Skip main navigation

New offer! Get 30% off one whole year of Unlimited learning. Subscribe for just £249.99 £174.99. New subscribers only. T&Cs apply

Find out more

Understanding blood clots

This video demonstrates how blood clots occur and explains the damage that they cause

This week we’ve been learning about different heart and circulatory diseases. Although given separate names, diseases can be very closely linked. For example, blood clots are a major cause of both heart and circulatory diseases.

Blood clotting is a vital function which your body relies upon to repair wounds. Without it, even a small cut could leave us in danger of bleeding to death. Thanks to blood clotting, a paper cut is a mild annoyance rather than a serious injury.

Blood clots in your blood vessels can be caused by many things. For example a build-up of fatty material which narrows the vessels and stops blood flowing properly. In arteries that supply the heart, a blood clot can cause a heart attack. In arteries that supply the brain, a blood clot can cause a stroke.

This article is from the free online

It Starts with Your Heart: Understanding Heart and Circulatory Diseases

Created by
FutureLearn - Learning For Life

Reach your personal and professional goals

Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.

Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.

Start Learning now