A thrombosis or blood clot in a blood vessel. This is a diagnosis that can be a serious threat to a person’s life, regardless of age and gender. How does thrombosis arise, what are the risk factors, how to minimize its threat, and why do doctors encounter it more often in the summer months?

A thrombosis is a blood clot in a blood vessel that prevents normal blood flow through the circulatory system. It can be fatal and can occur at any age, but the risk increases with age, with women more at risk of developing thrombosis. “Blood clotting is the body’s first line of defense against bleeding. When we injure ourselves, our clotting system creates a ‘plug’ to protect us from losing too much blood. This clot is then broken down by the body. Sometimes, however, clots form inappropriately or do not dissolve after an injury. A blood clot that forms and stays in a blood vessel is called a thrombus. Thrombosis can affect both the arterial and venous parts of the blood vessels. Arterial thrombosis refers to a blood clot that blocks an artery. Arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Arterial blood clots can block blood flow to the heart and brain, often leading to a heart attack or stroke. Venous thrombosis, also known as venous thromboembolism, refers to a blood clot in a vein. Veins carry blood to the heart from other parts of the body. Venous thromboembolism is a condition that involves deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism,” MUDr. Miriam Šatalová, who is a doctor at the long-term sick ward of the AGEL Bánovce Hospital, explains the basic concepts of this issue. While the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke are already common knowledge, with venous thrombosis people often have no idea what kind of problem they are actually dealing with. “The most common symptoms of lower limb thrombosis include swelling of the affected limb, soreness of the affected limb, trembling, tingling, tingling, reduced sensitivity in the limb, change in temperature of the limb – the affected limb is colder to the touch than the healthy limb, change in the colour of the limb, which starts in the area of the fingers and goes upwards, pallor at the beginning, later turning blue, professionally cyanosis,” says MUDr. Šatalová. According to her, there are a number of factors in which the risk of developing a blood clot is higher. “Vigilance needs to be increased after a hospital stay, after surgery, major trauma such as a car accident, a fall, an infection, an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, active cancer/chemotherapy, in the case of the use of contraceptive pills containing estrogen and hormone replacement therapy, but risk factors are also pregnancy, obesity, genetic or acquired clotting disorders, immobility or long travel, i.e. more than four hours in a plane, car or train,” says the experienced doctor. The aforementioned travel is especially the domain of the summer months, when many people go on holiday. With the advent of summer, experts note an increased number of cases of thrombosis, not only due to the increased need for fluid intake, but also the aforementioned travel.

“Venous thrombosis of the lower limbs occurs during air travel, but is much more common within a week or so of the flight. The flight itself creates the conditions that evoke thrombosis. Lack of space, inability to move the limbs, their forced position and lowering down, changes in barometric pressure – all contribute to its occurrence. Muscle areflexion during deep sleep, when the activity of the muscle pump is reduced, is also risky. The condition is exacerbated by the use of hypnotics or sedatives in an attempt to remove the fear of flight, especially when combined with alcohol. Specific factors during flight include reduced cabin humidity, which leads to dehydration and subsequent thickening of the blood,” explains MUDr. Šatalová. However, experts know several ways to minimise the risk of blood clots

. „Základné preventívne opatrenia sú pohyb končatín – zohnutie a vystretie nôh, prejdenie sa vždy, keď je to možné, masáž dolných končatín, kompresívne pančuchy, dostatočný pitný režim, nepožívanie sedatív a hypnotík, vynechanie alkoholu a cigariet pred cestou, preventívne podanie heparínu lekárom či preventívne užitie kyseliny acetylsalicylovej (acylpirín, anopyrín, medipirín) pred cestou u rizikových pacientov. V prípade, že človek už trombózu v minulosti prekonal, prípadne patrí do rizikových skupín, určite by sa mal pred dlhou cestou poradiť so svojím všeobecným lekárom,“ concludes the doctor.