When a person dies suddenly during or shortly after long-distance air travel, a likely cause is ‘thrombosis’, the blood clot that kills. Similarly, when a person dies suddenly while recovering from a surgical operation, a likely cause is thrombosis.
Where does this clot come from, and what causes it? Normally, blood does not clot until it is outside a blood vessel, but when the circulation is slowed down or stagnant, or when there’s injury to the blood vessel, the blood begins to clot while still in the vessel. So, anything that slows down the circulation of blood – such as sitting for hours or lying in a hospital bed for days – could cause the blood to clot. Such clotting usually happens in a leg. It could get dislodged and carried in the blood stream to the lungs, resulting in severe chest pain and, with a sizeable clot, sudden death.
Awareness of thrombosis, among both the public and health professionals, is low. Today, World Thrombosis Day, affords us an opportunity to raise this awareness. For more information on how thrombosis is caused and what should be done to prevent it, visit the PROTRAIN (Promoting Awareness of Thrombosis in Nigeria) page at www.facebook.com/prevent.thrombosis
Leroy C Edozien
Ubili Ka Nkwu Ahaba
#ubilikankwu
#thrombosis
#WTD
#worldthrombosisday
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