learn how to give yourself these
shots, or a family member or friend may do it for you.
You will
also start taking Coumadin—generic name: warfarin—pills
by mouth. After about a week of taking both the shots and the pills, you will
stop taking the shots. You will continue to take the Coumadin pills for about 3
to 6 months or longer.