Prevention of thrombosis
According to medical statistics, no fewer people die from the consequences of thrombosis than from car accidents. The same number of patients become disabled after separation and movement of a blood clot through the blood vessels. Blood clots that block blood vessels are formed after a heart attack, injury, or acute infectious disease. Even a successful delivery, a brilliantly performed surgical intervention can provoke the formation of a blood clot. That is why effective preventive measures can save many lives and preserve the health of potential patients.
Content:
- How does thrombosis occur?
- Basic prevention measures
- How to reduce the risk of thrombosis after surgery?
- Special diet to prevent thrombosis
- Top 5 foods prohibited for deep vein thrombosis:
How does thrombosis occur?
The site of localization of thrombosis can be veins, arteries, capillaries. A blood clot is a dense blood clot that has formed in the heart cavity or in the lumen of a blood vessel. Thrombus formation was formed in the course of evolution as a defense mechanism that prevents a person from dying from blood loss as a result of spontaneous trauma.
Factors that increase the likelihood of blood clots:
- Elderly age;
- Increased blood clotting, thick blood;
- Increased cholesterol levels;
- Hereditary predisposition;
- The use of hormonal drugs;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- Prolonged stay in a static position;
- Injuries with damage to blood vessels;
- Overweight;
- Smoking, alcoholism;
- Hypothermia;
- Oncological pathology;
- Diseases of blood vessels, hematopoietic organs.
At the first stage of the pathology, a small blood clot forms on the wall of the blood vessel. Over time, it increases, clogs the lumen of the vessel - such a dangerous disease as secondary thrombosis is formed. If for some reason a blood clot breaks off from the wall of a vein or artery, it enters the pulmonary artery with the blood flow, causing pulmonary embolism. This condition is fatal in most cases.
Changes in the structure of blood proteins (thrombophilia), violation of the integrity of blood vessels due to mechanical damage, varicose veins, the consequences of atherosclerosis - all these conditions can become a trigger for the formation of thrombosis.
Basic prevention measures
Before you outline ways to prevent thrombosis, you need to assess your predisposition to thrombosis. In the presence of negative heredity, a biochemical and molecular genetic study of blood should be performed to calculate the likelihood of thrombophilia. At risk are those who have at least one factor predisposing to thrombus formation. The optimal age to start preventive measures is after 40 years for men, after 50 years for women.
A set of preventive measures:
- Refusal of a sedentary lifestyle, a forced long stay in a static position. Correct organization of the workplace, physical education, industrial gymnastics, dynamic pauses every 45 minutes of being inactive at the workplace.
- Refusal from the use of nicotine and alcohol to improve the composition of the blood, prevention of heart and vascular diseases.
- Failure of a relationship of tight, crushing clothing and shoes.
- Prevention of immobility when traveling by plane, during car and bus travel - change of posture, comfortable shoes and clothes, periodic exercise of small amplitude for knee and ankle joints.
- Wearing compression stockings, tights, golf.
- Protection from heat or cold, refusal to take hot baths, prolonged exposure to sunlight.
- Compliance with a special diet.
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Medication support in case of overload, increased risk of thrombus formation - the use of anticoagulants, bioflavonoids, antiplatelet agents, vitamin B 12, B 6, nicotinic and folic acid. All medications are prescribed by the attending physician.
How to reduce the risk of thrombosis after surgery?
Regardless of the presence or absence of provoking factors, thrombosis prophylaxis is performed in all patients undergoing surgery.
Preventive action:
- Use of minimally invasive techniques with minimal blood loss and tissue trauma.
- Patients wearing compression hosiery.
- Special pneumatic foot massage.
- Stimulating the patient to get out of bed early, walking after surgery.
- Psychological preparation of the patient, mood for a successful outcome of treatment.
If the risk of thrombus formation is identified, patients of the surgical department are given a course of modern anticoagulants of a new generation. Medical protection is indicated before and after surgery.
Special diet to prevent thrombosis
The main goal of a diet with an increased risk of blood clots:
- Maintaining the elasticity of blood vessels
- Prevention of atherosclerosis,
- Reducing cholesterol levels,
- Decreased blood viscosity,
- Improving immunity.
To solve these problems, they actively include fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, cereals, dairy products, lean meat, vegetable oils in the menu. Fiber and soluble plant fibers help to lower cholesterol levels and stimulate proper digestion.
To increase the saturation of the diet with omega-3 fatty acids, the menu includes sea fish of fatty breeds, fish oil. This nutritional strategy results in lower blood viscosity and triglyceride levels. Using garlic, ginger, vegetable oils for dressing dishes will help to normalize blood circulation and blood density.
To reduce the likelihood of blood clots, you need to actively include flavonoids in the menu. Most of all, their concentration is in red grapes, grape juice. Just 100 ml of dry red wine can cover the daily requirement for flavonoids.
To strengthen blood vessels, prevent the development of ischemia and atherosclerosis, improve immunity, it is recommended to include coarse flour, all types of vegetable oils (olive, corn, sunflower, linseed), flax seeds, avocados in the diet more often.
Prohibited products:
- Butter and margarine;
- Fatty meats;
- Hard fatty cheeses;
- Chocolate, cakes, sweets;
- Smoked products.
Foods consumed in limited quantities:
- Sugar;
- Refined flour;
- By-products;
- Carbonated drinks;
- More than 3 egg yolks per week.
From the remaining products, you can easily make up a complete diet of tasty and healthy dishes.
Top 5 foods prohibited for deep vein thrombosis:
Top 5 foods prohibited for deep vein thrombosis:
- On the 5th place are animal fats, meat and smoked meat delicacies, which create difficulties for the liver.
- On the 4th place are extracts, coffee, chocolate, which stimulate the sympathetic-adrenal system, which provokes thrombus formation.
- On the 3rd place are apples, cabbage and legumes, provoking gas formation and impaired blood outflow from the vessels of the legs.
- In second place are foods high in vitamin K (lettuce, spinach, beef liver), which promote hypercoagulability and reduce blood clotting time.
- On the 1st place among the prohibited products is any type of alcohol, the use of which disrupts liver protein synthesis, stimulates dehydration, fatal with an increased risk of blood clots.
More than 70% of the adult population are at one way or another at risk of thrombosis. Understanding the reasons for its appearance, knowledge of measures to prevent pathology will help prevent the negative consequences of thrombus formation.
The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist
Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003, he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.
