Dorothy FarrarEmbolism
The term embolism comes from the Greek word embolus , which means something like: vascular plug or peg. Blood vessels that are clogged or closed with substances such as air bubbles or blood clots can no longer ensure adequate blood and oxygen supply to the body. This is referred to as an embolism.
What is an embolism?
An embolism is a partial or complete blockage of blood vessels, which is associated with complications. The occlusion occurs by loosening a clot of blood, which is carried through the blood vessels until they become too narrow for the clot.
As a result, these vessels become blocked. Depending on where this plug detaches, different organs are affected by the embolism. The consequence of the embolism is an infarction , which leads to necrotic tissue death.
causes
Due to certain causes, an embolism is also referred to as a disease of affluence. Particular risk factors for an embolism are, for example, sitting for too long. Obesity , smoking and diabetes as well as heart disease also increase the risk of an embolism.
However, the causes of an embolism have not been fully clarified. Since the embolus is loose, solid material, it is assumed that fresh blood clots in particular can cause an embolism, since the proportion of loose material is particularly high here and there are no scarring changes.
A distinction is made between venous and arterial embolism, with arterial embolism probably being mainly caused by heart disease, while venous embolism is caused by blockage of the pulmonary artery.
Different types of embolus can trigger an embolism:
- Riding Embolus : Gets stuck at the junction of two vessels
- Septic Embolus : Contains bacteria and can lead to purulent infection
- Metastatic Embolus : Formed from tumor cell complexes
Other factors that can lead to an embolism are parasites, air and fat droplets.
When to the doctor?
A doctor must be consulted as soon as circulatory disorders occur. If you feel numb on the skin or in the limbs, there is not enough blood flow. If your fingers or feet are unusually cold and pale, the blood supply is also cut off. There is cause for concern, so a doctor’s visit is necessary. A racing heart or a feeling of pressure in the heart area are also considered disturbing symptoms. Therefore, they must be examined and treated by a doctor.
If there is a disturbance of consciousness or a loss of consciousness, an emergency doctor must be called immediately. Until it arrives, first-aid measures must be taken. Adequate ventilation must be ensured. An emergency doctor must also be called in the event of sudden shortness of breath, heartbeat interruptions, a circulatory collapse or acute disturbances in alertness.
Dizziness , nausea, malaise, weakness and lack of strength are among the symptoms that require medical examination and treatment. If the symptoms persist over a longer period of time or if they increase in intensity, a doctor should be consulted. It is also necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible if the person concerned develops signs of paralysis. Inexplicable pain in the body or dysfunction of individual systems must be treated by a doctor.
symptoms and course
Depending on the location of the embolism, this leads to different symptoms. Symptoms that almost always occur are severe pain and loss of function of the affected organs. If the affected parts are the extremities, this is noticeable by a lack of pulse in the extremities and by a lack of feeling up to paralysis. In addition, the extremities appear cold and pale.
In the case of an embolism in the brain, the so-called stroke , paralysis and loss of consciousness occur. In the case of a pulmonary embolism, on the other hand, acute shortness of breath , collapse of the circulatory system and tachycardia can occur. The further course of an embolism can always be associated with complications, which can lead to loss of extremities, paralysis and death. In principle, anyone who has had an embolism can be affected repeatedly.
Diagnose
The diagnosis of an embolism is usually made based on the existing pain and symptoms. Depending on the type of embolism, different doctors treat it. However, if it is an absolute emergency, admission to a hospital is unavoidable.
When first diagnosed, the patient usually expresses severe pain, no pulse, pale skin and temperature differences. Furthermore, a diagnosis using ultrasound methods and nuclear medicine examinations is possible. These include double sonography, angiography and lung scintigraphy.
During angiography, a contrast agent is injected into the bloodstream. Using this contrast medium, it is now possible to display the blood vessels by means of X-rays and to determine a blood vessel occlusion. In the case of scintigraphy, on the other hand, a weakly radioactive agent is administered, which can indicate an embolism through its distribution in the body.
treatment and therapy
If an embolism is diagnosed in the extremities, treatment is carried out using anticoagulants and the extremities are positioned low and softly. A decision must then be made as to whether additional drugs are to be administered to treat the embolism or whether an operation is necessary.
If an attempt is made to dissolve or remove the clot, it can be removed using a catheter. Common treatment also includes painkillers that are given to the patient. Further treatment of the embolism usually takes place in the hospital. This stay is often associated with the intensive care unit, since in some cases it is necessary to prevent a lack of oxygen and, if necessary, artificial respiration is carried out.
Acute treatment of the embolism is followed by treatment with agents intended to inhibit coagulation. This treatment can take place over a longer period of time, up to lifelong. It is important here to regularly adjust the remedy based on the Quick value in the blood. If this measure does not help either and the embolism occurs again, a cava shield is implanted. The Carva umbrella is a kind of sieve that is placed in the vein to prevent further thrombosis and embolism.
prevention
To prevent embolism, any risk factors should be avoided as far as possible. Sufficient exercise should be ensured on long flights and car journeys.Sufficient fluid intake can also counteract embolism. In addition, obesity, smoking and high blood pressure should be avoided.
After childbirth and operations, support stockings (compression stockings) should be worn to prevent an embolism from occurring in the first place.
In addition, counteracting medication such as anticoagulants such as heparin and phenprocoumon or taking acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is possible to reduce the risk of an embolism.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.