Because blood clots can be fatal, they are a major problem. This disorder, also known as thrombosis, is brought on by clots that obstruct blood vessels, making it difficult for the blood to flow freely.
Blood clots may develop in the arteries or veins. Venous thromboembolism is the term for a blood clot that forms in one of your veins (VTE).
An estimated 900,000 Americans are impacted by blood clots annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Between 60,000 and 100,000 people are thought to pass away from this illness each year. Males are more likely than females to experience a blood clot for the first time and again.
Contact your physician right away if you have even the slightest suspicion that you may have a blood clot. Blood clot symptoms can vary. A blood clot may also occur without any symptoms.
Continue reading to discover some signs that could point to a blood clot.
Blood clot in the leg
Deep vein thrombosis is the term for a blood clot in one of your body’s main veins (DVT). They are especially prevalent in the hip or leg area.
Calf edema, redness, or discolouration are common symptoms of deep vein thrombosis.
It’s possible for a blood clot to come loose and reach your lungs. This results in pulmonary embolism, a dangerous and sometimes lethal condition.
The following are indicators of a blood clot in your leg:
- swelling
- redness, darkening, or patches of discoloration
- pain
- tenderness
These symptoms are particularly suggestive of a single-leg blood clot. This is due to the fact that a clot in one leg is more likely to occur than in both. However, these symptoms could be explained by a few other conditions and factors.
How to identify a blood clot
Thomas Maldonado, MD, vascular surgeon and medical director of the Venous Thromboembolic Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, provided some additional specific ideas on how a person can feel if they have a blood clot in order to assist differentiate it from other causes.
For starters, the pain may resemble a charley horse or a severe muscle spasm. If your leg has a blood clot, elevating or cooling it won’t lessen the swelling. You could have suffered a muscular injury if applying ice or elevating your feet reduces the swelling.
As a blood clot gets worse, your leg could also feel heated. Your skin may even appear slightly bluish or reddish. On darker skin, this could look more discolored or darker brown.
If the leg pain becomes worse with exercise but goes away with rest, you shouldn’t be concerned about a clot. Maldonado adds that rather than DVT, that’s probably the result of inadequate blood flow via the arteries.
Superficial venous thrombosis
In addition, superficial venous thrombosis, which results in blood clots in veins closer to the skin, can potentially induce superficial thrombophlebitis.
These can be brought on by skin injuries, such as receiving an intravenous (IV) line, or other risk factors that are comparable to those that result in DVT. Although superficial thrombophlebitis may cause discomfort, these blood clots often do not spread to the lungs.
In order to distinguish between a superficial blood clot and a DVT, your doctor will examine you and possibly perform an ultrasound.
Heart blood clot
Although they can happen anywhere on your body, blood clots are more likely to form in the lower legs. Your symptoms and the outcomes are influenced by the location of clots and where they end up.
For instance, a heart attack may result from a blood clot that obstructs blood flow in the heart’s arteries. Alternatively, a pulmonary embolism could result from a blood clot that makes its way to your lungs. Both have comparable symptoms and have the potential to be fatal.
Additionally, clots can form inside the left ventricular chamber. Patients who have experienced a severe heart attack that affected the left ventricular apical wall are more likely to exhibit this. A stroke may result from the formation and dislodgement of such a clot.
A left atrial appendage thrombus is another type of “heart clot” that occurs when atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are present. This may also result in a stroke.
Although chest pain is an indication that something is amiss, it can be challenging to determine whether it is indigestion, a heart attack, or a pulmonary embolism.
The chest pain associated with a pulmonary embolism can be acute and worsen with each breath, Maldonado said. Additionally, this pain could be accompanied by:
- sudden shortness of breath
- rapid heart rate
- possibly a cough
Angina or a heart attack are two possible cardiac events that could be indicated by a pain in your chest that feels more like an elephant sitting on you. Your chest may be the focal point of any pain related to a possible heart attack.
Additionally, it may spread to your left shoulder and arm or to the left portion of your jaw.
