Blood clots form when blood and platelets stick together, a process called coagulation or clotting. Normal coagulation occurs when you suffer a cut or an injury and a blood clot forms to stop bleeding. A hypercoagulable state, or blood clotting disorder, is when a blood clot forms and blocks the flow of blood to parts of the body.
Blood clots can travel through the bloodstream and increase your risk for:
- Difficult or painful walking
- Loss of an affected limb
What are the causes and risk factors of blood clotting disorders?
These disorders are usually a genetic condition that is inherited. If your family has a history of hypercoagulable states, the team of experts in our Vein Program and Cardiogenetics Program will work with you to determine if you are at risk for developing the disorder.
Hypercoagulable states can also result from conditions that affect your body’s ability to form clots. Some of these conditions are:
- Blood infections
- Cancer
- Inherited blood disorders
- Pregnancy complications
- Severe trauma
Tests
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.
Fluoroscopy
A fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that uses a continuous X-ray beam passed through the body to create real-time, moving images of your internal structures.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets, and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.
Treatments
Our heart and vascular teams work together and with other specialties to develop and implement individualized plans to treat a wide variety of conditions. This could include lifestyle modifications, medication, or more advanced treatments.
Venous Blood Clots Treatments (Venous Thromboembolism)
Venous blood clot treatments may include medications or advanced catheter-based procedures to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Tamara Ashvetiya, MD
Cardiology
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Kathryn S. Beaudoin, AGACNP-BC
Cardiology
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Aimee M. Chappell, ANP-BC
Hematology Oncology
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Abigail Escalona Davenport, ACNP-BC
Cardiology
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Margaret Harvey Granitto, CRNP
Cardiology
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Kristina Marie Hidalgo, ACNP-BC
Cardiology
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Xi Lin, PA-C
Hematology Oncology
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Adinath A Patil, MBBS
Cardiology
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Colleen Ralph, FNP-C
Hematology Oncology
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Alexander Ryzhikov, MD
Cardiology
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Amish V Shah, MD
Cardiology
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Minal M. Shah, MD
Hematology & Hematology Oncology
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Jacquelyn Marie Smith, PA-C
Cardiology
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Lauren Marie Tracy, AGPCNP-BC
Hematology Oncology
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Newton Edison Andrews, MD
Cardiology
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Ieon Lloyd Osborne Dawson, MD
Cardiology
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Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.