A blood clot in the heart: symptoms, causes, treatment, recovery period and advice of a cardiologist

In our article, we will talk about a serious heart disease that carries a mortal danger - a blood clot in the heart. This disease is the cause for myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Specialists define a blood clot as bloody clots that form in the lumen of one of the vessels or directly near the heart cavity. A person's death may occur if the clot suddenly comes off. After that, the pulmonary artery becomes blocked, which leads to death. In order to prevent this from happening, you need to monitor your health and go to the hospital on time.

What is a blood clot?

In a healthy person, thrombosis is a natural protective reaction of the body. The main task is to stop blood loss in time when injuring any vessels. In fact, it happens like this - when damage appears on the body, platelets that form the hole clog.

If the human body works correctly, then blood clots form directly at the zone of damage. As soon as the mechanism begins to break down, the localization of clots can appear in the heart or coronary vessels. Fibrin filaments are formed at the initial stage of pathology on the walls of blood vessels. Therefore, every day thrombolytic masses are superimposed on top. Gradually, the size of the clot increases.

Types of blood clots

There are several types of blood clots, we will consider all of them in detail:

1. If one end is free at the thrombus, then it is floating.
2. A clot glued completely to the vessel is called parietal.
3. If the thrombus is attached by strands, it is central.
4. A lined thrombus is that clot that is located along the wall (but it remains quite narrow for the passage of blood).
5. The most dangerous today is an obstructing blood clot (it completely blocks the bloodstream).

A person may not even suspect that he has a clogged vessel or a blood clot, until an injury occurs. But he may experience general malaise or pain.

Causes of a blood clot

Problems of this nature arise in most cases in the elderly. This is due to the fact that age-related changes act on changes in the valves and heart muscle. Lying patients, overweight people and patients after surgery are at risk of the disease. Symptoms that a blood clot has broken off in the heart appear instantly, and medical attention must be immediately provided. Thrombosis also develops due to these factors:

1. A pathological disease of the walls of the vessel (or severe trauma).
2. Reduced blood flow.
3. Blood diseases (due to which the composition changes).
4. Violation of the volume and quantity of the constituent element of the blood.

There is also an opinion that thrombosis appears due to predisposing factors, such as:

1. Complete or partial lack of physical activity.
2. Hereditary predisposition to the disease.
3. Stress.
4. The use of hormonal drugs over time.
5. Smoking, alcoholism or drug addiction.
6. Excessive body weight.

In medical practice, there were causes of the disease that were associated with other pathologies, for example:

1. Oncological disease (increases blood viscosity).
2. Myocardial infarction (blood supply is disturbed, which causes a decrease in blood flow velocity and myocardial inflammation).
3. Cardiac ischemia (is a prerequisite for heart attack and arrhythmia, when coronary circulation failure occurs).
4. Atrial fibrillation (rhythm changes and heart size increases).
5. Cardiac aneurysm (veins increase in size, slowing down the contractions of the heart muscle, and blood clots eventually form).
6. Atrial fibrillation (blood circulation is disturbed).

Often a deterioration in health is due to old problems. Knowing what can provoke the formation of a blood clot, you can save your life if you notice the symptoms in time.

Main symptoms

The first signs of symptoms of a blood clot are very important to notice. Since the condition of the patient primarily depends on the location of the thrombus and its size. Symptoms may be completely (or partially) absent if the formation is small.

If the thrombus is located on the left side of the atrium, he will develop symptoms such as:

• tachycardia;
• fainting
• numbness of the limbs;
• pulse is quickened;
• dyspnea;
• chest pain;
• hypotension;
• pallor of the skin throughout the body.

The first symptoms of a blood clot in the heart are listed above, you must try to notice them in time and go to the hospital.

Causes of a blood clot

Inevitably, a fatal outcome occurs if a blood clot has come off the heart. Causes and symptoms can be identified in advance, but only every person pays attention to the “little things” in their health, when a blood clot adheres tightly to the venous (or arterial) wall and, under the influence of certain factors, the blood clot breaks off. Some common causes:

1. Blood pressure is elevated.
2. The stress is psychological or physical.
3. The size of the thrombus is large.
4. Fever.
5. In the zone of localization of the thrombus, vascular ailments are present.

The separation of a blood clot often happens unexpectedly. And it can cost a person life.

Diagnosis of the disease

Instrumental and laboratory examinations are prescribed for suspected thrombosis. Symptoms of a detached blood clot in the heart can save a person if they are noticed in time. Doctors are based on the result, prescribe the right treatment.

