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The Mechanics of a Crisis: Thrombus vs. Embolus
To understand the warning signs, one must first understand the enemy. A blood clot, or thrombus, occurs when blood components—primarily platelets and fibrin—coalesce into a gelatinous mass inside a vein or artery. This mass creates a physical blockage, starving downstream tissues of blood. The real danger arises when a piece of this clot breaks free; it is then termed an “embolus.” An embolus can travel through the bloodstream and lodge in vital organs, leading to catastrophic events such as a pulmonary embolism (PE), a myocardial infarction (heart attack), or an ischemic stroke.
