A stroke is ischemic rather than hemorrhagic; it is caused by blood clots that block one of the arteries of the brain. This typically occurs in the carotid arteries, but can also happen within the basilar, cerebral, and vertebral arteries. Treatment is focused on restoring blood flow to the brain while preventing existing blockages from enlarging.

Addressing Immediate Symptoms Of A Stroke

When you suffer an ischemic stroke, immediate medical care is critical to minimize brain injury and any resulting impairments. Upon your arrival at the hospital, the medical team’s main priority is to normalize your vital signs. They will monitor your blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate, and if necessary, will introduce medications to help stabilize them. Once your vitals have been brought under control, and the severity of the blockage has been determined, the priority shifts to acute stroke therapy.

Dissolution Of Blood Clots In The Brain

Because a stroke can cause brain cells to die within minutes, therapy often begins with thrombolytic medications. These include tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and similar drugs that are designed to dissolve clots.

The drawback to thrombolysis is that the medications pose a high risk of internal hemorrhaging. For this reason, your doctor will perform a computed tomography (CT) scan to check for bleeding near the brain prior to starting therapy. If there is no bleeding, and other risk factors (e.g. seizures, history of bleeding, etc.) are nonexistent, your doctor will proceed.

The drugs are introduced through a catheter, which is inserted near the groin and advanced to the site of the clot. A device on the tip of the catheter may be used to partially break it apart. Then, tPA is injected to dissolve the remaining mass.

This form of treatment is most effective when the medications can be delivered within three hours of the first symptoms. As time passes, their effectiveness declines. Hence, the drugs are rarely given after eighteen hours have passed.

Preventing The Stroke From Worsening

In some cases, your body may be unable to tolerate tPA and other thrombolytic drugs. As an alternative approach, your doctor may administer anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications. The purpose of these drugs is to slow the rate of coagulation in your blood. This prevents new clots from forming and existing clots from growing larger.

If your doctor has administered thrombolytic therapy, you will likely be given anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs as a long-term treatment measure. They are usually given twenty-four hours following the introduction of tPA into your bloodstream since they, too, pose a risk of internal bleeding.

Surgery To Remove The Obstructing Clots

If thrombolytic drugs are insufficient for dissolving a clot – or therapy is contraindicated – a procedure called carotid endarterectomy can be done. This is an operation during which your doctor will remove the clot from the affected carotid artery. It is usually performed while the patient remains awake so the doctor can monitor brain activity.

A small incision is made into the back of your neck near the obstruction. Another incision is made into the blocked artery. The clot is removed and the two entry points are closed. The entire procedure can be completed within two hours. The risk is that your doctor may inadvertently dislodge other clots, and thus trigger another stroke.

Nuvaring stroke problems are varied and largely unpredictable. Even after the affected lobe of the brain has been identified, the nature and severity of the side effects may remain a mystery. If you have suffered blood clots or stroke after using contraceptive ring, find out about your legal rights. Contact a Nuvaring lawsuit attorney to discuss your options.

The veins and arteries carry blood throughout the body. If an object forms in the bloodstream, it can travel back to the lungs and creates a blockage. The lungs cannot get blood, and that lack of blood and oxygen causes serious damage to the cells in the lungs.

PE can be caused by tissue, fat or air bubbles in the bloodstream, but the most prevalent cause of a PE is a blood clot. Blood clots may form in the lower extremities, although some may form in the heart as well. Blood clots are more likely to form in older people, but can occur in anyone. Those with heart malfunctions or recent surgery have a higher risk.

Blood clots are may form in healthy people as a result of inactivity, such as in a long plane ride. They may form in pregnant women as the weight of the baby on the pelvis can slow down the flow of blood, making it more likely to clot. Those who are dehydrated may develop clots because the blood has thickened.

It can also occur in those who use estrogen medications. Women who use NuvaRing contraceptives have had a higher incidence of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms because of the way the birth control medicine affects clotting. These Nuvaring side effects can sometimes result in life-threatening situations if the blood clot breaks free and travel to the lungs or brain.

Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism

When a blood clot has not yet reached the lungs, a person may not even be aware of any symptoms. However, she may notice warmth, pain or swelling in the area of the clot, which typically occurs in the upper or lower leg. The limb may also feel heavier or look paler than the other.

If the clot reaches the lungs, a person may notice sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that does not go away with rest, wheezing, fast heartbeat, or begin coughing blood. Once the clot has reached the lungs, it is essential to get medical attention immediately.

Once PE is diagnosed, the physician will determine what type of medicine to administer. Blood clots typically dissolve on their own. If the clot has not reached the lungs, doctors may give medicines to keep the clot from getting bigger and to keep it from traveling to the lungs. If the clot is already in the lungs, the patient may be given a strong type of medication called a thrombolytic, which can dissolve the clot, but may also cause severe bleeding, and is only used in a life-threatening situation. Doctors may also try to extract a clot using a catheter inserted into the area.

If you have concerns about pulmonary embolism, contact your doctor to discuss how your history, health and lifestyle may affect your risk factors. If you have used the NuvaRing contraceptive and have had any symptoms of pulmonary embolism, contact your doctor immediately.

For information on how NuvaRing may have affected your condition, contact us. We currently represent women throughout the United States who have suffered from blood clots and pulmonary embolisms after using the birth control ring. There is a limited time to file a Nuvaring lawsuit depending on the relevant statute of limitations.

Deep vein thrombosis occurs typically in the upper or lower leg, when blood flow slows and begins to pool. This can be the result of a variety of causes including inactivity, physical conditions like obesity or pregnancy, or medications like NuvaRing birth control and other combined hormone contraceptives. As blood clots form, a person with DVT may or may not experience any symptoms. The area may feel warm, painful or weak. One leg may look larger and paler than the other.

If this condition is not treated, blood clots may travel up through the bloodstream to the brain, blocking blood vessels in the brain, causing a stroke. Likewise, blood clots can travel into the lungs, blocking blood vessels there, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Doctors will treat deep vein thrombosis using blood thinners to keep the clots from growing and to prevent them from moving up through the body. Clots will usually dissolve on their own. If necessary, however, doctors may use a catheter to remove the clot, or insert a filter in a vein in the abdomen to keep the clot from getting into the heart or lungs. In extreme cases, doctors may use clot-dissolving agent, but there is a risk of causing excessive bleeding.

Most cases of deep vein thrombosis can be treated effectively, but once you’ve had deep vein thrombosis, you have a higher risk of it reoccurring. In addition, research shows that patients who have been treated for DVT successfully may continue to have long-term problems. In one study, 17-50% of patients who had been treated for DVT still had chronic problems within two years of treatment, including leg swelling and pain, inadequate blood flow through the veins, skin ulcers and hardening of an area of the skin.

Given the long-term effects of DVT, taking steps to prevent DVT from developing in the first place is the first line of defense.

Certain risk factors may not be controllable: people who have heart conditions, obesity or high blood pressure are at a higher risk of developing DVT. Still, maintaining good health and stabilizing these conditions can help. Other lifestyle changes can also be beneficial.

If you are a woman using NuvaRing contraceptive and have deep vein thrombosis, talk with your doctor about treatment options. Then contact us if you have questions regarding any Nuvaring side effects involving blood clots you may have experienced as a result of using this contraceptive. We are currently representing women throughout the United States who have developed a clot while using the birth control ring on a contingency basis, and there are no legal fees unless we win compensation on your case. We offer a free no-obligation consultation regarding your legal options including filing a Nuvaring lawsuit.

A stroke occurs when a there is a blockage, such as a blood clot, in the blood vessels in the brain. When the blood is unable to deliver blood (which contains oxygen and nutrients to the brain) the cells there begin to die. The severity of the stroke is determined by the location and size of the blockage.

Although it’s impossible to predict who will have a stroke, there are some known risk factors. Some are uncontrollable, such as age, family history, gender or history of previous strokes. Some are controllable through lifestyle changes, such as weight, controlling blood pressure and diabetes. Certain medications, such as contraceptives, like NuvaRing birth control ring, which combine estrogen and progestin, may raise the risk for a stroke for some women.

