Scientists have been concerned about the link between the coronavirus and blood clotting, but the anomaly has a variety of other reasons. Vitamin shortages, for example, have been found to cause problems with the body’s blood-clotting processes.

Clotting is a necessary part of the body’s natural response to injury in order to seal wounds and ensure survival. Clots can grow inside the veins and create blockages on occasion. This commonly occurs when a vein is injured or when a person sits for long periods of time. However, some nutritional deficits have been linked to blood clotting issues.

There are different types of blood clotting events, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute explains what makes each one unique.

“Venous thromboembolism, also known as blood clots, is a disorder that includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism,” says the health body.

“A deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis.”

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot breaks free and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, killing the patient.

A deficiency of vitamin D, according to WebMD, is one of the lesser-known causes of DVT.

“Researchers in one small study found that the vitamin D levels of 82 people who had DVT with no known cause were less than the 85 people who had never had DVT.

“Adults need 600 to 800 IU of the vitamin per day. You can get it from salmon, tuna, cheese, and egg yolks. Or spent up to 30 minutes in the sun twice a week. You can have your vitamin D level checked with a blood test.”

In 2018, the journal of Nutrition released a study that looked into the link between low vitamin D and the development of deep vein thrombosis.

Reduced vitamin D levels during the seasonal change from summer to winter were linked to an increased risk of VTE, according to the study, which lasted 30 years. Deficiencies in vitamin B12 and vitamin K, in addition to vitamin D deficiency, are known to affect the body’s clotting systems.

Vitamin K is essential for the body to create the protein required for the clotting process.

When levels fall below optimum, the body’s capacity to clot weakens, putting it in danger of severe bleeding.

Lack of vitamin B12, on the other hand, has been related to an increased risk of blood clots in the veins, according to population studies.

As explained by VeryWellHealth: “[…] Oxidative damage, which injures the blood vessels, makes them more likely to catch sticky material and blood, leading to blood clots and predisposing to bleeding.

“Therefore, vitamin B12 deficiency can be the culprit in a cascade of stroke inducing physiological events.”

DVT can also be caused by nearly anything that reduces blood flow through the arms and legs.

“Things that make blood more likely to clot, such as genetic disorders and cancer, are other triggers for deep-vein thrombosis,” adds Harvard Health.

Most blood clots can break up on their own if they don’t move around.

DVT patients typically have discomfort or tenderness in their limbs that does not improve with time.

The limbs may take on a crimson or blue tint, or they may become bloated and heated to the touch.

When a clot spreads from its place of origin to the lungs, the true danger begins.

Patients may have trouble breathing or cough up blood, and they must be treated with anticoagulants as soon as possible to survive.

Image Credit: Getty

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