The condition can pave the way for fatal complications if treatment is delayed.
Blood clots are usually the body's response to injury, but often their formation is unwarranted. In either case, the clot is unlikely to cause problems as long as it remains still and allows blood to flow around it. However, sometimes clots dislodge and travel to the lungs, causing a complete shutdown of oxygen flow (pulmonary embolism). Although blood clots usually form first in the lower extremities, they have also been known to affect the face.
A blood clot that forms on the face is medically called a cavernous sinus thrombosis; a life-threatening condition associated with multiple symptoms.
“The cavernous sinuses are hollow spaces located under the brain, behind each eye socket. The main blood vessel, called the jugular vein, carries blood through the cavernous sinuses away from the brain,” says cardiologist Oleg Varfolomeev, especially for MedicForum.
When a blood clot forms inside the sinus, this is usually due to the fact that that an infection has developed somewhere on the face or skull that needs to be localized.
However, “clots can form without infection.”
A less common cause of a thrombus in the cavernous sinuses is severe trauma that triggers blood clotting mechanisms. Regardless of the cause, a blood clot can cause immediate damage to the brain, eyes, and nerves that run between them. This is why 50% to 90% of patients experience visual changes first, including sensitivity to light or other visual disturbances.
Sharp chest pain during inspiration indicates a life-threatening blood clot
“Signs tend to be acute or more progressive over several or more days. Swelling or protrusion of the eyes can also occur in the case of cavernous sinus thrombosis. This is due to decreased drainage from the facial veins, resulting in fluid around the eyes. as a result, the eyelids may begin to droop.”
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One of the earliest and most reliable symptoms of the disease is a severe headache that worsens even with pain medication. Any delay in treating these symptoms can result in permanent damage to the brain and other organs.
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