Blood Clots Symptoms and Natural Remedies

If you are worried about your health, learn how to spot the signs of blood clots in order of when they occur. This video is a compilation of Dr. Axe’s 8 natural remedies that can help with these conditions and more!

Blood clots prevent excessive blood loss after an injury, prevent pathogens from entering a wound, and enable the wound to heal. However, blood clots may develop in the bloodstream even when there is no exterior damage. Clots in the bloodstream may cause life-threatening consequences such as pulmonary embolism, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

When blood, platelets, proteins, and cells cling together, a blood clot (or thrombus) may develop on the inside of a blood artery or in the heart. On the other hand, a blood clot that prevents blood flow is a significant health problem that must be addressed immediately.

Blood clots, fortunately, are one of the most preventable forms of blood disorders. In reality, modest lifestyle modifications may reduce your risk of getting a blood clot. For example, if you already have a blood clot, you may take steps to reduce the length of time you spend on blood thinners and other traditional treatments.

What Exactly Is a Blood Clot?

When a blood vessel is damaged, a blood clot stops excessive bleeding. Usually, when you have an injury, your blood vessels constrict. As a result, blood flow to the wounded tissue is reduced by the local blood vessels, limiting blood loss. The platelets and proteins in your blood then adhere to the blood vessel’s injured section. To stop the bleeding, they cluster together. Thirteen chemicals in the blood and tissue solidify the clump. Clotting factors or coagulation factors are the compounds in question.

When the damage has healed, your body will usually destroy the blood clot on its own. However, when there is no exterior damage or when clots do not disintegrate usually, they might develop on the interior of vessels. Large quantities of platelets may join together, cling to each other, and form a blood clot if blood flows too slowly and builds up. Blood clots that grow within your veins for no apparent reason and do not disintegrate on their own may need medical treatment and create issues.

Symptoms of a Blood Clot

The symptoms of a blood clot differ depending on where the clot is placed. If a blood clot has formed in these precise areas, you may have the following symptoms, according to the American Society of Hematology:

Heart — chest heaviness or pain, shortness of breath, sweat, nausea, lightheadedness, and discomfort in other upper body regions.

Brain — facial, arm, or leg weakness, visual issues, trouble speaking, severe headaches, and dizziness.

Different Types of Blood Clots

Blood clots may form in the veins or arteries of the body. Both are blood vessels that assist in transporting blood throughout the body, but they work in distinct ways. Veins are blood channels that transport oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart from the body’s organs. When an aberrant blood clot develops in a vein, it may prevent blood from returning to nature, resulting in discomfort and swelling as blood accumulates behind the clot.

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in one of the body’s main or deep veins. The majority of blood clots in the deep veins occur in the lower leg or thigh. They may, however, appear in other regions of the body, such as the limbs or the pelvis. An embolus is a loose blood clot that breaks off from a deep vein and travels through the circulation. An embolus may pass past the heart and into a pulmonary artery, which gets lodged and prevents blood flow. The illness is known as pulmonary embolism, and it is exceedingly deadly. Sudden breathing problems, coughing, coughing up blood, and chest discomfort are all common symptoms of pulmonary embolism.

DVT is a preventable cause of mortality that occurs all around the globe. However, in the United States, it affects up to 900,000 individuals each year and kills up to 100,000 people. In addition, one-half of persons who have had a DVT will have long-term problems such as edema, discomfort, discoloration, and scaling in the afflicted leg, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When blood clots in the arteries, it’s not the same as in the veins. Arteries are muscular veins that transport oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries, is generally connected with clotting in the arteries. Plaque narrows the interior of the artery, causing atherosclerosis. Cholesterol, fatty compounds, cellular waste materials, calcium, and fibrin, a blood-clotting agent, are plaque components. When the artery’s path narrows, the powerful arterial muscles continue to push blood through the hole at high pressure. The plaque may burst as a result of this.

Because of the chemicals released after the rupture, the body may respond by producing an unnecessary clot in the artery. As a result, your tissues and organs may no longer get enough blood or may not receive any at all at this point. A heart attack or stroke may occur due to a blood clot that forms in the coronary arteries or within the heart. Atherosclerosis is, in fact, the leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Moreover, it is the underlying cause of nearly half of all fatalities in Westernized civilizations.

Risk Factors and Causes

Clots in the veins

If blood flow is constricted and slowed, blood clots may develop in the deep veins of the legs. This may happen if you are immobile for a lengthy amount of time, such as after surgery, on a long flight, or in a vehicle, or if you have to be in bed for an extended period.

