Question

identify factors that hasten blood clotting

Answer 1

Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. Platelets and proteins in your plasma  work together to stop the bleeding by forming a clot over the injury. Typically, your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed. Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These situations can be dangerous and require accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Clots can occur in veins or arteries. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a type of clot that forms in a major vein of the leg or, less commonly, in the arms, pelvis, or other large veins in the body. In some cases, a clot in a vein may detach from its point of origin and travel through the heart to the lungs where it becomes wedged, preventing adequate blood flow. This is called a pulmonary (lung) embolism (PE) and can be extremely dangerous.Arteries, on the other hand, are muscular, high-pressure vessels that carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body.Clotting that occurs in arteries is usually associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a deposit of plaque that narrows the inside of the vessel. As the arterial passage narrows, the strong arterial muscles continue to force blood through the opening, and the high pressure can cause the plaque to rupture. Molecules released in the rupture cause the body to overreact and form an unnecessary clot in the artery, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke. When the blood supply to the heart or brain is completely blocked by the clot, a part of these organs can be damaged as a result of being deprived of blood and its nutrients.

The risk factors for developing a venous clot are different from those for an arterial clot, and people at risk for getting one are not necessarily at risk for getting the other. Different risk factors or events can cause unnatural clotting; however, each factor may initiate clotting in a different way. Certain risk factors, such as obesity, slow the flow of blood in the veins, while others, such as age, can increase the body's natural ability to clot. Even certain medications can affect how quickly your blood clots.

The following factors increase your risk of developing a blood clot:

• Obesity: is a well-known risk factor for clots in deep veins (usually in the legs) and for pulmonary embolism, a clot in blood vessels of the lungs that can result in sudden death or strain on the heart. Together, the two conditions are called venous thromboembolism (VTE)
• Pregnancy:During pregnancy, blood is more likely to clot as a safeguard against losing too much blood during labor. However, a condition known as deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), which happens when blood clots form in the legs and pelvic region, can occur and is linked with a number of serious health concerns.
• Immobility (including prolonged inactivity, long trips by plane or car):Prolonged immobility, especially when seated, can lead to pooling of blood in the legs, which in turn may cause swelling, stiffness and discomfort. It is known that immobility is one of the factors that may lead to the development of a blood clot in a deep vein – so-called “deep vein thrombosis” or DVT.
• Smoking:Smoking raises the risk of unwanted blood clots and makes it more likely that platelets will stick together. Smoking also damages the lining of the blood vessels, which can cause clots to form. Increased homocysteine levels, linked to a high risk of vascular disease.
• Oral contraceptives:Most oral contraceptives contain an estrogen and a progestin (synthetic progesterone). Estrogen and progesterone have many effects on a woman's body.These hormones also increase the levels of clotting factors and are assumed to be responsible for women's increased risk of blood clots during pregnancy.
• Certain cancers:Cancer patients are at a higher risk than the general population of developing serious blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs or pulmonary emboli in the lungs, which can be fatal. ... Individuals over the age of 60 are at the highest risk of developing blood clots.
• Trauma:Blood clots are semisolid masses of blood. Like bruises, they form when a blood vessel is injured by trauma from blunt force, a cut, or excess lipids in the blood. When you're injured, cell fragments called platelets and proteins in blood plasma will stop the injury from bleeding.
• Certain surgeries:Surgery is one of the major causes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that forms in the deep veins of your body, often in your leg. ... This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE), and it can be life-threatening if it blocks blood flow
• Age (increased risk for people over age 60):Blood clots can affect anyone at any age, but certain risk factors, such as surgery, hospitalization, pregnancy, cancer and some types of cancer treatments can increase risks. In addition, a family history of blood clots can increase a person's risk.
• A family history of blood clots
• Chronic inflammatory diseases:Inflammation may cause deadly blood clots. People who are suffering from a severe infection are more likely to develop dangerous blood clots, a new study suggests.They also identified nearly 4000 patients who had suffered a pulmonary embolism – a dangerous blood clot in the lungs.
• Diabetes:Diabetes increases the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries, which can cause dangerous blood clots. Nearly 80 percent of people who have diabetes will eventually die of clot-related causes. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is damaged or weakened.
• High blood pressure:Blood vessels damaged by high blood pressure can narrow, rupture or leak. High blood pressure can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries leading to your brain, blocking blood flow and potentially causing a stroke
• High cholesterol:It carries cholesterol to your arteries. The buildup is also known as cholesterol plaque. This plaque can narrow your arteries, limit your blood flow, and raise your risk of blood clots. If a blood clot blocks an artery in your heart or brain, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.
• Prior central line placement:It carries cholesterol to your arteries.The buildup is also known as cholesterol plaque. This plaque can narrow your arteries, limit your blood flow, and raise your risk of blood clots. If a blood clot blocks an artery in your heart or brain, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.