In daily life, we often hear that so-and-so suddenly collapsed due to blood clots, which makes the topic of blood clots suddenly heat up and become the focus of people's attention. Blood clots, especially venous thrombosis, lurk in the body like a time bomb that can trigger a fatal health crisis at any time. But what exactly is venous thrombosis? How does it unknowingly endanger our health? More importantly, in the face of this threat, how can we effectively prevent and respond to it?
Venous thrombosis, a medical term that sounds a little distant, is actually a killer in our lives. It is a common disease in the circulatory system caused by abnormal clotting of blood in the veins to form a blood clot (thrombus). This blood clot can form in veins anywhere in the body, but it is most common in the lower extremities. Once shed, it can travel with the bloodstream to the lungs, triggering a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening emergency.
Before discussing prevention measures in depth, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of venous thrombosis formation. Thrombosis is a complex physiological process involving changes in blood composition, vessel wall status, and hemodynamics. Depending on where it occurs, venous thrombosis is mainly divided into deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and superficial vein thrombosis.
Venous thrombosis can be harmful far beyond discomfort or pain in the limbs. When a blood clot forms in a deep vein, especially in the legs, it can break off and travel with the blood to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. In addition, long-standing blood clots can also damage venous valves, leading to chronic venous insufficiency, causing symptoms such as leg swelling, pain, and discoloration.
Lifestyle choices have a direct impact on the prevention of venous thrombosis. Lack of exercise, sitting or standing for long periods of time, unhealthy eating habits, smoking, etc., are all factors that increase the risk of venous thrombosis. The risk of venous thrombosis can be significantly reduced by improving your lifestyle, increasing your activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding prolonged periods of immobility.
Preventing venous thrombosis is not just a medical issue, it's a lifestyle issue. These include regular leg muscle exercises to promote blood circulation; Move your legs regularly when sitting or standing for long periods of time; Maintain a healthy diet and control your weight; Avoid smoking; Anticoagulant drugs if necessary, etc. For individuals who are already at risk of thrombosis, wearing medical compression stockings is also an effective preventive measure.