Konstantin Koltsov was a Belarusian professional ice hockey player. He played parts of three seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 2002 and 2006.

His death was announced by Salavat Yulaev, the ice hockey club where he was coach; “It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,” “He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans. Konstantin Evgenievich forever wrote himself into the history of our club. May he rest in peace.”

Belarusian media reported that the cause of death was said to be ‘a detached blood clot’. This is a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that develops in a blood vessel in the body (often in the leg). It then travels to a lung artery where it suddenly blocks blood flow.

A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel in area of the body, breaks off, and travels to another area of the body in the blood is called an embolus. An embolus can lodge itself in a blood vessel. This can block the blood supply to an organ. This blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus is called an embolism.

What causes a pulmonary embolism?

Blood clotting is a normal process to prevent bleeding. The body makes blood clots and then breaks them down. Under certain circumstances, the body may be unable to break down a clot. This may result in a serious health problem.

When blood clots in a vein, it may be due to the slowed blood flow, an abnormality in clot forming, or from an injury to the blood vessel wall.

Blood clots can form in arteries and veins. Clots formed in veins are called venous clots. Veins of the legs can be superficial veins (close to the surface of the skin) or deep veins (located near the bone and surrounded by muscle).

Venous clots most often happen in the deep veins of the legs. This is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Once a clot has formed in the deep veins of the leg, there is a potential for part of the clot to break off and travel through the blood to another area of the body, often the lung. DVT is the most common cause of a pulmonary embolism.

There are many reasons why a Deep Vein Thrombosis #DVT can develop, but being sedentary (flying, working at a desk, gaming – for examples) are today’s biggest threat for an individual developing a potentially deadly blood-clot.

Our thoughts are with Aryna Sabalenka, and the family, friends, and loved ones of Konstantin Koltsov

#FlySafe #GameSafe #WorkSafe #CareSafe