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Clots can contribute to neurodegenerative changes like memory loss
Former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli's medical examinations revealed clots in his brain, doctors treating him have revealed. According to news reports, Kambli was admitted to a private facility in Thane after his health condition deteriorated.
Doctors say the 52-year-old complained of urinary infection and cramps; however, after a series of examinations, the medical team supervising him found clots in his brain. While Kambli's health is being monitored, the former Mumbai-based batter has also had a history of strokes, according to the doctors.
Doctors, while expressing concerns over his frail health, said they also found a few old clots in his brain—likely residual effects from a prior stroke. Experts say over time, such clots can contribute to neurodegenerative changes – referring to progressive damage or loss of neurons and affecting functions like memory, movement, and coordination, as seen in his case.
What are blood clots?
According to doctors, a blood clot is a semi-solid mass of blood cells and other substances that form in your blood vessels. While these protect you from bleeding too much if you get injured or have surgery, you may develop clots for other medical conditions. When that happens, blood clots lead to symptoms that can be life-threatening.
Experts say blood clots are the first line of defence if something damages your delicate blood vessels. If you cut yourself from shaving, blood clots help stop bleeding after a few seconds or minutes.
You can develop a blood clot for other reasons, like not moving for a long time or having conditions that increase your blood clot risk. Made with platelets and fibrin—protein and small colourless fragments of cells that your bone marrow makes—these mostly seal injured areas of your blood vessels.
Where are the clots mostly located?
While blood clots can be there anywhere in your body, clots that happen in your veins may develop in your arms and legs causing deep vein thrombosis. Blood clots that develop in your arteries appear in your lungs, leading to pulmonary embolism and those that block blood flow to your brain can cause a deadly stroke. Blood clots in your heart can cause a heart attack.
What factors increase the risk of blood clots in the brain?
According to experts, there are many factors that may increase blood clot risk. A few of these include:
- Age, those above 55 years of age have increased blood clot risk
- Pregnancy
- Having obesity or being overweight
- Having cancer
- High alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
How can you prevent blood clots in the brain?
There are a number of ways to prevent and treat blood clots in the brain, including:
Lifestyle changes
Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and avoid smoking and excess alcohol.
Medications
Anticoagulant medications, also known as blood thinners, can prevent blood from clotting too easily.
Surgery
Mechanical thrombectomy can remove the blood clot from the brain
Stents
Small tubes can be placed in the brain's blood vessels to keep them open.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy helps improve mobility, strength, and coordination.
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