What are the first signs of a blood clot?
throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm. sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or coughing up blood.
They include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain while breathing in or coughing, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, feeling faint or fainting, and coughing up blood. Postphlebitic syndrome. Damage to the veins from the blood clot reduces blood flow in the affected areas.
Signs that you may have a blood clot
leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. swelling in the affected leg. redness or discoloration of the sore spot. the affected area feeling warm to the touch.
You can't self-diagnose blood clots, but if you're aware of the common symptoms and health risks, you will be more likely to know if and when to talk to your doctor.
You may have a blood clot if you see or feel: New swelling in your arm or leg. Skin redness. Soreness or pain in your arm or leg.
Blood clots usually dissolve on their own. If not, the clots can potentially lead to life-threatening situations. There are two main types of blood clots: thrombus (clot does not move) and embolus (clot breaks loose and moves). If the clot is immobile, it generally won't harm you.
If you visit a vein clinic or hospital for a blood clot and blood thinners are suggested to you, taking aspirin may be an option, instead. It is not for everyone, and will not be enough in all cases, but it does have a similar effect and may work well to reduce the chances of another blood clot in the future.
We can't see or feel these veins, meaning a clot could be “silent” with no symptoms, or it could cause dull, heavy pressure, pain, and swelling. Clots in superficial veins, outside of the muscle tissue, can cause a lump or cord tender to the touch.
Deep vein blood clots typically occur in the lower leg or thigh. “Deep vein thrombosis has classic symptoms—for example swelling, pain, warmth, and redness on the leg,” says Dr. Andrei Kindzelski, an NIH blood disease expert.
Varicose Veins
When they don't work right, blood pools inside your veins. They swell and become large and rope-like. That's another difference from DVT -- the surface-level clots that come with varicose veins are uncommon and don't usually break free and travel to your lungs.
How long can a blood clot go untreated?
It's not something you feel instantly. A DVT or pulmonary embolism can take weeks or months to totally dissolve. Even a surface clot, which is a very minor issue, can take weeks to go away. If you have a DVT or pulmonary embolism, you typically get more and more relief as the clot gets smaller.
If your doctor can't fit you in, head to the emergency room or an urgent care facility where they have ultrasound capabilities, which they'll use to check for a clot.
Although DVT's may not directly cause high blood pressure, pulmonary embolisms, which are a complication of DVT, may result in issues with high blood pressure. DVT complications are serious, specifically pulmonary embolisms. Sometimes patients exhibit noticeable symptoms with PE, but sometimes there are no symptoms.
- DON'T stand or sit in one spot for a long time.
- DON'T wear clothing that restricts blood flow in your legs.
- DON'T smoke.
- DON'T participate in contact sports when taking blood thinners because you're at risk of bleeding from trauma.
Anticoagulants, such as heparin, warfarin, dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban, are medications that thin the blood and help to dissolve blood clots.
Massage stimulates blood circulation, therefore can dislodge a clot, even if the point of massage is elsewhere on the body.
Does blood clot pain come and go? Unlike the pain from a charley horse that usually goes away after stretching or with rest, the pain from a blood clot does not go away and usually gets worse with time.
Official answer. Yes, ibuprofen (Advil) is considered a blood thinner. It doesn't actually "thin" your blood, but slows down your blood clotting time. For example, if you cut yourself or have an injury where you bleed, it may take longer for you to form a blood clot.
DVT may not cause any symptoms, but if symptoms do occur, they can include: warmth at the site of the clot. tenderness or pain in the affected leg or arm. swelling in the affected leg and foot or arm and hand.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Faster than normal or irregular heartbeat.
- Chest pain or discomfort, which usually worsens with a deep breath or coughing.
- Coughing up blood.
- Very low blood pressure, lightheadedness, or fainting.
What happens if you ignore a blood clot?
An unexpected clot can lead to serious problems and even death. In an artery, it can give you a heart attack or a stroke. If it happens in a vein, you can feel pain and swelling. A clot deep inside your body is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
A DVT can occur without any symptoms, but it is often accompanied by swelling, pain, and redness of the skin. If a DVT is not treated, a part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a blockage in the lungs called a pulmonary embolism (PE).
To help reduce the pain and swelling that can occur with DVT, patients are often told to elevate their leg(s), use a heating pad, take walks and wear compression stockings.
- Shortness of breath that appears suddenly.
- Chest pain that may become worse when breathing in that is so sharply felt you may think you are having a heart attack.
