Blood clots are gel-like masses of blood that are naturally formed in the body after an injury as a way for the body to prevent excessive bleeding.  The plasma protein and platelets work together to create a blood clot, and it dissolves after the injury is healed.

Yet, at times, clots form inside veins and arteries without injuries and they cannot dissolve on their own, leading to stroke or pulmonary embolism. This is a serious issue and requires an appropriate treatment.

Stroke kills more than 130,000 Americans annually, and about 87% of all strokes are ischemic when the blood flow to the brain is blocked. It is the main cause of serious long-term disability.

Blood clots can be of two types, arterial and venous.

Arterial Blood Clots

Arterial clots form in the arteries and restrict the flow of oxygen and blood and thus prevent them to reach the vital organs. They usually form in the feet and legs, as well as in the brain, leading to stroke or a heart attack. These are the symptoms of arterial clots:

Cold arms or legs

Weakness in the affected area

Color loss in the area

 Muscle spasms and pain

Fingers or hands that feel cold to the touch

Tingling or numbness in the leg or arm

The risk factors for arterial clots include obesity, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and a physical inactivity.

Venous Blood Clots

Venous blood clots develop slowly, usually after a surgery or trauma like a broken leg. They can be of three types, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and superficial venous thrombosis.

DVT develop in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis, as well as in the liver, brain, arm, intestines, and kidneys. PE blood clots have broken off the point of origin and can travel to the lungs, leading to fatal consequences. The last type forms near the surface of the skin, and lead to intense pain.

Painful vein, hard to touch

Reddened skin around the area

Painful, swollen or inflamed skin over affected vein

On the other hand, the symptoms of a blood clot depend on the area where it is located, and these are the most common symptoms:

Abdomen – Diarrhea, intense abdominal pain, vomiting

Brain – Dizziness, sudden headaches, weakness of the face, arms or legs, difficulty speaking, vision problems

Lung – Sharp chest pain, sweating, fever, racing heart, shortness of breath, coughing up blood

Arm or Leg – Sudden or gradual pain, swelling, tenderness, and warmth

Heart – Nausea, shortness of breath, chest heaviness or pain, discomfort in other areas of the upper body, sweating, light-headedness

According to Mayo Clinic, “seek emergency care if you experience:

Cough that produces bloody sputum

A fast heartbeat

Lightheadedness

Difficult or painful breathing

Chest pain or tightness

Pain extending to your shoulder, arm, back or jaw

Sudden weakness or numbness of your face, arm or leg

Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding speech (aphasia)

Sudden changes in your vision

Consult your doctor if you develop these signs or symptoms in an area on an arm or leg:

Swelling

Redness

Pain. ”

Fortunately, you can prevent blood clots and lower the risk of stroke by making even minor changes to your lifestyle and diet. As reported in an NPR article:

“[The] scientists dug into a large study that tracked 30,239 people to see how much improvement it takes to prevent stroke…The good news is it doesn’t take much to make a difference.

Each risk factor for stroke was scored from 0 to 2, with 0 being crummy, 1 kind of OK, and 2 terrific. Even a one-point improvement in the total score across all seven factors significantly reduced stroke risk.

Each improvement of a point on the 14-point scale meant an 8 percent reduction in stroke. ‘The neat thing of this finding is that anything makes a difference… If you make a small change, you make an improvement,’ Lackland says. ‘If you make a bigger change, you make a bigger improvement.’

To prevent blood clots, you need to follow these tips:

-Avoid smoking, as it raises the risk of blood clots

-Exercise regularly, and stretch the legs after prolonged periods of sitting

-Avoid GMOs, sugars, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, trans fats and refined carbohydrates

-Avoid hormone medications, blood pressure, and cancer medications as their raise the risk of blood clots 

Here are the most powerful natural blood thinners and supplements:

-Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that supports vascular health

-Natural antibiotics like onions, garlic, and olive oil prevent thrombosis

-Omega 3 fatty acids found in walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and fish

-Vitamin E  prevents oxidation, so boost the intake of foods like avocados, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, almonds, kiwi, and butternut squash.

-Gingko decreases fibrin content which is vital in the formation of blood clots