Horse Health Glossary – The Horse
This Coughed-Up Blood Clot Shaped Like A Lung Tree Went Viral
It isn't every day that a blood clot goes viral. Not viral in a virus-sense, but viral in getting many, many likes and shares on social media. But that's what happened with a picture of a blood clot that appeared in the New England Journal and the following Tweet:
Yes, this whole tree-like blood clot emerged from a 36-year-old patient in one piece. The patient had received blood thinners after having a mechanical heart pump placed in his body. Unfortunately, this resulted in his bleeding into his lung airways and a clot forming inside his right bronchial tree. An "extreme" coughing fit, which may have been an understatement, then brought the entire clot pictured in the Tweet out through his mouth.
What's striking about this picture is not just how such a large object emerged from his mouth but how the clot so accurately represented the shape of the patient's the right bronchial tree, the set of airways that branch off the trachea and lead to the three lobes of the right lung. Just read how Gavitt A. Woodard, M.D. And Georg M. Wieselthaler, M.D. From the University of California, San Francisco, described the picture in the Tweet above, "The right bronchial tree consists of three segmental branches in the upper lobe (blue arrows), two segmental branches in the middle lobe (white arrows), and five segmental branches in the lower lobe (black arrows)."
The following illustration gives you a sense of where this right bronchial tree sits:
This picture shows the human respiratory system. (Image: Getty)
GettyNeedless to say, if you cough up a blood clot that looks like your bronchial tree, see a doctor immediately. Bleeding that much into your lungs or airways is a life-threatening condition, and unfortunately, the man did not survive. Your lungs have many blood vessels coursing through them because that's where the red blood cells pick up oxygen and discard carbon dioxide. Therefore, some bleeding could quickly become uh-oh bleeding and result in severe blood loss and even suffocation.
Even much smaller amounts of hemoptysis (the medical term for coughing up blood) can be a sign of serious conditions such as lung cancer, pulmonary embolism, tuberculosis, lupus, or a malformation of blood vessels. Never ignore hemoptysis and don't "like" it. Tell your doctor instead.
How Long Does It Take For A Blood Clot To Travel Around The Body?
The risk of a blood clot traveling around the body is highest within the first 4 weeks after it initially forms. However, health experts are unsure of exactly how long it takes for a blood clot to travel around the body.
The above timeframe comes from an older 2014 article from the American Heart Association's journal, Circulation.
A blood clot happens when various substances form a solid mass inside the blood vessels. These clots can form in one part of the body before breaking off from an artery or vein. The circulatory system can then carry this blood clot to blood vessels in different parts of the body.
In some cases, this can cause serious health problems. For instance, blood clots that originate in veins can travel to the lungs, leading to pulmonary embolism (PE). Blood clots that originate in the arteries can travel to the brain, causing a stroke.
This article explores how long it takes for a blood clot to travel. It also discusses possible signs that a blood clot is traveling and describes the treatment, outlook, and prevention for blood clots and their complications.
Before a blood clot can travel, it must first break loose from the blood vessel it developed in.
An older paper in Circulation states that, on average, the risk of a blood clot breaking off is highest within the first 4 weeks of formation. This is because the blood clot is at its most fragile during this time.
It is difficult to know how long blood clots take to travel around the body. This is because blood clots can remain asymptomatic for some time. Some blood clots only cause symptoms after traveling to a different body part, such as the lungs or brain.
According to a 2022 review, scientists consider a blood clot to be acute if it starts causing symptoms 2 weeks after forming.
Learn about what causes blood clots.
According to a 2016 review, factors that increase the risk of a blood clot traveling through the body include:
If a person notices the signs and symptoms of a blood clot, they should contact a doctor. Treating a blood clot can help prevent the blood clot from causing complications.
A doctor will typically prescribe anticoagulant medications within 5–10 days of a diagnosis. Other treatments will depend on where the blood clot is. Options include:
Learn more
Learn more about managing blood clots:
The treatment for a blood clot that has traveled depends upon where the blood clot has traveled to. For instance, if a blood clot travels to the lungs, it could cause PE.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mainstay of PE treatment is thrombolytic therapy. These medications can dissolve blood clots. Doctors may also prescribe anticoagulants, which can stop further blood clots from forming.
If a blood clot travels to the brain, it could cause an ischemic stroke. According to the National Institutes of Health, doctors also prescribe thrombolytics and anticoagulants to treat ischemic strokes. They might also prescribe antiplatelet medications, which can help prevent blood clot formation.
Because strokes can cause brain damage, people who have had a stroke may require long-term rehabilitation.
Learn about recovery from a blood clot in the lungs.
The outlook for people whose blood clot travels depends on where the blood clot ends up.
According to a 2022 review, untreated PE is fatal in around 30% of cases. With prompt treatment, that figure drops to 8%. For ischemic stroke, a 2018 study estimates that around 11.1% of people die within 30 days of the stroke.