- Lightheadedness, dizziness or passing out due to a sudden loss in blood pressure.
- Cough, which may contain blood.
About 25% of people who have a PE will die suddenly, and that will be the only symptom. About 23% of people with PE will die within 3 months of diagnosis, just over 30% will die after 6 months, and there is a 37% mortality (death) rate at 1 year after being diagnosed.
See your health care provider as soon as possible if you have: Symptoms of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C). A leg that is swollen, pale or cooler than usual. Calf pain, especially after sitting for a long time, such as on a long car trip or plane ride.
It may take several days or weeks, or it can happen in a matter of minutes or hours. Once it has moved, a blood clot in the lungs can develop, which is known as an embolism. If the blood clot quickly cuts off blood supply, it is called an infarct.
The Importance of Exercise if You Have DVT
Aerobic activity -- things like walking, hiking, swimming, dancing, and jogging -- can also help your lungs work better after a pulmonary embolism. Studies show that exercise also can improve symptoms of DVT, including swelling, discomfort, and redness.
If a DVT is not treated, it can move or break off and travel to the lungs. A blood clot in the lung is called pulmonary embolism or PE, and can cause death and requires immediate medical attention.
Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in the veins. It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT. A D-dimer blood test measures a substance in the blood that is released when a clot breaks up.
When should you go to the ER for a blood clot in your leg?
Apart from swelling, another sign that you should visit an ER for a blood clot is if you develop discomfort as well as pain and tenderness in one or both legs. This should be taken seriously even if the pain only manifests when you stand or walk, as it is usually another telltale sign of DVT.
DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a blood clot in a vein, usually in the leg. DVT can be dangerous. Get medical help as soon as possible if you think you have DVT.
Your doctor will likely perform a physical examination, and you may undergo a venous ultrasound or a CT angiography (CTA) scan of the chest, abdomen/pelvis or head to help diagnose your condition. Treatment may depend upon whether the clot is located in an artery or a vein.
Pulmonary embolism is the most dangerous complication associated with DVT, according to the CDC. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood vessel in your lung is blocked by a blood clot that has moved from another part of your body, usually a deep vein in your leg.
It mainly affects the large veins in the lower leg and thigh, but can occur in other deep veins, such as in the arms and pelvis. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) affects mainly the veins in the lower leg and the thigh. It involves the formation of a clot (thrombus) in the larger veins of the area.
One test to see if you are experiencing a normal leg cramp or one from deep vein thrombosis is to bend the foot at the ankle so that your toes are pointing upward. With a normal cramp, this should alleviate pain. In the case of a blood clot, the pain will most likely intensify.
Elevate your legs above the level of your heart.
Elevate your legs when you sit or lie down, as often as you can. This will help decrease swelling and pain. Prop your legs on pillows or blankets to keep them elevated comfortably.
lie on their sides with a pillow between the knees if desirable.
Drinking plenty of water can help dissolve blood clots as it helps keep the blood thin and flowing smoothly. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day is recommended to help prevent blood clots from forming.
Small blood clots in the calf can sometimes go undetected for several days or weeks, especially if they don't show any symptoms. If left untreated, however, DVT can travel up the veins in the leg to the lungs or other major organs in the body, leading to a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism or similar complication.
What happens if you don't know you have a blood clot?
“But about 30–40% of cases go unnoticed, since they don't have typical symptoms.” In fact, some people don't realize they have a deep vein clot until it causes a more serious condition. Deep vein clots—especially those in the thigh—can break off and travel through the bloodstream.
Medical conditions that have symptoms similar to DVT blood clots include: Peripheral artery disease. Varicose veins and spider veins. Cellulitis.
The feeling can range from a dull ache to intense pain. You may notice the pain throbs in your leg, belly, or even your arm. Warm skin. The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin.
A large clot can cause the lungs to collapse, resulting in heart failure, which can be fatal. About one in 10 people with an untreated DVT develops a severe pulmonary embolism.
Foods rich in vitamin E, such as almonds, avocado, and spinach, can help dissolve blood clots. Vitamin E has anticoagulant properties and can help prevent blood clots from forming. It is recommended to consume foods rich in vitamin E regularly.
DVT is a serious condition, so if you think you may have DVT, you should see a doctor without delay. Call an ambulance on triple zero (000) if you: become short of breath.
The most common place for a blood clot to occur is in your lower leg. A blood clot in your leg or arm can have various symptoms, including: swelling.