Blood Complications

Blood is the most important fluid in your body! Remember that your respiratory system exchanges oxygen and gases through your airways and lungs, which allows you to breathe. How do you think that happens? Through your blood! But blood doesn’t just circulate oxygen to your lungs; it does that throughout your body. And your blood is what transports nutrients, enzymes, and hormones to different parts of your body. You can see the critical role your blood plays in your survival. COVID-19 infections can affect the blood; thus, making it hard to do one or more of its functions. Survivors report these blood complications.

Blood Clots

Blood clotting is one of the most serious long-term complications of COVID-19. We classify blood clots in one of two ways – thrombosis or embolisms. Thrombosis can happen when there’s damage to a blood vessel. And the blood clots part of your system. On the other hand, embolisms typically start as blood clots in the lower extremities, and they break off and travel to other parts of your body. The COVID-related blood clot is considered thromboembolism. Healthcare providers see this type of blood clot in people with severe COVID-19 infections. However, people with preexisting health conditions are also at risk. Blood clots can also increase your risk of having significant health issues and complications, such as stroke, blood disorders, and pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the veins of your heart). COVID-19 infections increase the risk of another kind of blood clot. These blood clots are a bit different. They are caused by inflammation. They block the small veins in your body. And they happen throughout your body.

Signs of Blood Clots

• Shortness of breath
• Chest or leg pain
• Trouble moving certain parts of your body, like your legs
• Swelling or tenderness in the area of the clot