What is the Best Treatment for Blood Clots?

Managing Blood Clots: Effective Treatment Options Explained

Blood clotting is a natural process that helps prevent excessive bleeding after a blood vessel injury. However, it can become a serious issue when it blocks blood flow in the blood vessels. Blood clotting conditions can cause death if it gets neglected in the long term.

Heart attacks and strokes are major complications of untreated clotting. Medications, often a combination of drugs, are the most common treatment, but the choice depends on the clot’s location and severity.   

Signs and Symptoms of Blood Clots in Different Body Parts

The table below shows major signs of blood clotting occurrence in the body:

Diagnosis of Blood Clots

Laboratory tests help diagnose clotting. These are:

• Ultrasound Scan helps to display blood flow while moving through a vein.
• D-dimer Test shows levels of D-dimer measurement, where a high D-dimer level indicates clots.
• A CT scan provides a clear image of clots in blood vessels and lungs.
• Angiography visualises blood vessels to identify clots or blockages.
• MRI also helps to display clots in blood vessels.
• A ventilation/Perfusion Scan is an ideal diagnostic process for assessing air \flow and blood flow in the lungs.

Best Treatment Options for Blood Clots

Overall health and blood clotting status help to decide treatment options.

Anticoagulant Medications

Unfractionated heparin, often combined with antithrombin, prevents the formation of new clots. Otherwise, blood-thinning drugs, including betrixaban, edoxaban, apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran, can be prescribed orally. Proper dosage and regular use of these medications help to thin the blood and prevent further clotting.

Thrombolytics

Thrombolytics are also drugs recommended for specific patients with large blood clots that have failed to respond to anticoagulant drugs. This drug helps to dissolve all blood clots in the body.

Compression Stocking 

This is an elasticated stocking to prevent clots from deep veins in the legs and arms. Compression stocking allows blood to move or flow from the lower legs towards the heart, which helps to relieve painful and swollen blood vessels.

Vena Cava Filters

The Vena cava is a large vein that is present in the abdomen and transports blood from the lower body to the lungs and heart. In this treatment process, the surgeon inserts a filter in the vein and removes clots.

Surgical Thrombectomy

Surgical thrombectomy helps to dissolve large blood clots from arteries or veins and improve the nearby tissues.   

In some cases, blood clots cause life-threatening challenges, but several oral medications and surgery successfully prevent them from blocking blood vessels. Doctors diagnose serious health conditions through different lab examinations, such as the D-Dimer test, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and angiography. Anticoagulant medication, a combination of blood-thinning and clot-dissolving drugs, is a better treatment option.

Also Read:

→ Can Blood Clots in The Brain be Cured

→ Will an MRI Show a Blood Clot in the Brain

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