A blood clot is a mass of blood that has become a regular part because of the effect of proteins and other elements in the blood responsible for clotting. Clotting is a mechanism used by the body to stop bleeding after a person is injured. However, a clot of blood be harmful if it is under circumstances that allow you to block an artery or vein and blood flow to stop.If you are diagnosed with blood clots that are considered pathological or at risk for this type of blood clots, medication to prevent blood clots, called anticoagulants can be given to reduce the risk of clots. Coumadin ® (warfarin) is a common type of blood-thinning drugs.What is a blood clot?Clotting is a mechanism used by the body to stop bleeding. The first step in coagulation is the adhesion of platelets, which are fragments of blood cells that circulate in the blood, the edges of a damaged blood vessel. Thus, a platelet plug formed and the external bleeding stops. Here, small molecules, called clotting factors, called the cause strands of solid fibrin to form and stay together and attached to the inside of the wound. Finally, dissolve the healing of blood vessels and blood clots after a few days.A blood clot becomes harmful when it blocks an artery or vein and stops blood flow.The blood clot called a thrombus. Although a thrombus may occur in a vein, which usually occurs in veins of the leg and can travel through the large blood vessels in the pool of blood vessels in the lungs, where it can be fatal. Thrombus in the vein of the leg or pelvis is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).A thrombus that breaks out and pulls into the bloodstream is called an embolism. As it moves, which compromises blood flow and can lodge in smaller blood vessels and cause obstruction. For example, if an embolus blocks an artery in the lungs, a pulmonary embolism. (From the lungs is a medical term that means "relating to the lungs.")What are the signs and symptoms of thrombosis?Common symptoms of DVT are:* Pain in the calf or leg* Swelling*Sensitivity* Bleaching*bulging veins Common symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:* Coughing blood* Difficulty breathing* Chest pain, especially when you take a deep breath or coughLess common symptoms may include back pain, shoulder or upper abdomen, dizziness, fainting, painful breathing, a new onset of wheezing, and any new cardiac arrhythmia.A diver can also travel to the heart, brain or eyes. A blood clot in the brain can cause a stroke occurs. Embolism that blocks an artery in the heart can cause a heart attack. An embolus can cause sudden blindness in one eye. Embolism that blocks an artery is a potentially fatal disease. For this reason, requires symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or a stroke immediate attention.Who is most at risk of harmful blood clots?Several factors can increase the risk of blood clots. cancer patients have a higher risk. Other factors are:*decreased mobility, bed rest* Obesity* Advanced age* Chemotherapy* History of deep vein thrombosis* Fractures* Arteriosclerosis* Oral contraceptives (the pill)* Smoking* And acquired genetic diseases that affect the coagulationHow are diagnosed with blood clots?Ultrasound - The most common test to diagnose DVT is called ultrasound. This technique uses sound waves to evaluate blood flow in the veins. A gel is placed on the skin of his leg. A portable device is placed in the leg and passed and repassed on the affected area. This device sends sound waves from the leg to an ultrasound machine. A computer then creates a visual image based on the sound waves of different frequencies are recorded. The image appears on a screen, so the doctor to check blood flow in the leg.Venography - If the U.S. does not allow a clear diagnosis, venography can be performed. A venogram is an x-ray to examine the blood vessels. A dye is injected into a vein and an X-ray is taken of the bone. The color makes the vein visible on the radiograph. If the flow of blood in the veins are damaged, it will be shown on the x-ray.How are blood clots?If thrombosis is diagnosed or considered at risk for blood clots, blood-thinning medication to prevent blood clots were administered. Warfarin, a drug commonly used anticoagulant, is given in tablet form.Although treatment with warfarin is generally effective in most people with blood clots, may be less effective in patients with cancer. In addition, treatment with warfarin is complicated because anticoagulation is influenced by poor nutrition and poor liver function, which may be the most common problems in cancer patients. The low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is another type of anticoagulant medication. It is administered subcutaneously to block the clotting process.LMWH is similar to heparin, an anticoagulant that was discovered in 1916 and has been in use for many years. Heparin prevents the development of a blood clot, but does not affect the size of blood clots that have already been trained. Preparation of heparin heparin containing molecules of different sizes. LMWH is a preparation of heparin, which has been treated to remove most heparin molecules so that molecules of heparin are shorter. Two types of LMWH, Lovenox ® (enoxaparin) and Fragmin ® (dalteparin) is indicated for the prevention and treatment of DVT.