Blood coagulation is a normal reaction of the body aimed at protecting against blood loss. Otherwise, even from the slightest cut, a person could die. Now hemophilia - a disease in which blood does not clot - is rare enough, however, it is worth noting that it is congenital and inherited, which means you can not resist it. The insidiousness of hemophilia was that a person could die from internal bleeding, which is not visible to others. Hemophilia occurs in men, if we talk about women, then the fair sex is more likely to have poor blood clotting, and not a hereditary pathology at all. There is only a chance to heal, however, modern medicine only takes the first steps in the treatment of hemophilia.
In the body of a normal person, blood without any obstacles moves through the vessels. In a flask or test tube, when taking blood for analysis, it will also not coagulate. What is the secret of this property?
And the thing is that blood coagulates when the bonds in the blood medium itself are broken. Usually, an injured person has an uneven surface, which signals the body that the blood coagulation mechanism needs to be started. Initially, near the site of the lesion, a primary thrombus is formed - loose in appearance. If you follow the process under a microscope, you can see how the fibrin strands drop out at the site of the lesion, which retain the platelets. This is the result of the hasty work of the endocrine system, which is the first to respond to such a "freelance" situation. Further, this thrombus will undergo certain chemical changes and become more dense. A blood clot formed at the site of the wound is the cork that prevents blood from flowing out of the affected vessel. Later, a new layer of tissue forms underneath, and it peels off.
Usually, in order for a primary thrombus to form, it takes half a minute - from now on, the blood stops flowing strongly, and can only be drunk from under it.
Viscous, thick blood that coagulates well and fluid that coagulates poorly are equally problematic for the body. If the blood is thick, then this can cause blood clots and stopping blood vessels. If it is liquid, then the time of blood loss can be prolonged.
Before surgery, doctors make a coagulogram - they determine blood coagulation. If it is normal, then this greatly simplifies the course of the operation. If it is viscous or vice versa - liquid, then before the operation they give special preparations that correct coagulability. Blood coagulation tests are especially important during childbirth, as in the event of an unforeseen situation, doctors should be ready for transfusion. Previously, when blood processes had not yet been investigated, some women died in childbirth from blood loss. In modern maternity hospitals, such situations are predictable, so there is no need to fear for the life of the mother and child.
The analysis involves the following indicators of blood coagulability:
- the time during which the bleeding lasted - normally this time is up to five minutes. It is believed that after five minutes in a healthy human body, bleeding should stop.
- the time during which a blood clot forms - usually five to seven minutes after the onset of bleeding, a full-fledged blood clot should form from the loose thrombus, which protects the vessel from blood flow.
- prothrombin time - during this time period, prothrombin should be activated in the body (up to twenty seconds).
Blood coagulation is a mysterious process that has been studied for centuries. Finally, it has been studied, which allows the use of these data in the treatment of blood diseases that pose a vital threat to humans. And this cannot but rejoice.