For those over 50, one of the greatest threats to your longevity is also the underlying cause of most of the disability and death in people over 50, and that is thrombosis. Thrombosis is the formation of dangerous blood clots in the circulatory system causing a partial or total obstruction of blood flow to a vital organ, such as the heart, lungs, or brain. Blood must remain in a fluid state so that it can circulate freely. Each year, over a million people die from blood clots (thrombosis) and hundreds of thousands more are left disabled.
The risk factors for thrombosis increase clotting through one or more of these three mechanisms: a) damage to the blood vessel lining; b) impairment or slowing of blood flow; or c) conditions that promote blood thickening or coagulation. These risk factors include:
- Excess abdominal fat
- Hypertension
- Dysglycemia: Elevated fasting or excessive post-mealtime blood glucose or insulin
- Dyslipidemia: Elevated total cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), oxidized LDL, triglycerides, or low HDL (high-density lipoprotein)
- Chronic systemic inflammation: Elevated inflammatory markers (CRP, fibrinogen, homocysteine)
- Sedentary behavior
The above risk factors not only increase your chances of developing blood clots, these same risk factors also increase your chances of developing dangerous fatty liver disease (click here for more information).
Two common disorders that result from a blood clot in an artery are heart attacks and stroke. Two common disorders that result from a blood clot in a vein are deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary (lung) embolism. Arterial thrombosis chiefly involves platelet aggregation forming around damaged areas in the arterial system, or in response to an irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation, or around an artificial heart valve. Venous thrombosis usually occurs in response to hemostasis (reduction in venous blood flow) and hypercoagulability (propensity of blood to clot due to genetics, cancer, or prolonged sitting or standing).
Platelets in the arterial system become adversely activated when they bump into buildups of atherosclerotic plaque along the artery walls and interact with areas of the arterial endothelium (inner lining) that are injured or worn away. This can set into motion a cascade of events that can lead to blood flow being cut off to vital tissue, such as a portion of the heart muscle. In the venous system, blood flow can slow and begin to stagnate. If this happens for too long, blood within the veins can coagulate (clot).
Chronic systemic inflammation plays a key role in both arterial and venous thrombosis. Aging, obesity, and poor diet are the most common causes of this inflammation. Readily obtainable blood tests that can measure the amount of inflammation in your body are homocysteine, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen. Elevated homocysteine and C-reactive protein are associated with arterial thrombosis. Elevated fibrinogen is associated with venous thrombosis. Fibrinogen converts to fibrin that creates a fibrin mesh inside a vein. Platelets and red blood cells stick to this fibrin mesh and form a blood clot in the vein.
COMMENTS: Because your health and well-being are so important, we take our time to uncover and eliminate your risk factors for thrombosis. Sadly, many doctors are just too hurried to do this. Is your doctor one of them? Is the main reason that you stay with your doctor because he or she accepts your health insurance? If so, you should read my eye-opening blog on health insurance: Click here. If you truly value your health and well-being, you should consider our concierge medical service: Click here.