According to Patrick Vaccaro, MD, MBA, director of the Division of Vascular Diseases and Surgery at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, having chest pain and sweating or feeling like you have indigestion are more signs of a heart attack.
Since both disorders are severe, they both need to be treated right away.
Is wheezing or congestion the cause of your chest pain? Maldonado continues, “That’s more consistent with an infection or asthma.”
Blood clot in the brain
It is possible for blood clots that develop in your heart’s chambers or in the carotid arteries in your neck to spread to your brain. According to Sullivan, that may result in a stroke.
Among the symptoms of a stroke are:
- eyesight problems and weakness or numbness on one side of your body
- having trouble speaking clearly walking unable to think clearly
According to Vaccaro, you probably won’t experience any discomfort during a stroke, in contrast to the majority of other blood clot symptoms. He continues, “But there might be a headache.”
People who have had blood clots can share their experiences with the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) to learn more about what it could feel like.
Blood clot in the abdomen
Mesenteric venous thrombosis is the term for a blood clot that develops in one of the main veins that carry blood out of your intestine.
Mesenteric venous thrombosis
Internal harm might result from a blood clot that stops the intestine’s blood flow. An improved prognosis could result from early detection of an abdominal clot.
According to Caroline Sullivan, a nurse practitioner and assistant professor at Columbia University School of Nursing, certain persons are more susceptible to this kind of clot than others. This covers anyone who has a disease that makes the tissues around their veins bulge, like:
- appendicitis
- cancer
- diverticulitis
- pancreatitis, or acute swelling of the pancreas
Your risk of developing this kind of clot is also increased if you take estrogen-related drugs and birth control pills.
Bloating, vomiting, and stomach pain are some signs of an abdominal clot. According to Sullivan, stomach pain is more likely to be related to a clot if it worsens after eating or over time.
This pain may be rather intense and appear to be sudden. According to Vaccaro, it’s not something you’re likely to have encountered previously, likening it to “some of the worst pain an individual can experience.”
When to call your doctor
If you believe there is even a remote possibility that you may have a blood clot, consult your physician.
Vaccaro states that the sooner a blood clot is identified, the sooner therapy may begin and the likelihood of irreversible damage might be decreased.
What is the treatment for a blood clot in the leg?
The goal of treatment for leg blood clots is to stop the clots from growing larger, rupturing, and spreading to other parts of the body, as well as to lower the risk of clots in the future. Among these therapies are:
- Blood thinners: Anticoagulants, often known as blood thinners, such as heparin, warfarin (Jantoven), rivaroxaban (xarelto), or apixaban (Eliquis), thin the blood and help the body break up existing clots. Additionally, these medications can stop blood clots from forming in the future.
- Clot busters: Blood clots can be broken apart with the aid of thrombolytics. They are usually only used by those with severe coagulation problems, though, because they can result in significant bleeding.
- Filters: To remove clots that break away and attempt to reach the lungs, a doctor may place a filter in the vena cava, a sizable vein in the belly. This is usually a last-resort treatment, though, for patients who have previously experienced bleeding problems while using blood thinners or who have continued to develop blood clots while taking them.
Compression stockings were once advised by doctors as a way to promote blood flow through the legs and prevent blood clots.
Compression stockings may not, however, truly lower the incidence of blood clots, according to study. Moreover, it can potentially raise the chance of post-thrombotic syndrome, a chronic consequence of DVT. Because of this, compression stockings are no longer advised by the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST).
Takeaway
Blood flow can be disrupted by a blood clot that forms in the arteries or veins. It may result in red or dark, sensitive skin, discomfort, and swelling. The region surrounding the blood clot may feel tight or sore, similar to charley horse or a muscle cramp. These blood clot symptoms can be mistaken for those of other illnesses, such as muscle soreness or injury.
Additionally, a blood clot might not show any symptoms at all. You have no way of knowing if your symptoms are due to a blood clot or something else. If you have symptoms that might indicate a blood clot, get medical help and advice from a professional. For treatment to be successful and to prevent blood clots in the future, prompt treatment is essential.