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Vascular - platelet hemostasis.

The blood coagulation mechanism is the basis of hemostasis and the protective function of the body, which prevents blood loss in case of violations of the integrity of the vessels of the circulatory system.

Vascular - platelet hemostasis is divided into several stages. Primary hemostasis - at the time of trauma to the vessel, the walls of the damaged blood vessel and vessels passing next to it reflexively contract, the edges of the wound bend into the vessel and blood flow slows down, platelets begin to settle on the walls of the vessel near the wound. Primary hemostasis takes up to three minutes on average.

Secondary hemostasis is the second stage in the protection of the circulatory system. It lasts on average up to 10 minutes (normally 5-7 minutes). During this period, thrombus formation occurs - the process of direct blockage of the site of damage to the vessel. Secondary hemostasis is regulated by enzymatic activity and blood cells (platelets).

The final stage of healing of the damaged vessel and restoration of blood flow at the site of injury is fibrinolysis. An enzyme (plasmin protein) is released into the blood. This protein breaks down fibrin (the basis of a blood clot) and dissolves the clot itself. As long as the above processes proceed smoothly, the circulatory system functions flawlessly: nothing disrupts the process of blood flow through the vessels.

But there are abnormal situations when the rheological characteristics of blood, in particular its fluidity, deviate from the norm: blood clotting increases, blood clotting decreases, or DIC syndrome develops when both processes are present at the same time.

Increased blood clotting or hypercoagulation is dangerous because it provokes the voluntary formation of blood clots, regardless of whether the vessel is damaged or not. There are many pathologies caused by hypercoagulation: arterial and venous thrombosis, stroke, miscarriage, etc.

Reduced blood clotting or hypocoagulation is no less terrible. It leads to spontaneous bleeding, which is difficult, and sometimes almost impossible to stop.

DIC syndrome or disseminated intravascular coagulation (synonym: thrombohemorrhagic syndrome) is characterized by a change in generalized blood coagulation by hypocoagulation. Such a pathology can be latent or have a lightning-fast death.

To avoid extremes in violations of hemostasis, it is necessary periodically (especially after 30-40 years and during the period of preparation for bearing a child) to diagnose the state of the hemostasis system (electrocoagulography, thromboelastography).