4 Blood Clot Symptoms Not To Ignore

Medically Reviewed by James Beckerman, MD, FACC on November 18, 2022

It’s a clump of cells and protein in your blood. A clot helps slow bleeding when you’re injured. It usually dissolves as you heal. But if it doesn’t, or if it forms when it’s not needed, it can clog up or completely block a blood vessel.

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). One in your lungs is a pulmonary embolism (PE). They’re both medical emergencies.

You can get a blood clot if you break a bone or pull a muscle badly. But sometimes you may not know why it happened or even realize you have one. There are clues though. Your odds of a clot are higher if you:

• Are recovering from surgery or had to sit for many hours on a flight or in a wheelchair
• Are overweight or obese
• Have diabetes or high cholesterol
• Are over 60

When a clot slows or stops the flow of blood, it can build up in the vessel and make it swell. If it happens in your lower leg or calf, it’s often a sign of DVT. But you also can have a clot in your arms or belly. Even after it goes away, one in three people still have swelling and sometimes pain and sores from damage to the blood vessel.

If a clot plugs up veins in your arms or legs, they may look bluish or reddish. Your skin also might stay discolored from the damage to blood vessels afterward. A PE in your lung could make your skin pale, bluish, and clammy.

Sudden, intense chest pain could mean the clot has broken off and caused a PE. Or it could be a sign that a clot in your artery gave you a heart attack. If so, you also might feel pain in your arm, especially on the left. A clot often hurts where it’s located, like in your lower leg, stomach, or under your throat.

This is a serious symptom. It could be a sign that you have a clot in your lung or your heart. Your heart might also race, or you may feel sweaty or faint.

A clot can give you different symptoms based on where it is. A PE can give you a fast pulse, chest pain, bloody cough, and shortness of breath. Get to the hospital right away. You also might have no signs.

This can feel similar to a clot in the lung. But if it’s a heart attack, you also might feel nausea and lightheadedness along with the chest pain. Either way, call 911 or get to a hospital right away.

Pressure builds when blood can’t flow normally. A severe blockage sometimes can lead to a stroke. Without oxygen from the blood, your brain cells start to die in minutes. A clot in your brain can cause headaches, confusion, seizures, speech problems, and weakness, sometimes on just one side of the body.

Often, you have no symptoms at all. Blocked veins in the stomach or esophagus, a tube that connects it to your throat, can rip and leak blood. That can hurt a lot. You may poop or vomit blood, and your stool might look black and smell unusually bad.

Also called renal vein thrombosis, these clots usually grow slowly and mostly in adults. You probably won’t have symptoms unless a piece breaks off and lodges in your lung. Rarely, especially in children, it can happen fast and cause nausea, fever, and vomiting. You also might have blood in your pee and go less often. 

See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away. A clot can be deadly, and you won’t know for sure you have it until you get checked. Your doctor may give you a clot-busting drug or surgically thread a thin tube to the site of the clot to dissolve it. 

You can act to lower your odds of a clot. First, keep a healthy weight, eat right, and exercise. Also:

• Don’t sit or stay still for long, especially after a long trip or surgery.
• If you’re a desk jockey, get up and move at least every couple of hours. Flex your legs, feet, and toes in your chair.
• Check if tight-fitting compression socks or garments can help your blood flow.
• Ask your doctor if you might need to take clot-fighting drugs called anticoagulants.

IMAGES PROVIDED BY:

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SOURCES:

AARP: “Blood Clots: Are You at Risk?”

ACP Hospitalist: “Splanchnic venous thrombosis. ”

American Society of Hematology: “Blood Clots.”

CDC: “Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots).”

Circulation: “Postthrombotic Syndrome.”

Merck Manual Consumer Version: “Renal Vein Thrombosis,” “Portal Vein Thrombosis,” “Fainting.”

RadiologyInfo.Org: “Blood Clots.”

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What does a blood clot feel like?

A blood clot may cause swelling or pain in a leg, arm, or another area, but it doesn’t always. Here, learn how to recognize signs of a blood clot and what you should do if you experience them.

