Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Major causes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

A potentially life threatening medical condition, deep vein thrombosis happens when a blood clot or a thrombosis breaks loose in one of the deep veins. The clot can go on to cause blockages, and it may also travel to the lungs which causes a pulmonary embolism.

While a DVT mostly affects the lower extreme parts of the body such as calf area, or foot, it can also affect pelvis, thighs, and sometimes, even arms.

A clot can severely damage an organ and sometimes may even result in death of tissue or even the death of the patient. If left untreated, this medical condition can result in potential health related complications. A deep vein thrombosis can travel to the heart, lungs or any other body organ as well.

People who go under the knife for surgery have an increased risk of having an embolic event. Any surgery that reduces the flow of blood to body parts can cause this condition. Some major surgeries that involve operation of hip, leg, abdomen, chest, calf, or knee may cause it. 

A blood clot is like the body scabbing internally.  If a scab is outside the skin it stops the blood from hemorrhaging out of the body and there is no consequence except perhaps an unsightly scab. If the scab is internal and is large enough it can restrict the flow of blood in the body and thereby have an embolic event.

However, surgery is not the only reason behind DVT. Some other health conditions and treatments can also cause deep vein thrombosis. Take a look at the major ones:
  • Cause of using hormonal birth control pills like yaz leads to deep vein thrombosis
     
  • Injuries that reduce the blood flow to body parts
     
  • Cancer
     
  • A family history, personal medical history or Consumption of yasmin can cause pulmonary embolism
     
  • Paralysis due to spinal cord injury
     
  • An inherited condition where chances of blood clotting are higher
    Hormone therapy
     
  • Pregnancy or going through C-section to give birth
     
  • Inflammatory bowel diseases
Most blood clots or DVT go away with 6 months to a year of surveillance and treatement.  The treatment almost always involves the use of blood thinners, like Xarelto, Cumadin, Pradaxa, Lovenox, which thin the blood and dissolve the clot.
  • Swollen, painful or twisted veins also known as varicose veins

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Types of Strokes and Their Reasons

When blood supply to the brain is reduced or interrupted due to any reason that is when a stroke occurs. This medical condition leaves the brain deprived of enough nutrition and oxygen necessary for proper functioning that cause the cells to start dying.

A stroke can happen because of some blocked artery or due to a burst or leaking blood vessel. Sometimes the supply is interrupted only for a brief duration, which is called TIA or transient ischemic attack. Many reasons can be responsible for this medical condition, but you were on a hormonal contraceptives like Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi or Beyaz you should consult with a lawyer to see if you can file a lawsuit against its manufacturing company by hiring a Yasmin lawyer.

Ischemic stroke:

This is the first type, which covers almost 85% of such cases. This condition occurs when brain arteries get clogged or narrow, which reduces the flow substantially. This is further divided into two types namely thrombotic and embolic.

The first one occurs when a thrombus is formed in one of the blood carrying arteries to the brain. Clot can be a plaque (fatty deposit) which narrows the path for blood to travel. The second type occurs when some debris or clot is swept by the steam of blood and deposited in a narrow artery in the brain.

Hemorrhagic stroke:

This one occurs when a blood vessel gets ruptured, or begins to leak. Hemorrhages can be caused due to any condition that affects the blood vessels such as high blood pressure or aneurysms. Sometimes arteriovenous malformation is the reason behind it, but that happens in very rare conditions. It is also divided into two types:

Intracerebral hemorrhage: In this medical condition, one of the vessels in the brain gets bursts and the blood is spilled in the surrounding tissues damaging other cells. Vascular malformations, consuming blood-thinning medicines and hypertension are a few risk factors that can cause intracerebral hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage: In this condition, an artery either near or on the brain surface gets burst and spills blood in the space between skull and brain. A sudden onset of acute headache may indicate this problem.

This type of hemorrhage is mostly caused when a small berry-shaped or sack-like outpouching (aneurysm) is ruptured. The hemorrhage causes vasospasm in which blood vessels become erratically narrow or widened. Vasospasm further limits the flow of blood and the cells begin to die.

Sagittal Venous Thrombosis may also occur which could as the name suggest be caused from clogging of the veins rather than the arteries.

A Stroke is a serious matter and if you suspect you have any symptoms related to a stroke you should consult a physical immediately.  Blood thinners may have to be administered ASAP to work through the clot.  Certain blood thinners like Xarelto may lead to their own complications, so discuss with your physician all your options.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Important Information about Pulmonary Embolism!

