I have to admit that what I said earlier was not to be interpreted as some criticism of people that are ill. If Zakk is ill then he is ill. The timing was bad from my point of view. Zakk is my age so the level to which he is ill is quite unusual. While you can get blood clots at an early age the average is 52 years of age. That's why it seems unusual to me. Here is some data about blood clotting.
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Blood clotting is a natural process in which blood cells and fibrin strands rapidly form a clump to stop bleeding after a blood vessel has been injured. Eventually the clot will form a protective scab over a wounded blood vessel, allowing it to heal. If the body did not have the ability to form blood clots, people would bleed to death after even a minor cut.
Sometimes, however, blood clots form even when a person has not been injured. Although most blood clots tend to dissolve on their own with no long-term problems, there are situations in which blood clots can cause medical problems. Blood clots become dangerous when they block blood flow through an artery or vein.
When a blood clot blocks blood flow to an artery in the heart or brain, a heart attack or stroke may result. Blood clots can also block veins and arteries throughout the body, causing diseases that range from varicose veins to a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
Physicians treat blood clots with a variety of methods. Medications such as anticoagulants (which help prevent blood clots) and clot busters (which help to dissolve blood clots) are prescribed to prevent and treat blood clots. In more serious situations, physicians might opt for a catheter-based procedure, which uses a long, thin tube called a catheter, or even surgery to remove the clot (thrombectomy). In addition, devices may be implanted into certain blood vessels to catch blood clots before they can cause serious damage. Blood clots are formed by the process of coagulation - the blood’s natural tendency to clump and plug an injured blood vessel. Blood clots are made of blood cells and fibrin strands. They serve a valuable function in wound healing and stopping the flow of blood after an injury.
For example, when a person is cut, blood flows from the injured blood vessel for a short period. However, the clotting process begins almost immediately. During this process, blood platelets first gather at the site of the injury and form a loose plug. These platelets release a number of chemicals that enhance and promote blood clotting. Once the loose platelet plug is in place, a mesh of fibrin forms to create a stronger blood clot. This blood clot will remain in place as the tissue injury heals. After it heals, still other chemicals are responsible for dissolving the clot. This process of forming and dissolving blood clots is called hemostasis.
Blood clots are rarely dangerous on their own. As part of the body’s natural healing mechanism, clots that have formed for whatever reason are usually dissolved (lysis) and reabsorbed by the body without danger or need for intervention.
They can be dangerous, however, when they form within arteries and veins and obstruct the normal flow of blood within the body. Dangerous blood clots can form after surgery or in response to traumatic injury, such as auto accidents.
They can also form as a result of the gradual buildup of plaque within an artery (e.g., atherosclerosis) or other diseases. Blood clots can form in any vein or artery in the body, including the coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood, the veins in the legs and the arteries that supply the brain with blood (e.g., carotid arteries).
Blood clots may also be formed by or in association with:
Atherosclerosis
Heart attack or stroke
Valvular heart disease
Heart failure
Infection
Cancer
Autoimmune disorders (e.g., lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
Bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia)
Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)
History of varicose veins or other vascular conditions
Pregnancy
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Thrombocythemia (in which greater numbers of platelets are produced)
Atrial fibrillation
In addition, there are a number of risk factors that can increase the chances of developing a blood clot. These risk factors include:
Smoking
Elevated levels of homocysteine (homocysteinemia), which may be treated with diet and folic acid supplements
Obesity (body mass index greater than 30)
Prolonged lack of exercise
Use of contraceptive pill or patch
Advanced age
Genetic factors (e.g., inheriting a tendency to develop deep vein thrombosis)
Sitting or laying in one position for a prolonged period of time
Having a mechanical heart valve
Hypercoagulable state, where genetic (e.g., Factor V Leiden) or acquired (e.g., trauma, pregnancy, Heart failure) factors affect blood clotting due to abnormal levels of blood-clotting proteins
Clot Location Possible Symptoms
Lung Sharp chest pain, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), blood-tinged coughing (hemoptysis), shortness of breath (dyspnea) and low-grade fever.
Arm or Leg If the blood clot is in an artery, it may cause sudden pain, swelling and a slight blue coloration. If it is in a vein, it may cause swelling and tenderness.
Brain Visual disturbances, weakness, seizure, speech impairment (could lead to stroke or transient ischemic attack).
Heart Chest pain (could lead to heart attack). Blood clots that form in the heart can also travel to any organ or artery in the body. Conditions that can lead to blood clots forming in the heart include atherosclerosis, valvular heart disease, past heart attack, enlarged heart, atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Abdomen Severe abdominal pain, vomiting and/or diarrhea
Source:
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/blo ... ageNum=2#2