Explainer | Coronavirus-induced blood clots: what to know if you have diabetes, hypertension or other health issues
- Blood clots in legs, lungs, kidneys, heart and even fingertips have been reported in some Covid-19 patients
- Singapore medical experts say being physically active and drinking water could minimise this risk
Blood clotting is the body’s mechanism to stop bleeding after an injury. However, clots that are formed can be life-threatening if they travel and affect blood flow to organs such as the lung, heart or brain and cause a stroke or heart attack, for example.
While excessive blood clotting has been seen in young and previously healthy people diagnosed with Covid-19, reports suggest those living with pre-existing chronic health conditions that affect the blood vessels – including diabetes, hypertension and a history of venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the veins) – may be at an even higher risk.
In patients infected with the Covid-19 disease, clots in the blood vessels in the legs, organs such as the lungs, kidneys and heart and even fingertips have been reported.
In Singapore, the phenomenon has been observed in critically ill coronavirus patients, too.
Some Singapore medical experts tell us more on the potentially deadly Covid-19 complication, and how people living with pre-existing conditions can protect themselves.