The Prothrombin 20210 mutation is found in about 2% of Caucasian people and is very rare in other populations. It is regarded as a very minor risk factor for DVT or PE and only increases the risk of thrombosis about 2 fold. This is less than the risk of taking an oral contraceptive and is similar to the risk associated with smoking. In fact some people believe it is a normal … [Read more...]
Frivolous Friday – Cockney Rhyming Slang for blood
My mother has always told me that my brother is a Cockney as he was born at Westminster Maternity Hospital which was then within the "sound of Bow Bells" - in earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow in London's East End. As an aside, these same bells are claimed by some to be the bells that caused Dick Whittington to "Turn again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London" Cockneys … [Read more...]
In case of emergency – Open Fridge!
You may remember us saying that Angela's parents (aged 85 and 86) emigrated from UK to New Zealand in September last year. They have settled very well into a retirement village and follow all the recommendations put to the residents. I thought one of these recommendations was such a good idea that I'd share it with you all and that is to keep health details readily available in … [Read more...]
The ‘F’ Words of Coagulation – Coagulation Science
A few weeks ago we started a series on the science of coagulation with a post on Taking the Pxxs. This was about the first stage of clotting called primary Haemostasis. In this post I am going to introduce the next phase. If you have ever studied any physiology and had to learn about blood coagulation I suspect you found it a bit complicated. I know from teaching medical … [Read more...]
Frivolous Friday – “bloody-minded”
Maybe Friday is a good day to cover the meaning of "bloody-minded" Who hasn't known work colleagues who are "deliberately uncooperative" by the week's end? Or may be felt that way themselves? We're looking at some common figures of speech that include the word 'blood'. Last week's was"My blood froze" Apparently "bloody minded" is a British colloquialism which doesn't always … [Read more...]
Getting travel insurance after a pulmonary embolism
In May last year, I posted about our problems getting travel insurance as Paul has had multiple pulmonary emboli. This time it proved even harder as we were going to America, to take Noah to Disneyland as a special holiday to celebrate him turning 18 this year. I tried the companies that had been helpful before, but although they would insure us for travel to Europe, they … [Read more...]
Risk Factors: thrombophilia – Factor V Leiden
The factor V Leiden mutation is found in about 4% of Caucasian people; that is 1 in 25 people, which means you probably know somebody with this condition. Although it increases your risk of having a blood clot, the vast majority of people with this condition never have a clot. If 1 in 25 people had a blood clot I would be really busy! This mutation was discovered in Leiden … [Read more...]
Frivolous Friday – “my blood froze”
I thought it might be interesting to look at some common figures of speech that include the word 'blood'. "My blood froze" is a good start as we've just returned from a holiday to Disneyland where our children Noah and Lily met the characters from the movie 'Frozen'. Lily enthusiastically went forward to meet them but Noah became totally overawed and lagged behind until Ana … [Read more...]
Australian Open and pulmonary embolism
This week some big names were winners at the Australian Tennis Open. Roger Federer won his 18th Grand Slam at the ripe old age of 35 yrs and Serena Williams once again took the Women's title. I guess that most of my readers would regard the age of 35 as young, but in a high speed sport like tennis, Federer is getting a bit old to be playing at the top level of the game. He is … [Read more...]
Risk Factors: Thrombophilia – Protein S Deficiency
Protein S Protein S is another protein in the blood that works like a natural anticoagulant. It was discovered in Seattle, hence the name Protein S. Like Protein C and many of the clotting proteins it requires vitamin K for normal activity. It is present in the blood in two forms either bound to another protein called C4b-binding protein or as a free protein. Protein S works … [Read more...]