The internal clotting of blood is known as a Deep Vein Thrombosis.  If you think about when you have a cut on your scan a scab appears, when the blood clumps internally it is often referred to colloquially as a blood clot.  A blood clot formation in the lungs is known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). It can be caused or risk of one can be increased by:
  • Injury
     
  • Surgery
     
  • Family History of Blood Clot Disorder
     
  • Smoking (Another reason to quit)
     
  • Regular use of hormonal contraceptives
Yes! Frequent consumption of hormonal contraceptives like Yasmin, Yaz, Ocella, Beyaz or Gianvi can cause pulmonary embolisms. In some cases, individuals may suffer a stroke or even can have a yaz related death. In case you know someone who had suffered from a birth control injury, you must suggest for them to consult a yaz lawyer to discuss the options for compensation. 

A PE originates deep in the veins and affects various areas and functions in our body, which may include:
  • Permanent damage to the lungs
     
  • Lower oxygen levels in the body
     
  • Damage to lung tissues
     
  • Effect on other vital organs of the body
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism:
  • Breathing problem
     
  • Shortness of breath
     
  • Excessive sweating
     
  • Rapid heartbeat
     
  • Chest pain
     
  • Discolored skin
     
  • Fainting
     
  • Swelling in leg
     
  • Coughing up blood
     
  • Dizziness
If you or anyone you know has been experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms, immediately consult a doctor, because if ignored, a pulmonary embolism can be life threatening.  Some of these symptoms are co-extensive with a DVT, which should be treated immediately as well.

During diagnosis, doctors first examine the legs because a PE originates in the legs. The area that is tender, red, and warm is likely to have deep vein clot, which further has a risk of traveling to the lungs and creating the pulmonary condition. Various blood tests, X-ray, ultrasounds may be used as a diagnostic tool and blood thinners such as Cumadin, Wayfarin, Xarelto, Pradaxa, Lovenox may be prescribed to thin the blood.

How to prevent PE?

Prevention is better than cure, they say. By making few necessary changes in lifestyle, one can lower the risk of having a serious event. Here are few of the most required changes:

  • Eat healthy (lots of vegetables and fruits) and drink a lot of water.
     
  • Exercise regularly in order to stay healthy and fit.
     
  • Ask your doctor to test you for any blood clot disorder before using hormonal birth control
     
  • Quit smoking
     
  • During long travel make sure to stretch every few hours.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Important facts and details about PE!

People experiencing shortness of breath, or pain in the chest should promptly communicate their symptoms to a medical professional who will need to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism, which is often abbreviated as a PE.  If a pulmonary embolism is left untreated it can cause the death of lung tissue and/or complete organ failure and death.

There are many reasons that can be responsible for the onset of this condition. However, one of the reasons behind it is often times elective hormonal birth control pills. Contraceptives can cause Yaz death and PE.

It is often difficult to diagnose this problem, and may be missed in some cases. That is why strategies for diagnosing each patient should be individualized.
If Birth Control Pill is the reason you suffered from a pulmonary embolism, you should consider filing a lawsuit by hiring a Yasmin lawyer.

The treatment for this embolic events is generally anticoagulation therapy. A person may have to continue this treatment for several months. One should look forward and consider preventative measures to avoid a PE altogether. Bearing these factors in mind will help you cut down on the risk factors of this health condition. Certain factors that can minimize the risk of PE are to keep a healthy BMI, avoid cigarettes, and with extended travel make sure to stop often and stretch.  Speak with your physician about the alternative hormonal birth control products as some products like Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi, & BeYaz carry a greater risk of PE’s than others.  Males supplementing with Low-T hormones such as Androgel and Axiron are also at risk for hormonally triggered PE’s as well.

What does a pulmonary embolism entail?

Lungs are the human body organs that perform the function of exchanging carbon dioxide and oxygen through the process of breathing and blood flow. Lungs comprise of a group of alveoli (small air sacs) which are divided by an elastic and thin wall called membranes.

Capillaries, the blood vessels are placed between alveoli and membranes, and allow air and blood to remain in contact with each other. The small distance between blood filled capillaries, and lungs allows the molecules of carbon dioxide and oxygen to move across membranes.

Venous and arterial system assists in the exchange of air between blood and lungs. Both veins and arteries carry blood across different body organs.

If one of the veins in the body forms a blood clot called thrombus, there are chances that it might break down and get into the circulatory system. It can then embolize or travel through heart, lungs, and go on to block any of the pulmonary arteries inside the lungs.

Arteries supply blood to the lungs but an embolus may clog it and restrict it from being able to supply the blood. Not only does this type of blockage prevent the process through which blood acquires oxygen, but it also slows down the supply of blood to lung tissues, causing infarct (the process when lung tissues begin to die).