The Body Switch That Can Decide Life or Death

Science Featured
Blood clots are one of the body’s great survival tools. They seal wounds, stop bleeding, and help us heal. But when clots form at the wrong time or in the wrong place, they can become extremely dangerous—causing heart attacks, strokes, or sudden organ damage. Keeping clotting under tight control is essential, and one of the body’s most important guardians is a protein called antithrombin. Antithrombin acts like a natural braking system for blood clotting. Most of the time, it stays quietly...