Ruptured Spleen

Overview

Your spleen is a tender, fist-sized organ in your upper left belly (abdomen). It’s primarily responsible for storing and filtering blood. It stores and filters 25% of your red blood cells and platelets at any given time, while helping to make white blood cells to fight infections. The inner “pulp” of the spleen that performs these functions is enclosed in a thin capsule of muscular tissue, with blood vessels passing through it.

The anatomy of your spleen makes it relatively easy to injure, especially by a blunt trauma to the outer capsule. If this capsule tears or splits, it’s called a splenic rupture. If your spleen ruptures, it’s the most likely of all of your abdominal organs to cause life-threatening internal bleeding. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency that requires swift diagnosis and intervention, and sometimes surgery.

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Symptoms

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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