Blood clots sideline UC football's Dontay Corleone. What is a blood clot?

Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer

Dontay Corleone, star defensive tackle and preseason All-American for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, is being treated for blood clots in his lungs after reporting shortness of breath and chest discomfort. He is out indefinitely as his recovery continues.

So what are blood clots? And how do they affect athletes? Here's what to know.

What are blood clots, and what do they do?

Blood clots are semi-solid masses of blood cells, platelets and proteins that form in your veins and arteries, according to the Cleveland Clinic. They help stem bleeding from injuries or surgery but can form for other reasons, such as certain medical conditions. Those blood clots can be life-threatening.

What are deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism?

There are several names for different types of blood clots, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops in a vein deep in the body, usually the legs.

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in the lungs, either one that developed there or broke off from another part of the body and traveled there.

And a blood clot in the brain or heart may cause a stroke or heart attack, respectively.

Athletes and blood clots

Blood clots are uncommon in young, healthy individuals, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance. And since athletes are usually young and healthy, doctors may not consider blood clots as a diagnosis, causing a delay in treatment.

Symptoms of a DVT in the leg can be misinterpreted as a torn muscle or sprained ankle, the alliance says. Likewise, symptoms of an embolism in the chest can appear to be a pulled muscle, asthma or pneumonia.

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Dontay Corleone runs a drill during the University of Cincinnati annual Red and Black Spring football game and practice at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati in April.
Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Dontay Corleone runs a drill during the University of Cincinnati annual Red and Black Spring football game and practice at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati in April.

Blood clot risk factors specific to athletes

The blood clot alliance says several factors put athletes at an increased risk for blood clots, including:

  • Traveling long distances to and from a sports competition

  • Dehydration during and after a strenuous sporting event

  • Significant trauma

  • Immobilization (brace or cast)

  • Bone fracture or major surgery

  • An inherited or acquired clotting disorder (factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210 mutation, antiphospholipid antibodies, and others)

  • A congenital abnormality of the anatomy of the veins, including May-Thurner Syndrome (narrowing of the major left pelvic vein)

Blood clot symptoms

According to Penn Medicine, the signs of a blood clot can vary depending on its location.

  • Arms and legs: Pain or tenderness, swelling, or warm feeling

  • Brain: Trouble speaking; vision changes; sudden, strong headache; dizziness; or weakness in face, arms, or legs

  • Heart: Pain in the chest or other part of the upper body, breathing difficulties, sweating, nausea, or light-headedness

  • Lungs: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, sweating, fever, or coughing up blood

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: UC football star Dontay Corleone treated for blood clots. What are they?

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