Bleeding Time Test (PCT)
The blood clots in your body are caused by a number of different things. Some of these causes include:
1. Heart attack or stroke 2. Blood clot from a cut 3. A tumor 4. An infection 5.
Other 6. Your own fault 7. Drugs 8. Diet 9. Exercise 10. Smoking 11. Alcohol 12. Weight 13. Sunlight 14. Stress 15. Lack of sleep 16. Excessive exercise 17. Low vitamin D 18. Poor diet 19. Chronic stress 20.
As mentioned above, there are several types of blood clots. They may be small enough to pass through the skin without causing any problems. Others may cause symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting. Still others may not cause any symptoms at all but they will still result in death if left untreated.
What Is The Best Way To Prevent Blood Clot?
It is always best to consult your doctor, especially when you experience the symptoms mentioned above. This will allow the doctor to run a series of tests to determine how serious the problem is and how best to treat it. In many cases, it may be a minor condition that has been caused by something as simple as dehydration or poor diet. It is also possible that the blood clot has formed due to reasons unrelated to your lifestyle.
If you determine that you want to prevent blood clotting on your own, start by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Alcohol should also be limited or avoided altogether. Even if alcohol is not a major part of your life, it still has a dehydrating effect that can be dangerous if consumed in excess. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night and make sure you are getting adequate amounts of physical activity during the day.
Stay away from tobacco products and be sure to get regular medical checkups. If you have been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, ask your doctor if any precautions need to be taken. This includes everything from asthma to cancer. Eating a diet that is high in fiber and low in red meat can also help prevent blood clots, as can regular exercise.
What Is The Bleeding Time Test?
The bleeding time test is a simple medical procedure that checks how long it takes a patient’s blood to clot. In most cases, this test is used to help determine if a patient is at risk of developing a blood clot. By determining how long it takes for the patient’s blood to start clotting, the doctor can see if there are any existing issues with their blood’s ability to clot normally. The factors affecting bleeding time normal range are:
1. Age 2. Gender 3. Marital status 4. Ethnicity 5.
Physical activity 6. Body mass index 7. Diurnal variation 8. Medication 9. Recent surgery 10. Venous disease 11. Trauma
It should be noted that this test may not be accurate for everyone. In fact, there are instances where it is completely unnecessary. For example, anyone who has had recent surgery should most likely have their bleeding time tested. On the other hand, someone who has had a full physical just last week may not need to have this test performed if they are not experiencing any bleeding issues.
How Is It Done?
In most cases, the doctor will prick your finger and allow a drop of blood to fall onto a special device that measures how long it takes for the blood to clot. This usually takes no longer than 5 minutes.
What Does It Signify?
The information gathered by this test can be used to determine if the patient is at risk of developing a blood clot or heart attack. If the patient’s blood takes longer than normal to clot, this may signify that they are at risk for certain conditions. It is also worth noting that someone who experiences bleeding within their throat or nose after minor trauma could be suffering from an internal blood clot.
Do I Need To Follow Up If The Test Is Negative?
Most doctors will advise patients who have negative results to come back for a follow-up test in six months. This is typically done to ensure that the patient’s blood is still clotting normally.
What Should I Do If I Have A Positive Result?
Anyone who has a positive result should contact their doctor immediately. They will want to run more extensive tests to ensure that you are not at risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the near future. Depending on your age and other risk factors, your doctor may want to put you on blood thinning medication such as Warfarin.
Follow Up Questions
What if I have a minor bleed such as a nosebleed or bleeding gums and my blood takes longer than normal to clot?
Although this may be alarming, there are several potential explanations for this. For example, some over-the-counter medications such as NSAIDS can slow down the clotting time of your blood. Other common activities such as exercise can also temporarily increase the rate at which your blood clots. If you have recently engaged in one of these activities when you noticed a change in your bleeding time, it is probably not worth being concerned about.
Does this mean I am going to die soon?
There are a lot factors that determine whether or not you are at risk for a fatal blood clot. While one factor may increase your chances such as prolonged bed rest after surgery, other factors may decrease your chances such as regular physical activity. While there are tests to determine whether or not you are at high risk of a blood clot, your doctor needs to rule out other potential causes before making any final determination.
What should I do if my bleeding time is three times as long as normal?
This could be a sign that you are at risk for dangerous blood clots. However, this could also indicate something else is going on such as the fact you are taking blood thinning medication that you really shouldn’t be. Before making any major changes to your lifestyle, it would be best to see your doctor to rule out other potential causes.
Are there any over-the-counter products I should avoid if I learn I am at high risk of a blood clot?
Over the counter pain medication is a common cause of excessive bleeding. Depending on your condition, you may want to avoid taking any non-aspirin products until you have consulted with your doctor.
Sources & references used in this article:
Bleeding time and bleeding: an analysis of the relationship of the bleeding time test with parameters of surgical bleeding by R De Caterina, M Lanza, G Manca, GB Strata, S Maffei… – 1994 – ashpublications.org
The preoperative bleeding time test lacks clinical benefit: College of American Pathologists’ and American Society of Clinical Pathologists’ position article by P Peterson, TE Hayes, CF Arkin, EG Bovill… – Archives of …, 1998 – jamanetwork.com
The bleeding time as a screening test for evaluation of platelet function by LA Harker, SJ Slichter – New England Journal of Medicine, 1972 – Mass Medical Soc
The bleeding time as a preoperative screening test by A Barber, D Green, T Galluzzo, CH Ts’ ao – The American journal of …, 1985 – Elsevier
A critical reappraisal of the bleeding time. by RP Rodgers, J Levin – Seminars in thrombosis and hemostasis, 1990 – europepmc.org
