DR MAXWELL ADEYEMI
Reports of people developing blood clot after receiving certain brands of covid19 vaccines has continued to make the headlines. So far, few people have developed blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, leading to the temporary suspension or limited use in some countries.
Recently, more people have been talking about the link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare blood clot in the brain. While some countries have halted the use of these vaccines, some jurisdictions have continued to administer them. The general understanding so far is that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in protecting against the coronavirus outweigh any risks.
Covid19 infection can also cause blood clots. These clots are owing to widespread inflammation that takes place in the endothelial cell that lines inner surfaces of the blood vessels, especially as the patient becomes critically ill. Close to 20 per cent of covid19 patients develop blood clots while about 0.4 per cent of those who take the vaccine may develop clots. Therefore, the fear of blood clots should not prevent anyone from taking vaccines on offer in their respective countries.
Don't let fear of blood clots deter you from getting any vaccinated against covid19.
A blood clot is a gel-like clump of blood. Clots form whenever the skin is cut to plug the injured area and stop the bleeding. When clots are formed within a blood vessel they can be very dangerous, as they can block blood flow. These clots typically occur in people who are bedridden, hospitalised, or have medical issues related to inflammation, infection or cancer. Inactivity, long flights, smoking, and obesity can also predispose people to clots.
Clots can form for a number of reasons, including medication, lifestyle factors and other health conditions, and they can occur in different parts of the body. Medications like birth control pills and some HIV treatments list blood clots as a potential side effect. Conditions like autoimmune disorders, pregnancy and cancer have also been associated with clotting. There are several different variations of blood clots, each with its own set of concerns and options for treatment.
Blood clots can cause severe harm or be fatal if left unaddressed, and they can originate in the veins or arteries. There are two main types of blood clots to be aware of, each leading to its own set of potential complications. One type is called a thrombus, which is a stationary clot. These block blood flow in the part of the body where the clot occurs. The other type, called an embolus, is a blood clot that can break loose. These are particularly dangerous because they can travel to other parts of the body like the heart or the lungs and cause severe damage.
The symptoms of blood clots vary, depending on the type. When the clot is stationary, like deep vein thrombosis (a clot in the leg), you may experience warmth and redness where the clot is located, typically in the leg or the arm, swelling, pain near the site o
