Why are Blood Clots Dangerous?

Your blood clots. It just does. And it generally helps to heal your wounds. But when do blood clots become dangerous?

Blood clotting is a normal function that occurs when you have an injury. If you scrape your knee, blood clots at the site of the injury so you don’t lose too much blood. But sometimes blood clotting can cause complications and be very dangerous, even causing death.

Sometimes a clot will form inside a blood vessel, which is either an artery or a vein. Clots can happen even when there is no injury. Clots can also fail to dissolve after an injury has healed. This can cause serious complications if not discovered and treated.

Some complications could be serious and even life-threatening, especially if a clot forms in a blood vessel. It’s important to understand the symptoms of clots so you can get treatment before complications occur.

You may be at risk for a blood clot, if you:

• are obese
• are a smoker
• are over the age of 60
• take oral contraceptives
• have a chronic inflammatory disease
• have atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation
• have congestive heart failure
• have cirrhosis
• have cancer
• have fractures in your extremities, especially the lower extremities or pelvis
• are pregnant
• have a family history of clotting disorders
• are unable to walk
• sit for long periods of time
• travel frequently

A blood clot can form in any blood vessel in your body. It can end up in the lungs, heart, brain, or other areas if it breaks away and travels through the blood. These clot movements can lead to serious complications as the clot disrupts the flow of blood to important organs. This can result in heart attack and stroke.

Have more questions about blood clots? Talk to your doctor about your risk of having blood clots.