A person should contact a doctor if they notice any signs or symptoms of a blood clot. These include:
It is important that a person seeks emergency medical attention if they experience any signs and symptoms of PE or stroke.
Scientists do not know exactly how long it takes for blood clots to move around the body. However, they do know that blood clots tend to come loose within 4 weeks of forming. During this time, the clots are still fragile.
Doctors treat PE and ischemic strokes with medications that dissolve blood clots. They may also recommend medications that help prevent future clots from forming.
Blood Clots: What They Are, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Ann Schreiber
A blood clot is a lump of blood that can form in various body parts, including the legs, arms, lungs or heart. These clots can lead to severe health issues.
This article will examine what blood clots are, their causes and symptoms. It's important to note that 3 in 10 people who experience a blood clot may face another episode within a decade, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A blood clot is a semi-solid mass made up of blood cells and other substances that forms within your blood vessels.
Normally, these clots help stop excessive bleeding when you're injured or have surgery, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But blood clots can also develop due to specific medical conditions, posing life-threatening risks. Here's where blood clots can occur:
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Blood clots can develop for various reasons, according to Penn Medicine. Some common causes include:
Inherited conditions can also make you prone to abnormal blood clots. These include:
Blood clots during hospitalization
Hospitalization, especially after physical trauma, surgery or extended immobility, heightens the risk of blood clots, according to the CDC. A clot occurring in a large vein, often in the leg or arm, is termed a deep vein thrombosis.
Nearly half of all blood clots arise during or within three months of a hospital stay or surgical procedure.
Coincidentally, a study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation reported that within a week after a COVID-19 diagnosis, the likelihood of experiencing an arterial blood clot was nearly 22 times higher than in individuals not affected by COVID-19. Arterial blood clots could result in a heart attack or ischemic stroke.
This risk significantly decreased in the second week, becoming less than four times higher, the study found.
"I do think that that is a new element to the story — that the risk is not only around the time of the acute COVID infection," Dr. Karen Furie, chief of neurology at Rhode Island Hospital and chair of neurology at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School in Providence, R.I., said in an article published by the American Heart Association.
Elevated risks persisted no matter whether an individual required hospitalization due to COVID-19, although risks were more pronounced in those who were hospitalized. Additionally, the research revealed that clot risks were higher in both Black people and Asian populations.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) happens when a blood clot forms in one of your deep veins, often in your legs or occasionally in your arm. The National Blood Clot Alliance suggests keeping an eye out for these DVT signs and symptoms:
These blood clot symptoms may resemble a pulled muscle or Charley horse but can differ as they might involve swelling, skin discoloration and warmth. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice these signs, as immediate treatment may be necessary.
Blood clots can dislodge from a DVT and travel to the lung, leading to a potentially fatal condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE). Be alert to these PE symptoms:
If you experience these PE symptoms, call 911 or seek immediate emergency room treatment via ambulance. Time is crucial when dealing with a possible pulmonary embolism.
What does a blood clot feel like?
An estimated 900,000 people in the U.S. Will have blood clots each year, with 1 in 9 facing death, according to the University of Maryland Medical System. Recognizing the signs of a blood clot, particularly if you're at higher risk, is vital.
Sometimes, blood clots remain silent until they trigger a PE. A clot in the leg might mimic a pulled muscle, while one in the lung can feel like someone's weight pressing on your chest, making it hard to breathe.
To help remember these warning signs, use the acronym STOP (the) CLOT:
The treatment of blood clots depends on their location and severity. Different options are available:
For veins (deep vein thrombosis — DVT)
Treating blood clots in the veins involves measures to prevent clot growth and safeguard your health, including:
Treatment for a blood clot in the arteries requires prompt action to reestablish normal blood flow and prevent complications.
Treating blood clots in the brain (stroke) demands immediate and targeted interventions to minimize damage and improve outcomes.
Treating a blood clot in the heart and lungs typically requires a combination of strategies.
Each treatment method addresses the specific needs and challenges associated with blood clots in different parts of the body.
While pulmonary embolisms are a serious concern, most DVT patients learn to deal with the risk of recurrence. Blood thinners, often prescribed, may be temporary or lifelong based on the cause, demanding caution due to potential bleeding risks.
The American Lung Association explains that a hypercoagulability evaluation to assess your increased tendency to clot may follow your diagnosis, searching for genetic or other risk factors. In rare cases where blood thinners aren't viable, an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter can be considered to stop blood clots from going into the lungs. Its benefits and risks require thorough discussion with your physician.
American Lung Association: Living with DVT/Blood Clots
Cleveland Clinic: Blood Clots
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Impact of Blood Clots on the United States
University of Maryland Medical System: Know the Warning Signs of a Blood Clot
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