How long for clots to dissolve

When the blood supply to the heart or brain is completely blocked by the clot, a part of these organs can be damaged as a result of being deprived of blood and its nutrients.

The risk factors for developing a venous clot are different from those for an arterial clot, and people at risk for getting one are not necessarily at risk for getting the other. Different risk factors or events can cause unnatural clotting; however, each factor may initiate clotting in a different way. There are molecules in your system that signal your body to let it know when, where, and how quickly to form a clot, and genetics plays a role in how quickly your body reacts to these signals.

Certain risk factors, such as obesity, slow the flow of blood in the veins, while others, such as age, can increase the body's natural ability to clot. Even certain medications can affect how quickly your blood clots.

In addition to knowing your risk factors, it is also important to be aware of the symptoms of blood clots, which vary depending upon where the clot is located:. Blood clots are treated differently depending on the location of the clot and your health. If you are experiencing symptoms and suspect you may have a blood clot, see a doctor immediately. There have been many research advances that have improved the prevention and treatment of blood clots. Some current treatments include:.

If you are diagnosed with a venous clot, your doctor may refer you to a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in treating blood diseases. However, people typically start to notice improvements in their symptoms once treatment begins. Usually, people can resume normal activities few days after starting medication.

Any pain and swelling will also improve within this time. Some people may not need to stay in the hospital at all, while others may require 1 week or more. A study looked at the length of hospital stay in cases of pulmonary embolism in Italian hospital patients. A study suggests some people with low risk pulmonary embolism may not require hospitalization. The study looked at adults with acute low risk pulmonary embolism. The study participants stayed in the hospital under observation for 12—24 hours, before undergoing outpatient treatment with blood thinning medication.

After a day follow-up, no deaths or repeat blood clots had occurred. One participant experienced significant bleeding. Overall, however, participants reported a high satisfaction level with the care. After a pulmonary embolism, people may need to take blood thinning medication, or anticoagulants, for 3 months or longer.

People will need to take blood thinners exactly as prescribed until a doctor decides they are no longer at risk of another blood clot. In some cases, people may need to take these medications for much longer than this or for the rest of their lives. Anticoagulants do not dissolve the existing clot, but they prevent more from forming. Deep-vein thrombosis is initially treated with an anticoagulant. Today there are many choices, such as one of the newer oral direct acting agents, intravenous heparin or subcutaneous low-molecular weight heparin or fondaparinux.

Anticoagulants can stop a DVT from getting larger and can prevent new clots from forming. Use of these drugs substantially decreases the risk of developing a pulmonary embolism. Studies have had mixed results. However, they are sometimes considered in people with massive leg clots to prevent long-term leg swelling and pain called post-phlebitis syndrome.

This helps keep blood and fluid from pooling in your lower body. A review followed 1, people before and after having surgery. The researchers found that only 9 percent of people who wore compression stockings on the day before or on the day of surgery developed blood clots. Thrombolytics are medications that dissolve blood clots. You can receive them through an IV, or directly into a blood vessel through a catheter. Currently, doctors use thrombolytics including:. A thrombectomy is a procedure where a surgeon removes a blood clot directly from your blood vessel.

You might have a thrombectomy to remove particularly large clots or clots that are causing concerning symptoms. A vena cava filter is a device that prevents blood clots from passing through the major vein that leads to your heart called the vena cava. A blood clot should be assessed and treated by a medical professional. If you try to dissolve a blood clot at home, it may take longer for you to get proper medical treatment.

This can increase your risk of developing a potentially life threatening condition. Talk with a doctor before making any dietary changes, since some foods and supplements may interact with anticoagulant medications. If your risk of developing another blood clot is low, your doctor may prescribe you 3 months of anticoagulant medication, as recommended by the American Heart Association.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommends the following habits for preventing blood clots:. Deep vein thrombosis can lead to a potentially life threatening condition called pulmonary embolism if the clot leaves your legs and reaches your lungs. The CDC says that about a third to half of people with deep vein thrombosis also develop a condition called post-thrombotic syndrome.

This condition happens when the valves in your blood vessels become damaged.