Blood clots are a serious issue, as they can be life threatening. Also called thrombosis, this condition occurs when clots form in the vessels that contain blood, preventing it from flowing effectively.

Blood clots can form in the veins or arteries. When a blood clot occurs in one of your veins, it’s called venous thromboembolism (VTE).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 900,000 people in the United States are affected by blood clots each year. An estimated 60,000 to 100,000 people die from this condition annually. Males are at a higher risk of getting both a first-time and a recurring blood clot than females.

If you’re even slightly concerned you might have a blood clot, call your doctor right away. Symptoms of blood clots can vary. It’s also possible to have a blood clot with no symptoms.

Read on to learn about some of the symptoms that may indicate a blood clot.

A blood clot that shows up in one of the major veins in your body is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). They’re most common in the legs or the hip region.

A blood clot could break loose and travel to your lungs. This leads to a serious and potentially fatal condition known as pulmonary embolism.

Signs of a blood clot in your leg include:

• swelling
• redness, darkening, or patches of discoloration
• pain
• tenderness

These symptoms are especially indicative of a blood clot when they occur in only one leg. That’s because you’re more likely to have a clot in one leg as opposed to in both legs. There are some other conditions and factors that could explain these symptoms, however.

To help distinguish a potential blood clot from other causes, Thomas Maldonado, MD, vascular surgeon and medical director of the Venous Thromboembolic Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, offered some more detailed thoughts on what someone might feel if they have a blood clot.

For one, the pain might remind you of a severe muscle cramp or charley horse. If your leg is swollen, elevating or icing the leg won’t reduce the swelling if it’s a blood clot. If icing or putting your feet up makes the swelling go down, you may have a muscle injury.

Share on PinterestMedSci/Alamy Stock Photo

With a blood clot, your leg may also feel warm as the clot worsens. You may even notice a slight reddish or bluish hue to your skin. This may appear darker brown or discolored on darker skin.

You shouldn’t worry about a clot if the leg pain is made worse with exercise but relieved by rest. That’s most likely a result of poor blood flow through the arteries rather than DVT, says Maldonado.

Superficial venous thrombosis

Blood clots can also form in veins that are closer to the skin, known as superficial venous thrombosis, and cause a syndrome called superficial thrombophlebitis.

These can be caused by injury to the skin, including having an intravenous (IV) line placed, or other risk factors similar to those causing a DVT. While superficial thrombophlebitis can be painful, these types of blood clots usually don’t travel to the lungs.

Your doctor will examine you and may use an ultrasound to differentiate between a superficial blood clot and a DVT.

Blood clots may be more common in the lower legs, but they can happen in other parts of your body, too. Where clots form and where they end up influence which symptoms you have and the consequences.

For example, when a blood clot forms in the arteries of the heart and blocks blood flow, it can cause a heart attack. Or, a blood clot could travel to your lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. Both can be life threatening and have similar symptoms.

Share on Pinterest A Blood Clot’s Obstructing The Pulmonary Artery. Angiography Of Thorax, Frontal View. Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images

Chest pain is a sign that something is wrong, but figuring out if it’s a heart attack, a pulmonary embolism, or just indigestion can be difficult.

According to Maldonado, the chest pain that comes with a pulmonary embolism may feel like sharp pains that get worse with each breath. This pain may also be accompanied by:

• sudden shortness of breath
• rapid heart rate
• possibly a cough

A pain in your chest that feels more like an elephant is sitting on you may be a sign of a potential cardiac event, such as a heart attack or angina. The pain that goes along with a potential heart attack may center on your chest.

It might also radiate to the left part of your jaw or your left shoulder and arm.

If you’re sweaty or have what feels like indigestion along with chest pain, that’s more cause for concern of a heart attack, says Patrick Vaccaro, MD, MBA, director of the Division of Vascular Diseases and Surgery at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.

Both conditions are serious, and both warrant further immediate medical attention.

Is your chest pain from congestion or wheezing? That’s more consistent with an infection or asthma, adds Maldonado.

Blood clots that form either in the chambers of your heart or within the carotid arteries in your neck have the potential to travel to your brain. That can cause a stroke, explains Sullivan.

