Simple ways to prevent clots in legs and pulmonary embolism

Simple ways to prevent clots in legs and pulmonary embolism

കാലുകളിൽ രകതം കട്ടപിടിക്കുന്നതും പൾമണറി എംബോളിസവും തടയുന്നതിനുള്ള ലളിതമായ വഴികൾ

Pulmonary embolism is obstruction of blood vessels of the lungs by clots carried by blood circulation, usually from the legs. It is a serious life threatening condition and hence trying to prevent it is very important. Blood clots can also migrate from blood vessels of the tummy, but that is not easy to prevent.

Blood clots can form in the veins or blood vessels returning deoxygenated blood to the lungs for enrichment with oxygen. Though the heart pumps blood to the whole body, it has no mechanism for bringing the blood back to it. This work is usually taken care of by muscles in the other parts of the body. When you move your limbs, the muscles contract and compress the veins which are thin walled blood vessels. This helps to return the blood returning from the cells of the body after usage of oxygen, back to the heart. Muscles in the legs have the most important role in this as they are much powerful than the muscles of the arms.

When this function is lost as when you are bed ridden after an operation, delivery or any major illness, blood can stagnate in the veins, mostly of the legs and tummy. This leads to clot formation in the veins. Tendency for clot formation can increase in the body after an operation or delivery as a protective mechanism to prevent blood loss. Women taking birth control pills have also been known to have higher clotting tendency. Clots can also form in the leg veins when you sit crouched up for a long period as during long haul flights. Occasionally this may occur if you travel in a car with very little leg space for prolonged period as well. In case of flights it has been called ‘economy class syndrome’ as the leg space is less in economy class compared to business class.

So it is quite clear that the simplest way to prevent clot formation in the legs is to move them as much as possible. In a person who is walking about, you don’t have to bother about it as it comes naturally! But when you are bed ridden or crouched up in a vehicle, you have to do it with a conscious effort. Though it is quite simple to do, the benefits are much more than you think. Movements of ankles can be easily done during travel. Whenever possible, move your knee as well as it involves more powerful muscles and can pump more blood back to the heart. Same applies to persons taking rest for medical reasons. You can move your ankles and knees as many times are humanly possible. Of course, those who have a fracture in the leg bones will have difficulty in doing this and doctors will prescribe blood thinners to prevent clots. Other methods used to prevent clots while in hospital are specially made compression stockings and mechanical devices using a cuff which will intermittently compress the legs by inflating them.

In a bed ridden person at home who cannot move the legs due to weakness, caregivers can take turns in moving the legs as much as possible to prevent clot formation. This is highly effective if you are a motivated care giver. Of course, medical advice should be sought in those with fractures and other diseases of the legs as to how much passive movements can be given and how to avoid pain during movements. In all medical situations, please ask your doctor during hospital stay itself about these aspects so that care can be made appropriate to the individual. Simple movements of the ankles which can be done even by a frail care giver like the spouse of an old person also goes a long way in preventing blood clots in the legs. Remember that by preventing blood clots in the legs, you are preventing a life threatening disease called pulmonary embolism, in which oxygen level of blood can fall markedly. As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure!