Contents:
- Medical Video: 5 common signs of Blood Clots
- What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
- Effect of height on the risk of deep vein thrombosis
- Why are people with high bodies more at risk of developing blood clots in the legs?
- What can be done to prevent DVT if my body is high?
Medical Video: 5 common signs of Blood Clots
Having a tall body like a supermodel is the dream of many people. But unfortunately, behind all the "luxury" of being tall, there are health risks that lurk. Large tall men, for example, are reported to be at greater risk of death from malignant prostate cancer. There is one more health risk that can specifically approach people who have towering bodies - blood clots in the legs, aka deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
The risk of blood clots is lowest in women and men who are short in stature, and can increase with increasing height. Blood clots are actually normal, but they can be fatal if they are diagnosed too late and not handled properly.
What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
When there are foreign substances or particles that prevent blood from flowing normally or freezing properly, this can cause blood clots. Chemical imbalances in the blood clotting process can also cause blood to clot. In addition, the problem with the venous valve also makes it difficult for the blood flow to return to the heart so that it may clot in the middle of the journey back.
Blood clots that occur in one of the large blood vessels in the body are referred to as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT usually occurs in leg veins, especially the thighs or calves. Deep venous thrombosis sometimes occurs for no apparent reason. However, the risk of developing DVT increases in certain situations. For example, when you sit too long. This causes blood to gather around the ankle and cause swelling to varicose veins, which then leads to blood clots.
Clotting blood is normal and basically harmless. Usually, your body will naturally dissolve blood clots. But when blood clots don't go away and eventually drift away to other parts of the body, this can be dangerous.
Blood clots in the leg that move the lung block can cause pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is the most serious complication of DVT and can be fatal if you don't get medical help as soon as possible. Blood clots in the lung can cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. Large clots can cause lung damage, and result in heart failure. About one in 10 people with untreated DVT can cause severe pulmonary embolism.
When a blood clot in the leg is released towards the heart or brain arteries and clogs it, it can cause heart attacks and strokes when a blood clot suddenly breaks.
Effect of height on the risk of deep vein thrombosis
A study in Sweden involving more than 2.5 million people born between 1951-1992 found that the risk of blood clots was reduced by 69 percent in women who were shorter than 155 cm compared to women higher than 185 cm. The risk of blood clots in men is reduced by 65 percent, whose height does not exceed 160 cm compared to men whose height is more than 190 cm.
In men, the relationship between height and blood clots affects the risk of deep vein thrombosis in the legs and pulmonary embolism. Whereas in women, only affects the risk of deep vein thrombosis in the legs.
Researchers also found a significant association between the risk of blood clots and height among siblings. They found that among siblings of the same sex, the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was much lower in siblings who were shorter than 5 cm compared to their siblings.
Why are people with high bodies more at risk of developing blood clots in the legs?
This difference in risk can occur because a higher individual has a longer blood vessel in the leg, so that there are more areas of blood vessel surface where problems can occur.
Gravity can also play a role in this blood clotting. The high blood vessels of the person receiving more gravitational pressure can increase the risk of blood flow slowing down or stopping temporarily. Slow blood flow increases the risk of blood clots forming.
What can be done to prevent DVT if my body is high?
Height is one of the risk factors that we cannot change. To reduce the risk or avoid the disease, there are other factors that we can still do, such as a healthy and balanced diet, physical activity or regular exercise, not smoking, and not drinking alcohol.