Blood clots in the veins (venous blood clots) are more prone to form in veins that have been injured by surgery or trauma. In addition, a family history of blood clots, age (over 60 years old), obesity, pregnancy, smoking, and oral contraceptives are all variables that raise your chance of developing venous blood clots. Some drugs or conditions may also exacerbate blood clots, such as cancer or hereditary coagulation abnormalities.

There has been a lot of studies done on these important risk factors. According to studies for example, venous blood clots are the leading cause of maternal mortality globally. In addition, pregnant women have a 5- to 10-fold more significant risk than non-pregnant women of the same age.

Oral contraception containing estrogen or progestogen has been linked to increased venous blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. According to researchers from Trinity College in Ireland, these risks are more prevalent among smokers and women over the age of 35. These oral contraceptives increase plasma fibrinogen, which aids in the production of blood clots, and so alter blood clotting.

According to research (VTE), cancer is also one of the most major acquired risk factors for venous thromboembolism. This might be caused by the tumor, the patient’s body, or the treatments they are undergoing. VTE is the second largest cause of mortality in hospitalized cancer patients, behind infections. In addition, several studies have shown that persons with pancreatic cancer, lymphoma, and brain cancer are more likely to develop venous blood clots.

A blood clot in the lungs may occur when an air bubble or a piece of a tumor or other tissue goes to the lungs. A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in the lungs. Fat from the bone marrow may move via blood and enter the lungs if a big bone in the body (such as the thigh bone) fractures.

Blood Clots in the Arteries

Obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking are all causes and risk factors for arterial clots. However, these hazards may be reduced by making lifestyle and dietary adjustments.

According to a study published in Blood Transfusion, people with metabolic syndrome have at least three of the following health concerns: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, lowered HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose. In addition, there’s further evidence that there’s a link between arterial blood clots (atherothrombosis) and these metabolic syndrome factors. Furthermore, meta-analyses of randomized controlled research have shown three health modifications that may help minimize your risk of getting artery disease. They include lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as quitting smoking.

According to studies, the risk of both arterial and venous blood clots rises dramatically with age. This might be related to vessel wall damage, a reduction in regular activity, increased immobility, or increased systemic blood coagulation activation.

Blood clots in the heart are more likely in those with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a form of irregular heartbeat in which the heart’s two chambers pulse rapidly and erratically. As a result, blood does not flow as rapidly or as consistently through the heart as it should.

Treatment for Blood Clots in the Past

Traditional blood clot treatments differ based on the location of the clot and your overall health. The following are some examples of therapy options:

  • Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines prevent blood from clotting in arteries, veins, and the heart. These drugs are commonly referred to as “blood thinners.” They keep your blood from clotting or causing existing clots to become more prominent. Heparin, warfarin, dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban are examples of anticoagulants. Anticoagulants may induce dizziness, easy bruising, headaches, and stomach discomfort, among other things. When using blood thinners, avoid taking other medications (such as aspirin, Advil, or ibuprofen) at the same time to prevent unwanted side effects.
  • Thrombolytics are drugs that break blood clots and reduce the harm caused by a blood vessel obstruction. Tissue plasminogen activators, streptokinase, and urokinase are examples of thrombolytics. Anticoagulants are occasionally used in conjunction with these medications. Hemorrhagic stroke is an uncommon but dangerous side effect of thrombolytic drugs.
  • Catheter-directed thrombolysis is a kind of thrombolysis that is performed using a catheter. Nonsurgical treatment for acute deep vein thrombosis is thrombolytic therapy. It’s a substance that dissolves blood clots. A small plastic tube distributes thrombolytics, or clot-dissolving drugs, straight to the clot. Bruising, bleeding, or swelling where the tube enters the body are all possible side effects of this surgery. Bleeding may also occur in other places, such as your intestines or brain.
  • Surgical thrombectomy refers to the surgical removal of a blood clot from inside an artery or vein. A surgeon makes an incision into a blood artery during the surgery. The clot is then removed, and the surgeon repairs the blood artery. Excess bleeding, blood vessel injury, and pulmonary embolism are all concerns associated with this kind of surgery.

8 Natural Blood Clot Treatments

1. Alter your eating habits

Metabolic syndrome is linked to the formation of blood clots, as you may remember. Therefore, it’s critical to change your diet to maintain a healthy weight, decrease cholesterol and blood pressure, enhance insulin sensitivity, and reduce overall inflammation. Consume healing foods such as dark leafy greens, colorful vegetables (such as yellow squash, red bell peppers, and purple eggplant), fruits, legumes, whole grains (such as oatmeal and brown rice), and omega-3 meals (like wild-caught salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, and grass-fed beef). These meals will help you maintain a healthy vascular system, enhance your heart health, and reduce weight.

