thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. it can occur in veins (venous thrombosis) or arteries (arterial thrombosis). the most common types of venous thrombosis are deep vein thrombosis (dvt), usually in the leg, and pulmonary embolism (pe), where a blood clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs.
symptoms of thrombosis depend on the location of the clot. for dvt, symptoms can include swelling, pain, and redness in the affected limb. in the case of pe, symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing up blood.
risk factors for thrombosis include prolonged immobility, certain medical conditions, smoking, pregnancy, obesity, hormone therapy or birth control pills, and a family history of blood clots.
treatment typically involves anticoagulant medications to prevent the clot from getting bigger and to stop new clots from forming.
prevention strategies include regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking. in some cases, preventive medications or compression stockings may be recommended.
advertisement