Treatment Options

Did you know? 1 in 4 people worldwide die from conditions caused by blood clots also known as thrombosis!

1. What is Thrombosis?

Thrombosis happens when a blood clot forms in a vein or artery, blocking blood flow. This can be dangerous because the clot can travel to the lungs, heart, or brain, causing life-threatening conditions like a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism.

2. Who is at Risk?

You are more likely to get a blood clot if :

• You sit for too long (eg: long flights, prolonged sitting, bed rest).
• You have certain health conditions like cancer or heart disease.
• You smoke, are overweight, dehydrated, poor diet.
• You take birth control pills or hormone treatments.
• You have a family history of blood clots.

3. What Are the Warning Signs?

Look out for these danger signs :
 🚨 Leg Clots (DVT): Swelling, pain, warmth, and redness in the leg.
 🚨 Lung Clots (PE) : Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, fast heartbeat or coughing up blood.
 🚨 Stroke Symptoms : Face drooping, arm weakness, and trouble speaking.
 🚨 Heart Attack Symptoms : Chest pain / discomfort, shortness of breath, cold sweat, dizziness / fainting.

4. How Can We Prevent Blood Clots?

💪 Move More – Stand up and stretch if you’ve been sitting for too long.
💦 Drink Water – Stay hydrated to keep your blood flowing smoothly.
🥗 Eat Healthy – Avoid processed food and salt.
🚭 Quit Smoking – It increases the risk of clots.
🏥 Listen to Your Doctor – If you are at risk, they may recommend medication or compression socks.
🩸 Manage your circulatory risk factors well such as diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia.
🎯 Achieve a healthy weight if you are overweight.

5. Treatment

The goal of treatment is to stop the clot from getting bigger and restoring blood supply to the organ affected. Some common treatments include:

• Blood thinners – Medicines that prevent new clots and help existing ones dissolve over time.
• Clot-busting drugs – Used in emergencies to quickly dissolve large clots.
• Minimally invasive catheter procedures – Using a catheter like a big straw to suck out all the clots and treat the underlying blockage if there is any (minimally invasive but allows for the quickest recovery).

Understanding thrombosis and its risk factors is key to prevention. If you or a loved one are at risk, don’t hesitate and get it checked right away!