What’s a blood clot in the head?
The formation of blood clots in injuries and wounds is a vital reaction of our body. This leads to a rapid hemostasis. When we bleed, the body automatically and immediately ensures that the source of bleeding is sealed with a blood clot.
This clot is also called a blood clot. On the one hand, this reaction is important to prevent high blood loss. On the other hand, it also prevents germs and bacteria from penetrating through the open wound.
Finally, the primary wound closure by the blood clot serves as the first step in wound healing. However, without external injuries, blood clots can form in the bloodstream, blocking the blood vessels. This becomes dangerous when the clots form or deposit in blood vessels that supply vital organs – such as the heart or brain. The result of such a blood clot can be a heart attack or stroke.
Diagnosis
For the diagnosis of a blood clot in the head, the symptoms are the decisive indication at the beginning. It is important to note that an emergency doctor should always be called, even if the symptoms persist for only a short time. Every stroke caused by a blood clot in the cerebral vessels is a life-threatening emergency where every minute counts.
“Time is brain.” Among the most common symptoms The final diagnosis can be made at the hospital afterwards using imaging techniques such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasound of the cervical vessels, known as duplex sonography, can also provide an indication as to whether calcification and associated narrowing or occlusion of the cervical vessels is the cause of the symptoms.
- A sudden paralysis, usually on one side
- Strength reduction of the arms or legs
- Unilateral numbness
- Visual disorders
- Speech disorders
- Comprehension disorders Verständnissto
- Balance disorders
- Swindle
- Unconsciousness
- Severe headaches
A blood clot in the head can cause quite different symptoms. The occurrence and course of the disease can also vary greatly, in some cases the full clinical picture is heralded by precursors and slowly increasing symptoms. In the vast majority of cases, however, a blood clot in the head in the course of a stroke causes sudden, often very noticeable symptoms.
The severity of the symptoms depends on the affected area of the brain, which is not supplied with sufficient oxygen due to the blood clot. The most common symptoms here are: For quick detection of a stroke, there is the so-called FAST test, which includes and assesses the three most typical symptoms. F-Face, A-Arms, S-Speech, T-Time.
If there is a suspicion of a stroke, the person concerned can be given three exercises based on these rules:
- A sudden onset of the most severe headache, followed by loss of the affected areas, which can be manifested as speech disorders, such as blurred or choppy speech, or even loss of speech
- Sudden disturbances of consciousness from disorientation to faint
- Paralysis in the form of immobility of an arm, leg, or both, or a drooping eyelid or corner of the mouth,
- Sensory disturbances in the form of numbness, tingling and pain in one half of the body,
- Uncertainty of walking due to dizziness or swaying up to falls. – Even if the symptoms described above persist only for a short time or if there are short visual disturbances such as flickering eyes, double vision or loss of vision over one eye, they can be the result of a blood clot and should be clarified by a doctor as soon as possible. – 1st Face: You ask the person to smile – this is not possible with hemiplegia of the face, the affected corner of the mouth hangs limply down.
- 2nd Arms: Ask the person to lift both arms at the same time to the same height – paralysis of the arms can also be seen here. – 3rd Speech: You ask the person to speak simple sentences or to recite sentences that should be repeated – a blurred speech is an alarm signal. – 4th T-Time: if there is even the slightest suspicion of a stroke, an emergency doctor should be called as soon as possible, because the most important prognostic factor is time.