Strokes occur more frequently in men, but are more likely to be fatal when they occur in a woman. Stroke symptoms often are felt suddenly. Sudden weaknesses on one side of the body, blurred vision, or sudden slurred speech are signs of a stroke.

The American Stroke Association provides the following tool to help determine if someone is having a stroke:

Act F.A.S.T.

Face—ask the person to smile. Check to see if one side of the face droops.

Arms- have the person raise both arms and see if one drifts down.

Speech- have the person say or repeat a short sentence, and see if the words are slurred or are repeated incorrectly.

Time- if any of these symptoms are present, it is essential to call 911 or go to the hospital immediately. Within the first few hours of exhibiting stroke symptoms, doctors can administer medicines that can break up a blood clot, reducing damage to the brain.

Strokes in women do not always get diagnosed as quickly as strokes in men, possibly because strokes are still thought of as a man’s disease. In addition, women may have some different symptoms than men, so doctors may not immediately think that the cause of the illness is a stroke. In addition to the classic symptoms, women may also have severe headaches, chest pain, breathlessness, hiccups, nausea, or face and limb pain.

If you have suffered a stroke or suffered from Nuvaring problems involving blood clots after using the birth control ring, contact us regarding your medical and legal options including information on filing a Nuvaring lawsuit. Our Nuvaring lawyers are already representing women throughout the United States in bringing claims for outstanding medical bills, lost wages and compensation for their injuries.

For people who have been diagnosed and treated for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), it is important to be aware of continued complications that may occur from this condition. Women throughout the country have reported DVT Nuvaring side effects while using the birth control ring. If you or a loved one has suffered from side effects of Nuvaring please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation regarding your legal options including filing a Nuvaring lawsuit.

Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that develops in the deep veins of the body, usually in the upper or lower leg. When blood pools or moves slowly, platelets, which normally help staunch the flow of blood, form when they shouldn’t and create a clot in the vein. This clot can detach from the wall of the vein and travel upward through the body. If the clot reaches the brain, it can block the flow of blood leading to the brain, causing a stroke. If the clot reaches the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism.

When a person is diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, doctors know that clots typically dissolve on their own over time. The main goal, then, is to keep the clots from getting larger and from moving upward, causing a blockage. Doctors may advise patients to wear compression stockings in an effort to keep blood from pooling in the legs. They may prescribe certain medicines, commonly called blood thinners, to dissolve the clots. However, these blood thinners can also increase the risk of hemorrhaging. Some women who have suffered blood clot Nuvaring side effects have to use blood thinners for the rest of their life.

Other options include the insertion of a filter in a vein in the abdomen to keep clots from moving upwards. In rare cases, doctors may operate to remove the clot.

Once the clot or clots have dissolved, a person with deep vein thrombosis may continue to have complications. One study showed that 50% of patients with deep vein thrombosis have post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) afterwards, with symptoms including pain, skin changes, heaviness and swelling.

What’s more, those who have had deep vein thrombosis have a higher risk of it reoccurring, with 25% of DVT patients having future clots. The risk of having DVT again is greatest in the first six to twelve months after the first episode.

Although DVT can occur in people who are sick or immobile, it can also occur in otherwise healthy people. Women who use the NuvaRing contraceptive have a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. The NuvaRing is a birth control device that uses a combination of hormones. Some researchers believe that one of the hormones, desogestrel, affects the blood, making it more likely for clots to form.

If you have used the birth control ring and have experienced deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke or any other Nuvaring side effects related to blood clots, please contact us to discuss your legal options. There is never any cost for an attorney to review your case and we are currently representing women throughout the United States in filing a Nuvaring lawsuit.

Women who have suffered serious side effects including pulmonary embolism, DVT and stroke have looked at the option of being part of a Nuvaring lawsuit to help with their loss. NuvaRing may cause blood clots which form within your deep veins, causing a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The clots are due to the hormones that are released into your body once the ring has been inserted. Emerging information has shown that combining estrogen with the progestin etonogestrel (as is the case with NuvaRing) may raise the risk of clotting.

