Unfortunately, most Americans eat meals that are heavy on saturated fats and salt and drink lots of empty calories, contributing to heart disease and strokes.
Blood Clot Formation
Blood has to flow freely through arteries, veins and organs, then back to the lungs and heart. But if there is damage to the skin or blood vessels, blood then has to solidify, or clot, to stop the bleeding.
A blood clot begins with platelets, tiny components that gather at the site where the blood vessel damage occurred. The platelets clump together to form a plug, which reduces bleeding. The platelets also release a chemical that starts the blood clot formation process.
Once started, blood clot formation must be controlled and stopped before it can cause more harm than good. Natural anti-clotting substances are released to counteract a clot from extending beyond helpful boundaries.
As damaged tissue heals, the body slowly breaks down the clot and the body reabsorbs it.
Common Causes of Blood Clots
Atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the arteries is a major cause of artery damage and clots; diabetes; obesity; smoking; pregnancy; HIV treatments; heart failure; atrial fibrillation, which is an arrhythmia which causes blood to pool in the upper chambers of the heart, possibly causing blood clots to form; and organ transplants or dialysis shunts are all possible reasons for blood clots.