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\nDIC is caused by another medical condition that makes the body\u2019s normal blood clotting process become overactive. The condition progresses through two stages. In the early stages, overactive clotting leads to blood clots throughout the blood vessels. The clots can reduce or block blood flow, damaging organs.
\nAs DIC progresses, the overactive clotting uses up platelet and clotting factors, which are proteins that help with normal blood clotting. Without these platelets and clotting factors, DIC can cause bleeding just beneath the skin, in the nose or mouth, or deep inside the body.
\nCauses of DIC include:
\nTo understand DIC, it helps to understand the body\u2019s normal blood clotting process. Learn more about how blood clots form.
\nBlood clots form naturally at sites of injury to prevent or control bleeding. When small cuts or breaks occur on the walls of the blood vessels, your body turns on clotting factors. The clotting factor thrombin forms long fibrin protein strands that clump together with platelets to create blood clots that then seal the cuts or breaks. Once bleeding stops, the body begins breaking down the clots as part of the blood vessel healing process.
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