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Did you know that an embolism in the heart can cause an unexpected stroke?
The flow of blood is vital in our body, however, a little misfortune can lead to unexpected disasters. When an embolism, a substance that causes a blockage, enters a blood vessel and becomes lodged, it can cause serious consequences, even a stroke. This article takes a closer look at the formation of emboli in the heart and the mechanisms by which they may lead to stroke.
What is embolism?
Embolism is a pathological event, usually caused by disease or trauma. The source of an embolism may be many types of material, including blood clots (thrombi), fat globules, bubbles of gas, amniotic fluid, or other foreign matter, which may cause partial or complete blockage of blood flow.
Such a blockage may affect a part of the body far from where the blockage originated, most commonly in a stroke caused by a blockage from the heart or carotid artery.
Classification of embolism
Depending on where the embolism enters the circulatory system, embolism can be divided into two categories: arterial embolism and venous embolism.
Arterial embolism
Arterial embolism may cause blockage anywhere in the body and is one of the leading causes of tissue death. When an embolism blocks a blood vessel in the brain, it inevitably leads to an ischemic stroke.
For example, atrial fibrillation or endocarditis can cause blood clots to form in the heart, which can enter the bloodstream and cause an unexpected stroke.
Venous thrombosis
Emphasis that forms in a vein and travels through the right ventricle to the lungs usually results in pulmonary embolism. Almost all pulmonary emboli are caused by deep vein thrombosis, most commonly in the femoral vein.
Paradoxical embolism
Paradoxical embolism, or cross-embolism, occurs when an embolism originates from a vein and enters the arterial blood system. This often occurs in the setting of a heart defect, such as a septal defect between the atria or ventricles.
Directionality of embolism
The movement directions of emboli are mainly forward and retrograde. Antegrade embolism refers to the movement of the embolus in the direction of blood flow, whereas retrograde embolism refers to the movement of the embolus against the direction of blood flow. These differences in direction are crucial to the effects and consequences on different parts.
Risk Factors for Embolism
Certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation, significantly increase the risk of embolism. For example, atrial fibrillation increases the chances of blood clots forming, particularly in the left atrium of the heart.
In patients with heart disease or angina, left ventricular aneurysms after myocardial infarction also increase the risk of embolism, especially in patients with anterior myocardial infarction.
Treatment and prevention
Because embolism can cause serious health problems, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Your doctor may recommend anticoagulant medications to prevent blood clots from forming or, in some cases, embolization to treat a tumor or stop bleeding.
Each embolism or thrombosis in a blood vessel is a health warning that cannot be ignored, because they can directly affect our quality of life and even endanger our lives. When we understand the formation, types and consequences of embolism, we may pay more attention to our health.
So how can you better protect yourself from these potential health threats?
