this interview has been edited for length and clarity.
what makes blood clots so dangerous?
one in four people will die from a blood clot. deep vein thrombosis usually affects lower limbs, but it can eventually travel to the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism. once we have a diagnosis, urgent treatment is needed to avoid further travelling of clots to the lungs, which, over time, can be fatal.
what are the common misconceptions or assumptions about blood clots?
people sometimes assume that it’s not urgent or that they don’t need to seek medical attention. there is a perception that if it’s not in their head or in their heart, that they’ll be fine, but it should be understood that blood clots are a medical emergency.
what are the consequences of delaying treatment?
the bigger the clot burden (the size of the clot), the more likely a patient is to have chronic symptoms and potential complications. for example, pulmonary embolism is usually described as pain in the chest that is worse with deep breathing, a sudden new shortness of breath that doesn’t go away with rest, and some people may also feel light-headed. if we find the clot early, the likelihood that all the symptoms will get better over time is very high. but if a patient waits until they have a much bigger clot burden on the lungs, they may have additional complications or long-term symptoms, it could impact their exercise capacity and they may have lingering symptoms that affect their overall quality of life.