Instrumental methods:

1. Ultrasound examination of the heart and abdomen.
2. Magnetic resonance imaging (recognizes a neoplasm).
3. Dopplerography measures the rule, as well as the speed of blood flow, when a heart contraction occurs.
4. Radiography is necessary in order to exclude myocardial hypertrophy, thrombolytic plaques and aneurysms.
5. Echocardiography.

Symptoms of a blood clot in the heart can not be determined immediately, diagnosis is necessary in order to fully verify the diagnosis.

Proper treatment

The method of treatment completely depends on the condition of the patient (the size and fastening of the thrombus, localization is a medical history).

The specialist can offer the following options:

• dieting and compliance;
• surgical intervention;
• the use of alternative medicine under the supervision of a physician;
• normalized physical activity;
• drug treatment.

Symptoms of a blood clot in the heart are subject to early treatment. The most effective methods of therapy are presented above.

Diet for thrombosis

Compliance with a certain menu is very important for the treatment of this disease. It is necessary to correctly calculate the amount of fluid consumed during the day. Include in your diet vegetables and fruits that contain a huge amount of vitamins and fiber. List of foods that are not worth consuming:

1. Fatty meat, lard and butter.
2. Sausage products, various types of smoked meats and sausages.
3. Sour cream and fat cream.
4. Seasonings and sauces.
5. All pastries, including pastries.
6. Carbonated drinks and strong tea.

In the menu you can add:

• fish products;
• low-fat dairy products;
• grapes;
• beef liver;
• soy;
• cereals;
• nuts
• citruses;
• greens;
• berries.

Experts recommend a list of these products for the patient’s diet. But do not forget about physical activity.

Sports loads

At the first manifestation of symptoms of a blood clot in the heart, you need to seek help from specialists. They will conduct a series of tests, prescribe treatment, menus and necessary sports loads, since in most cases blood circulation is disturbed due to an immobile lifestyle. Consider a few exercises:

1. In a standing position, roll from heels to socks (repeating this action several times).
2. Slowly rise in place and sharply lower to the starting position.
3. Raise your leg high in the air, while bending it at the knee.
4. Massage in a circular motion each leg and lightly pat from the bottom up.
5. From the bottom up we rub our legs, and then stroke them (in order to relax).

Gymnastic exercises are allowed to be done at any time of the day, regardless of time and place.

Folk remedies for thrombosis

In most cases, specialists also prescribe folk remedies for symptoms of a blood clot in the heart. Death can occur if you do not engage in your health and start the disease. It is recommended to use herbal teas, decoctions and compresses. Some of them are presented below:

1. Pour a hundred grams of horse chestnut with a liter of vodka and let it brew for two weeks. Take 20-25 drops several times a day for one month.
2. Take 130 ml of hawthorn, motherwort, valerian and peony add 45 ml of eucalyptus, 15 ml of corvalol, echinacea and mint. Mix and add 10 finely chopped clove buds. Leave the solution to infuse for a week. Take several times a day for one month.
3. Grind two lemons, add a head of garlic (chopped) and pour in one glass of cold water. Allow to brew in the refrigerator for several days. Strain and drink one tablespoon three times a day.

The above recipes must be discussed with your doctor in case of a blood clot in the heart. Symptoms may not appear immediately, but you need to start taking care of your health right now.

Surgeon intervention

A planned operation is also a kind of treatment if the blood clot comes off or there is a very high risk of its displacement.

Methods of surgical intervention:

• Stenting (heart vessels dilated with a surgical stent).
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (there is an improvement in the movement of blood flow in the myocardium due to the fact that a new way is created to bypass the clogged vessel in the heart).

Symptoms of a blood clot in the heart in women and men are similar. The only difference is that the weaker sex suffers 6 times more often than men.

Recovery period

It is quite difficult for the patient to cope with the postoperative period. Surgery is the cause of psychosis and depression. It is necessary to monitor and support the patient, as he is unable to cope with some little things on his own.

Specialists make up a certain diet and physical (minimal) loads. Complications can occur in the form of bleeding, pain in the area of ​​surgery, renal failure, vasoconstriction, or heart rhythm disturbance. The rehabilitation period depends entirely on the patient. When new symptoms of a blood clot appear in the heart, the necessary medications are prescribed.

Expert Advice

It is necessary to monitor your health. Cardiology doctors advise:

• pay attention to any changes in your body;
• do sport;
• lead a healthy lifestyle (give up bad habits);
• eat properly.

When the first signs of a blood clot appear in the heart, it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately.