British Heart Foundation: Understanding blood clots
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Anti-coagulants help dissolve clots by thinning the blood, but in recent years fruits have demonstrated similar effects. There is evidence that certain chemicals found in plants could inhibit the formation of blood clots, or dissolve existing ones. Although this could reduce the risk of future clots, fruits should not be used as substitutes for medical treatment.
According to the Vein and Vascular Institute, the most powerful plant-based foods to dissolve clots naturally may include bromelain and rutin.
Rutin intake, which can be found in apples, lemons, onions, oranges teas and supplements, was shown to prevent thrombi after injury in a 2012 study published in the International Current Pharmaceutical Journal.
Due to its good safety profile, the authors of the report concluded that it may serve as an inexpensive drug to reduce recurrent clots and help save thousands of lives.
The Vein and Vascular Institute encourages eating natural pineapple or taking a nutritional supplement with bromelain, for similar reasons.
The protein-digesting enzyme has been found in several studies to inhibit the formation of pro-inflammatory molecules.
It may also unleash effects that help clear the fibrin in blood clots, according to early research published in the journal of Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.
According to the health body, other foods and drinks that may help dissolve blood clots may include as garlic, kiwi, kale, spinach, red wine, and grape juice.
It cautions, however, that trying to dissolve a blood clot at home could take delay proper medical treatment.
This, in turn, could increase the risk of potentially life-threatening complications if the blood clots travel to other parts of the body.
How to prevent blood clots
While evidence suggests the above plant foods could reverse clotting complications, the best course of action is prevention.
Turmeric, which is packed with anti-inflammatory properties, is widely used for culinary and medicinal purposes.
The spice was highlighted in a review published in the EPMA journal in 2019 for its potent anti-platelet effects which could protect against future blood clots.
Platelet activation is one of the central mechanical processes involved in thrombosis.
These findings echoed earlier research published in the Journal of Cell Physiology, in 2017, which found that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, also acted as an anticoagulant, anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant agent.
According to the treatment, its use as a complementary therapy for treating blood clots needs further investigation, however.
Another superfood linked touted for its anti-coagulation effects is ginger, which contains the chemical salicylate.
This plant compound happens to be the main chemical from which aspirin is made.
Although the addition of these spices to the diet could lower the likelihood of blood clotting complications, certain behaviours also are worth avoiding.
Chronic sleep deprivation is an important risk factor in the development of metabolic and endocrine dysfunction, as has been shown by several scientific studies to interfere with the circulatory system.
Common causes for blood clots also include sitting for prolonged periods of time as this impedes blood flow.
Though blood clots are generally harmless when they’re stationary, this can change if they travel elsewhere in the body.
If a clot travels to the heart or lungs and causes a pulmonary embolism, it may produce
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Discomfort in the upper body, including chest, back, neck or arms.
The signs of a stationary blood clot will depend largely on the location of the clot inside the body.
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