The deep veins within your legs (the most common site of DVT) connect directly to your inferior vena cava, the largest vein in your body. The vena cava connects directly to your heart; it is the pathway taken by oxygen-poor blood as it returns to your heart and lungs.

If you suffer from a DVT while on Nuvaring, the blood clots in your deep veins can break loose and travel with your bloodstream. As emboli (i.e. traveling clots), they can migrate through your vena cava into your heart, exposing you to pulmonary embolism, stroke, heart attack, and other NuvaRing side effects. This is the reason deep vein thrombosis should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

How a DVT Is Diagnosed

Because deep venous clots are often difficult to identify, your doctor may perform multiple tests to conclusively diagnose DVT. He or she may conduct an ultrasound to generate images of the arterial and venous networks within your legs. If the ultrasound is unable to confirm the presence of clots, a d-Dimer test may be performed.

The d-Dimer test is actually a screening mechanism rather than a strategy for producing a conclusive diagnosis. d-Dimers are fibrin particles. Fibrin is a derivative of fibrinogen, a natural protein produced by your body’s clotting system. Elevated levels suggest the presence of clots. A d-Dimer test that produces a negative result, or shows low levels, can be useful for ruling out the likelihood of blood clots. A positive result is far less useful because the presence of d-Dimers can be caused by infection and other factors.

The most useful test for diagnosing NuvaRing blood clots and DVT is a venogram. During this test, a contrast dye is injected into the suspected site (e.g. your legs). X-rays are then taken of the area. The contrast dye allows your doctor to identify blood clots by studying the flow of blood through your veins (clots normally do not show up on X-rays). If there is an obstruction, the presence of a clot is likely.

Blood tests, MRIs, and CT scans can also be performed, though they are less useful than venography. In recent years, Doppler ultrasonography has become one of the primary tests used to diagnose DVT due to its sensitivity. However, a venogram is still considered the gold standard.

Treating Deep Venous Thrombosis

Surgery is seldom needed for blood clots within your deep veins. Instead, your doctor may prescribe anticoagulants, such as heparin or warfarin (Coumadin) to prevent clots from growing larger.

If an existing clot is already large and poses a danger, your physician may suggest thrombolytic therapy. Clot-dissolving medications are injected into the affected vein through a catheter. While thrombolysis can dissolve large blood clots, there is a risk of bleeding.

In the event that you suffer from an advanced case of deep vein thrombosis, your doctor might recommend venous thrombectomy. This is a surgical procedure during which the offending clot is removed. Because the operation is invasive, it is only used to treat DVT in which the clots pose an immediate danger to your health.

Otherwise healthy women have suffered blood clots and DVT after using NuvaRing. The hormones released from the birth control ring affect your body’s clotting system, making the formation of clots more likely. If you have already used the birth control ring and developed blood clots, you may have the right to seek compensation from the manufacturer. Contact a NuvaRing lawyer to explore your legal options including filing a Nuvaring lawsuit.

All estrogen-based contraceptives are known to increase the likelihood of developing blood clots. It is the inclusion of etonogestrel that deserves closer focus. Etonogestrel is a synthetic derivative of the progestin desogestrel, a hormone that is suspected of posing a significant risk of abnormal clotting. Recent research conducted in the Netherlands has revealed that desogestrel poses a 7.3-fold increase in the risk of blood clots over non-use. These blood clots can trigger the NuvaRing side effects discussed below.

Nuva Ring Blood Clots And DVT

Blood clots can form within superficial veins or deep veins. While clotting within your superficial veins poses few risks, clots that develop within your deep veins can become problematic. This is a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Deep veins are surrounded by muscles. The contractions of these muscles squeeze the veins and send blood flowing toward your heart and lungs. If blood clots have formed within the veins, the muscles’ contractions can dislodge them, allowing them to be carried along with your bloodstream. Once the traveling blood clots (i.e. emboli) pass through the vena cava, they can expose you to pulmonary embolism, heart attack, and stroke.

