Blood clots
What are blood clots? They are masses of blood, called plaques, which appear in the heart or—more significantly in terms of Angiocode tests—in blood vessels.
Platelets
Clots usually consist of platelets, parts of bone marrow cells also called thrombocytes, white blood cells, and red blood cells. The main function of thrombocytes is preventing blood loss in case of mechanical artery damage. Besides, platelets transfer nutrients to the endothelium. Blood clots differ in composition and place of formation. In the core of a blood clot lies a lipid base—most often, cholesterol.
Thrombosis
Thrombosis occurs when blood clots form inside blood vessels and break off. After such a rupture, the plaque content is expeditiously released into the arterial lumen, after which it blocks the vessel. Depending on the location, the process may spiral into a heart attack or stroke. It's important to distinguish a rupture and detachment of a blood clot. If a blood clot detaches, it remains complete and starts traveling along the vessels with the blood.
Thrombosis may occur due to increased blood coagulation and slowed blood flow—these are characteristics of the blood, but not the blood vessels. On the other hand, thrombosis is a product of atherosclerosis or endothelial dysfunction—these factors are related to vessels themselves. Blood clot formation may entail such repercussions as a heart attack or stroke.
Basically, thrombosis is a particular case of stenosis. As with stenosis, thrombosis leads to a deterioration of oxygen and nutrient supply, a local decrease in vascular elasticity, and deterioration of nitric monoxide synthesis.
How to identify signs of thrombosis?
AngioCode trackers help monitor arterial stiffness and thus timely detect the risk of thrombosis a few years before severe manifestations. A continuous deterioration of the arterial wall stiffness parameter may be a reason to see a doctor and perform tests in a clinical setting.