Learning from Ambassador Holbrooke’s Death

Our nation is reacting with shock and sadness to the unexpected death of renowned diplomat Richard  Holbrooke, who died on Monday evening after surgery to repair a torn aorta.  Early reports from the State Department suggest he suffered a blood clot on Friday, and some reports suggest that he had suffered from, and been quietly treated for, blood clots in the past.

When public figures die, their passing can create heightened public awareness of medical conditions that need immediate attention.  Blood clots are serious matters, and even when successfully treated, they should cause us to be extremely vigilant and make appropriate lifestyle changes.

Simply put, blood clots are clumps that form when blood thickens from a liquid to a solid.  Clots can attach to a blood vessel and partially or completely prevent the normal flow of blood in that vessel. Clots can also migrate to other areas of the body, often from the lower leg to the heart, lung or brain. Left untreated, blood clots can cause very serious problems and can be fatal. One estimate suggests that blood clots are responsible for 90 percent of all heart attacks.  

What causes a blood clot?  

The causes vary:  sometimes, clots are related to genetic diseases, old age, surgery, body trauma, heart attack, respiratory conditions, or childbirth.  Other causes are more condition-based and controllable:  prolonged sitting (e.g., long plane or car rides), prolonged bed-rest or periods of immobility, and obesity.   Our bed-ridden loved ones must be continually monitored for blood clots.  But make no mistake:  as our society has become more sedentary and as our nation battles an obesity epidemic, we should all take more preventive measures:  better diets, regular exercise, and alertness to symptoms. 

How can you tell when you have a clot?

If you have the type of clot that can cause a heart attack, the most recognizable symptom might be chest pain – but not all clots cause chest pain.  Some will experience a tightness in the chest, pain in the jaw or shoulders, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating and even fainting.

If you have the type of clot that causes a pulmonary emboli (a clot in the lung), you may experience shortness of breath, sharp pain with your breathing or coughing up bloody sputum. 

If you have the type of clot that can cause a stroke, you might feel the loss of sensation on one side of your body or face, headaches, confusion,  garbled speech,  a loss of balance or coordination, or even blindness.

If you have a blood clot affecting your leg, you might experience swelling, inflammation, redness, warmth, or tenderness in the leg, sharply shooting pains especially when you flex your foot, or a dull ache or throb in your calf particularly when walking.  If you have these symptoms do not massage or rub your leg vigorously.

Any one of these symptoms is sufficient cause to consult your physician.  Do not wait.  Blood clots can be treatable, as long as they are not ignored.