Pulmonary Embolism, Heart Attack, And Stroke

Your pulmonary arteries deliver blood from your heart to your lungs. If a clot creates a blockage within one of these arteries, the lung tissue supplied by that blood vessel will starve. You will suffer pulmonary embolism. Left untreated, the affected lung tissue will sustain permanent damage. That impairs its ability to properly oxygenate your blood before your heart circulates it throughout your body.

Your coronary arteries supply blood to your heart muscle. Emboli that travel through your heart’s atria and ventricles can enter your aorta and flow into your coronary arteries. If they form a blockage, you will experience a heart attack. Your heart muscle will begin to starve and die. Its ability to pump blood efficiently to your organs may be severely impaired, causing long-lasting side effects.

In rare cases, NuvaRing blood clots may travel from your heart to a carotid artery. These arteries supply your brain with blood, oxygen, and nutrients. A blockage will trigger ischemic stroke and starve the nerve cells in the surrounding area. These nerve cells die within minutes of starvation and are not regenerated. As a result, lost function due to stroke is often permanent.

Filing A NuvaRing Lawsuit

The dangerous side effects of NuvaRing, including pulmonary embolism, heart attack, and stroke, are potentially life-threatening. It begins with the formation of blood clots within your deep veins (typically in the calves or thighs). If you or someone you know has suffered abnormal clotting or DVT after using the birth control ring, you may be able to file a NuvaRing lawsuit. Contact a NuvaRing lawyer to discuss your options, including whether you should seek just compensation for your injuries.

Blood clots that develop within the deep veins of your legs mark a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If these clots break off and migrate with your bloodstream, they can potentially trigger dangerous NuvaRing side effects, such as pulmonary embolism, heart attack, and stroke. Below, you’ll learn how each event occurs and some of the aftereffects that can impact your life.

Pulmonary Embolism: Causes And Side Effects

Your lungs receive blood from your heart through the pulmonary arteries. Blood clots that travel (i.e. emboli) from the deep veins of your legs can migrate through the inferior vena cava toward your heart. Once the emboli pass through the right side of your heart, they can enter the pulmonary arteries and create an obstruction. The portion of your lung fed by that artery will starve, causing pulmonary embolism.

Your lungs are responsible for oxygenating blood before it is circulated throughout your body. Your other organs depend upon this oxygen to function properly. If your lung tissue is damaged by PE, its ability to oxygenate your blood will be reduced. That can damage your other organs.

Heart Attack: Causes And Side Effects

If the emboli successfully evade your pulmonary arteries, they can travel through the left side of your heart before emerging in your aorta. Your coronary arteries branch out from your aorta near its base. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle. The left coronary artery branches downward into the circumflex and left anterior descending venous networks. The right coronary artery likewise descends downward. If an embolus lodges within one of the blood vessels and creates a blockage, you might suffer a heart attack.

Your heart is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the rest of your body. If any portion of the muscle is damaged, it will become less capable of pumping blood. Left untreated for more than a few hours, the muscle will die and be replaced by scar tissue. As a result, you will become more susceptible to future heart attack and less able to participate in strenuous activity.

Stroke: Causes And Side Effects

NuvaRing blood clots can potentially pass by your pulmonary and coronary arteries and make their way toward your carotid arteries. These arteries supply your brain with oxygen and nutrients. If they are obstructed by an embolus, the nerve cells fed by the blocked artery will begin to die within three or four minutes. You will suffer a Nuva Ring stroke.

The nerve cells in your brain are responsible for your vision, movement, speech, balance, cognitive ability, and a host of other functions. If those cells starve during stroke, you will likely suffer an impairment. If they die, they are not regenerated; any associated impairment will likely be permanent.

Blood clots are one of many serious side effects of NuvaRing and can have devastating consequences. In 2007, the advocacy group Public Citizen filed a petition with the FDA requesting an immediate ban on all desogestrel-based contraceptives. Their petition went unheeded.

If you or someone you know has suffered blood clots, DVT, pulmonary embolism, or other NuvaRing problems, you may be due just compensation from the manufacturer. Contact a NuvaRing attorney to discuss your case.