You should also avoid meals that are harmful to your health. These items include artificial sweeteners, diet drinks, trans fats (found in baked goods), processed carbs, and sugar. You should also keep your alcohol usage to a minimum. Men should have two alcoholic beverages per day, while women should consume no more than one alcoholic beverage per day.

2. Maintain an active lifestyle

It’s critical to keep active to prevent blood clots from developing. Maintain a healthy level of activity by exercising frequently and avoiding periods of inactivity or immobility. How much physical activity should you get? Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day (or 60 to 90 minutes if it’s low-intensity). You may also attempt burst training or HIIT exercises, which are shorter but more intensive workouts.

It’s also beneficial to take frequent breaks when you’ve been sitting for a long time. Throughout the day, try to move about and stretch.

3. Switching Medication is a viable option

Some drugs might make you more susceptible to blood clots. Hormone replacement pharmaceuticals (typically used by menopausal or postmenopausal women), birth control pills, blood pressure meds, and cancer therapy therapies are among these medications. Check with your doctor frequently to see if your drugs may be reduced or cause any health issues. It’s also a good idea to look into natural solutions for pharmaceuticals’ health problems you’re presently addressing.

4. Give up smoking

According to studies, smoking cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and other tobacco products increases the risk of blood clots. When additional risk factors, such as being overweight, are added to the equation, the risk rises even more. If you’re still smoking, try to stop as quickly as possible. Joining a support group, hypnosis or meditation focused on overcoming addictions or speaking with your doctor about other successful methods to eliminate all viable options.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory spice that also works as a natural anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy. Curcumin, a polyphenol present in turmeric, was discovered to decrease the formation of blood clots owing to its anticoagulant properties in a 2012 research. Unlike most anticoagulants and other medications used to prevent blood clots, turmeric has few known adverse effects unless used in very high doses.

6. Garlic

Garlic is well-known for preventing and curing various cardiovascular and metabolic problems, including blood clots. Raw garlic has been found in studies to help reverse plaque buildup and prevent the formation of new plaque in the arteries. In addition, raw garlic consumption reduced blood cholesterol while increasing clotting time and fibrinolytic activity in participants, according to research published in the Journal of Postgraduate Medicine. Furthermore, the study revealed that garlic might be effective in avoiding thrombosis.

7. Vitamin E 

Vitamin E is an anticoagulant that may help prevent heart attacks and strokes. In addition, it treats and prevents heart and blood vessel problems such as chest discomfort, high blood pressure, and blocked or hardened arteries. Almonds, hazelnuts, avocado, butternut squash, mango, sunflower seeds, broccoli, spinach, kiwi, and tomato are just a few of the vitamin E-rich foods you may regularly consume to boost your vitamin E consumption.

8. Helichrysum Oil

Helichrysum topically applied may help to break up clots under the skin’s surface. Helichrysum may also aid in promoting blood vessel health by reducing inflammation, enhancing smooth muscle performance, and decreasing excessive blood pressure. Helichrysum essential oil may also be used to promote circulation and reduce discomfort and edema.

Precautions

If you have trouble breathing, chest discomfort or tightness, pain spreading to your shoulder, arm, back, or jaw, abrupt changes in your vision, numbness of the face, arm, or leg, or difficulty speaking, get immediate medical attention.

Use natural treatments under the supervision of your healthcare practitioner if you have a blood clot or are at risk of getting one.

Conclusion

  • When a blood vessel is damaged, a blood clot stops excessive bleeding. When the damage has healed, your body will usually destroy the blood clot on its own. However, when there is no exterior damage or when clots do not disintegrate usually, they might develop on the interior of vessels.
  • The symptoms of a blood clot differ depending on where the clot is placed. However, pain and swelling, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea are all frequent symptoms.
  • Blood clots may be divided into venous blood clots and arterial blood clots.
  • Immobility, age, hereditary factors, smoking, using certain drugs, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and lack of exercise are the primary causes and risk factors for venous and arterial blood clots.
  • Blood clots are often treated with anticoagulants and thrombolytics.
  • To help minimize your risk of blood clots, make lifestyle and dietary adjustments. It is important to maintain a healthy level of activity. Vitamin E, turmeric, and garlic are among the nutrients that may aid. It’s also critical to remember that you should not smoke or use any form of tobacco product.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions can cause blood clots?

A: Blood clots can be caused by various conditions, including but not limited to any illness, injury, or childbirth.

What causes blood clots naturally?

A: Blood clots occur when blood cells stick together and form a clot that can stop blood flow in the veins. Clotting usually occurs after an injury to the vein, like getting poked by a needle or stepping on broken glass.

FDA Compliance

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Information is shared for educational purposes only. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

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