The signs of a stroke include:

• weakness or numbness on one side of your body
• vision disturbances
• difficulty speaking clearly
• difficulty walking
• inability to think clearly

Unlike most of the other signs of blood clots, Vaccaro notes that you likely won’t feel pain with a stroke. “But there may be a headache,” he adds.

For more details of what having a blood clot might feel like, read some real stories from the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) of people who have experienced one.

When a blood clot forms in one of the major veins that drain blood from your intestine, it’s called a mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Mesenteric venous thrombosis

A blood clot here can stop blood circulation of the intestine and cause internal damage in that area. Catching a clot in the abdomen early may lead to a better outlook.

Some people are more at risk for this type of clot than others, says Caroline Sullivan, nurse practitioner and assistant professor at Columbia University School of Nursing. This includes anyone with a condition that causes swelling of the tissues surrounding the veins, such as:

• appendicitis
• cancer
• diverticulitis
• pancreatitis, or acute swelling of the pancreas

Taking birth control pills and estrogen medications also increases your chances of having this type of clot.

The symptoms of a clot in the abdomen may include abdominal pain, bloating, and vomiting. If the stomach pain gets worse after eating or worse over time, it’s more likely to be associated with a clot, says Sullivan.

This pain might be severe and seem like it’s coming out of nowhere. It’s not something you’re likely to have experienced before, says Vaccaro, who compares it to “some of the worst pain an individual can experience.”

See your doctor if you think there’s even a small chance you could have a blood clot.

“The sooner the blood clot is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can be started and [the] chance of permanent harm can be reduced,” says Vaccaro.

A blood clot can form in the veins or the arteries, interrupting blood flow. It can cause pain, swelling, and red or dark, tender skin. The area around the blood clot may feel tight or sore like you have a muscle cramp or charley horse. Unfortunately, these symptoms of a blood clot can be confused with other conditions, including muscle pain and muscle injury.

It is also possible a blood clot will not cause any apparent symptoms. There is no way for you to know if your symptoms are the result of a blood clot or another issue. That’s why you should seek medical attention and an expert opinion if you have symptoms that could be the result of a blood clot. Quick treatment is necessary for successful treatment and future blood clot prevention.

Can you physically see a blood clot?

It is possible you will see evidence of a superficial venous thrombosis, or a blood clot in a vein that is closer to the skin. But it is still unlikely you still see the blood clot itself. Instead, you may experience redness, swelling, darkening of the skin over the vein, and hardening of the vein.

Can a blood clot go away on its own?

It is possible for blood clots to break apart on their own. This happens frequently with cuts and bruises. Blood clots form to stop the bleeding, and then naturally break apart after the wound has healed.

But there is no guarantee a blood clot will go away on its own, and the risk of more serious problems caused by a blood clot is very real. That’s why you should seek treatment if you believe you have a blood clot. Treatment can help break apart the clot and prevent future ones.

What are the first signs of a blood clot in the leg?

The first signs of a blood clot in the leg may include swelling, a change of color in the skin, and pain that starts out as dull and aching but can become sharp and intense. This pain may feel like a muscle cramp or charley horse.

How fast does a blood clot travel from the legs to the lungs?

A blood clot can break loose and travel from the legs to the lungs rapidly. 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.

How to check for a blood clot in your leg?

You can only monitor for the signs and symptoms of a blood clot in your leg. You cannot check to see if a blood clot is present yourself. That must be done by a medical professional.

Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of a blood clot can be similar to other, less serious conditions, which is why some people write off the symptoms until it’s too late. If you have symptoms of a blood clot in your leg, make an appointment to see your doctor. If your doctor is unavailable, consider visiting an urgent care center or hospital emergency department.

What is the treatment for a blood clot in the leg?

Treatments for blood clots in the leg focus on preventing the clots from getting bigger, breaking loose and traveling elsewhere in the body, and then reducing the chances of future clots. These treatments include:

• Blood thinners: Anticoagulants (blood thinners) like heparin, warfarin (Jantoven), rivaroxaban (xarelto), or apixaban (Eliquis) can help break up existing blood clots and prevent them from growing. These medicines can also prevent future blood clots from forming.
• Clot busters: Thrombolytics can help break apart blood clots. However, they can cause serious bleeding, so they are typically reserved for people with severe clotting issues.
• Filters: A doctor may insert a filter in the vena cava, a large vein in the abdomen, to filter out clots that break loose and try to travel to the lungs. However, this is typically a last resort treatment in people who have suffered from bleeding complications while on blood thinners in the past or have continued to form blood clots despite being on blood thinners.

