A thrombus is a product of blood clotting. The body wants to react to injuries in this way, which can be spoken of as a protective mechanism. However, if thrombus formation takes place in a blood vessel, there is a risk of health problems that can be life-threatening. Affected individuals should contact a physician as soon as possible.
What is thrombus formation?
Thrombus formation involves the production of a blood clot. This consists of clotted blood, causing the red blood platelets to stick together and form a clot. During thrombus formation, a blood clot is produced. This consists of clotted blood, causing the red blood platelets to stick together and form a clot. Thrombus formation can occur in a wide variety of body regions. However, veins are particularly frequently affected. Veins are those blood vessels that lead to the heart. Symptoms are particularly common in veins around the legs and pelvis. However, thrombus formation is also possible near the heart or in the arm cavities. If the clot develops in a heart disease vessel, physicians refer to it as a heart attack. Thrombus formation in the arteries can be observed much less frequently. Here, the clogging occurs in particular due to a bacterial influence. A total of 90 to 130 people out of 100,000 suffer from thrombus formation in a vein in the lower half of the body every year. In addition, some risk factors are particularly important in thrombus formation and must be taken into account. A blood clot can assume dangerous proportions insofar as it develops in the veins without an existing injury. The clot can clog blood vessels or result in a pulmonary embolism. That is why even the first signs should be examined by a doctor.
Function and task
Thrombus formation is actually one of the protective mechanisms of the body. Without the formation of blood clots, humans would not be able to survive longer. As soon as there is an external injury, such as a cut or a deeper scratch, thrombus formation occurs as a matter of principle, with the aim of closing the wound. This guarantees that the bleeding stops and that no bacteria or other germs enter. Instead, the incision can heal by regenerating the affected skin area. Thus, thrombus formation is basically of the highest benefit and indispensable. Once there is an injury, there is a constriction of the blood vessels. In order to prevent an excessive amount of blood from leaking out, the blood flow towards the wound is reduced in this way. Certain platelets found in the blood dock onto the damaged blood vessel and create a plug, which stops the bleeding. The platelets are thrombocytes. The human organism provides for the release and transport of specific substances and materials. These fix the clot by proteins, causing it to adhere over the injury and form a protective layer. Crucial to the process are clotting factors. A total of 13 different clotting factors can be observed in human tissue. The majority of them are produced by the liver. In this way, therefore, the existing wound is closed. Without thrombus formation, people would lose an unnecessary amount of blood after each minor injury and suffer from greater health consequences due to deeper cuts. Thus, thrombus formation cannot be characterized as fundamentally harmful. To counteract the negative consequences of thrombus formation, it helps to consciously prevent certain risk factors. These include, for example, refraining from tobacco consumption and regular exercise. There should be no prolonged periods of continuous sitting or standing.
Diseases and ailments
Sometimes, however, thrombi form without an injury being present. Then a blood clot occurs, which can lead to life-threatening blockages within blood vessels and must be treated within a very short time. For example, thrombi become noticeable because of low blood circulation, because of an altered blood composition, or because the blood’s tendency to clot is increased. Another possibility is damage to a vessel wall. These three factors are also known as the Virchow triad. Within a vein, the reduced flow velocity of the blood is often responsible for the symptoms.In the arteries, on the other hand, blood fat is deposited in the form of plaques, among other things. As soon as these open up, the body may react by forming a thrombus to counteract the damaged vessel wall. If the clot now blocks a coronary vessel, a heart attack results. This is because the thrombus can break loose at any time and be washed along with the blood. If it hits a constriction or something similar, the blood clot gets stuck and interrupts the blood flow. Within the brain, a thrombus can cause a stroke. At the venous level, embolism is possible. In this, the blood clot is initially carried with the bloodstream. It travels through the right side of the heart to the lungs and clogs one of the blood vessels. About one in two patients with deep-seated thrombosis also suffers from pulmonary embolism. This can vary in intensity. In the context of a pulmonary embolism, every second counts in medical care. Family members, friends or relatives who can detect such a physical development should therefore call an emergency physician immediately. As soon as the thrombus becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, dangerous consequences also threaten. This can lead to blood poisoning. After all, the germs are generously distributed during circulation through the body. Treatment with antibiotics can provide relief.
