A hypercoagulable disorder is an inherited or acquired condition that increases the risk of excessive blood clot formation. When a blood vessel is injured, it begins to leak blood either externally or into the tissues. The body stops the blood loss through a complex clotting process.
Hypercoagulable disorders occur when something goes wrong with a step in the clotting process. If the clotting process is flawed, there can be inappropriate and/or excessive blood clot formation. Blood clots may break off and travel to another part of the body where they can block blood vessels.
Certain genetic mutations can predispose someone to hypercoagulable states. Other disorders that can cause hypercoagulable disorders are liver disease and some cancers. Hypercoagulable disorders can sometimes be managed with medications.