In the past, doctors have recommended using compression stockings to encourage blood flow through the legs so blood cannot pool and clot.

However, research has shown that using compression stockings may not actually reduce the risk of blood clots. Furthermore, it may actually increase the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome, a long-term complication of DVT. For this reason, the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) no longer recommends the use of compression stockings.

Signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis

• July 13, 2021

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling, but may be asymptomatic.

• Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis
• Causes of deep vein thrombosis
• Risk factors
• DVT complications
• Prevention of thrombosis

DVT may be associated with diseases that affect the blood clotting process. A blood clot in your legs can also form if you don’t move for a long time, such as after surgery or an accident. But walking extremely long distances can lead to blood clots.

Deep vein thrombosis is a serious condition because blood clots in your veins can travel through your bloodstream and get stuck in your lungs, blocking blood flow (pulmonary embolism). However, pulmonary embolism may occur without evidence of DVT.

When DVT and pulmonary embolism occur at the same time, it is called venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of DVT:

• Swelling of the affected leg. In rare cases, swelling appears on both legs.
• Pain in the leg. The pain often starts in the calf and may feel like spasms or soreness.
• Red or discolored skin on the leg.
• Sensation of warmth in the affected leg.

Deep vein thrombosis may occur without noticeable symptoms.

When to see a doctor

If you have signs or symptoms of DVT, see your doctor.

If you have signs or symptoms of pulmonary embolism (PE), a life-threatening complication of deep vein thrombosis, seek emergency medical attention.

Call 103

Warning signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:

• Sudden shortness of breath
• Chest pain or discomfort that is aggravated by taking a deep breath or coughing.
• Feeling dizzy or dizzy or fainting
• Rapid pulse
• Fast breathing
• Cough with blood

Suspect deep vein thrombosis? Contact the professionals.

Causes

Anything that interferes with the normal flow or clotting of blood can cause blood clots.

The main causes of DVT are damage to the vein from surgery or trauma, and inflammation from infection or trauma.

Risk factors

Many factors can increase the risk of developing DVT, which include:

• Age. The risk of DVT increases at age 60, although it can occur at any age.
• Sitting for long periods of time, such as while driving or flying. When your legs remain motionless for several hours, your calf muscles do not contract. Muscle contractions promote blood circulation.
• Prolonged bed rest, such as during a long hospital stay or paralysis. Blood clots can form in the calves if the calf muscles are not used for a long time.
• Injury or surgery. Injury to the veins or surgery may increase the risk of blood clots.
• Pregnancy. Pregnancy increases pressure in the veins of the pelvis and legs. Women with an inherited bleeding disorder are at particular risk. The risk of blood clots as a result of pregnancy may remain up to six weeks after the baby is born.
• Contraceptive pills (oral contraceptives) or hormone replacement therapy. Both factors can increase the ability of the blood to clot.
• Exposure to drugs or chemicals. Certain drugs can cause blood clots. Before use, consult your doctor.
• Overweight or obese. Excess weight increases pressure in the veins of the pelvis and legs.
• Smoking. Smoking affects clotting and circulation, which may increase the risk of DVT.
• Cancer. Some forms of cancer increase blood levels of substances that cause blood clotting. Some forms of cancer treatment also increase the risk of blood clots.
• Heart failure. Increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Because people with heart failure have limited heart and lung function, symptoms caused by even a small pulmonary embolism are more noticeable.
• Inflammatory bowel disease. Bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis increases the risk of DVT.
• Personal or family history of DVT or PE. If you or someone in your family has had one or both of these, you may be at greater risk of developing DVT.
• Genetics. Some people inherit genetic risk factors or disorders, such as factor V Leiden, that make their blood clot more easily. The hereditary disease itself may not cause blood clots unless it is combined with one or more other risk factors.
• Risk factor unknown. Sometimes a blood clot in a vein can occur without an obvious underlying risk factor. This is called unprovoked VTE.

Complications

Complications of DVT may include:

• Pulmonary embolism (PE). PE is a potentially life-threatening complication associated with DVT. This happens when a blood vessel in your lung is blocked by a clot that travels to your lung from another part of your body, usually your leg.
  If you have signs and symptoms of PE, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling or coughing, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, feeling weak or faint, and coughing up blood can occur with PE.
• Post-phlebitic syndrome. Damage to a vein by a thrombus reduces blood flow to the affected areas, causing leg pain and swelling, skin discoloration, and skin ulcers.
• Complications of treatment. Complications may arise from blood thinners used to treat DVT. Bleeding is a side effect of anticoagulants. It is important to have regular blood tests while taking these medications.

Prophylaxis

Measures to prevent deep vein thrombosis include the following:

• Don’t sit still. If you have had surgery or otherwise been on bed rest, try to get back to work as soon as possible. If you are sitting for a while, do not cross your legs as this can block blood flow. If you are traveling long distances by car, stop about every hour and take a walk.
  If you are on an airplane, stand or walk from time to time. If you can’t do this, stretch your shins. Do some exercises. Try raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor, then lift your toes while resting your heels on the floor.
• Do not smoke. Smoking increases the risk of developing DVT.
• Exercise and control your weight. Obesity is a risk factor for DVT. Regular exercise reduces the risk of blood clots, which is especially important for people who sit a lot or travel frequently.

16 Department of Vascular Surgery

Updated by experts. Last edited: July 13, 2021

Venous thrombosis – what is it, symptoms

Venous thrombosis refers to acute diseases. There are many reasons for its occurrence, the main ones are a violation of the structure of the venous wall during surgery, trauma, radiation and chemotherapy, a slowdown in blood flow, and increased blood clotting.

According to cause of occurrence venous thromboses are divided into several types:0052 due to blood pressure on the veins)

Venous thromboses can also be divided by location:

• thrombosis superficial (subcutaneous) veins lower extremities (in clinical practice referred to as thrombophlebitis , is a common complication of varicose veins – inflammation in the walls of the veins increases the tendency to form blood clots)
• deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities

Characteristic symptoms of thrombophlebitis of superficial veins:

• Constant pulling, burning pain along the thrombosed veins, which can limit movement in the affected limb
• Redness of the skin in the area of ​​the affected vein
• Local (local) temperature increase in the area of ​​the affected vein
• Hypersensitivity in the affected area of ​​the limb
• Moderate swelling in the ankles and lower third of the legs
• Dilation of small saphenous veins

Thrombus formation can begin anywhere in the venous system, but most often in the deep veins of the leg.

Typical symptoms seen with deep vein thrombosis include:

1. Swelling of an entire or part of a limb
2. Discoloration of the skin (development of cyanosis – cyanosis
   skin of the lower extremities) or increased pattern of saphenous veins
3. Bursting pain in limb

Thrombi usually occur in the veins of the legs, thighs, and pelvis. A person may not be aware that they have a blood clot until the clot causes significant obstruction to blood flow or the clot particles break off. With the development of thrombosis in the veins of the lower extremities, swelling and pain in the leg may appear.

Venous thrombosis is very dangerous and poses a great threat to human life and health. A blood clot formed in the deep veins of the lower leg can travel with the bloodstream to the pulmonary artery, causing partial or complete disruption of blood flow in it (this condition is called pulmonary embolism). Venous thrombosis does not always pass without a trace, and after a thrombosis, a person may develop the so-called post-thrombotic disease, which manifests itself in constant swelling of the limb and the formation of trophic ulcers.

Venous thrombosis and its most dangerous complication, pulmonary embolism (PE), are the most frequent companions of many patients in therapeutic and surgical hospitals.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe life-threatening disease in which there is complete or partial occlusion of the lumen of the pulmonary artery by a thrombus. As a rule, PE is a complication of deep vein thrombosis of the legs.

Signs observed in PE are varied and not very specific.

The most common:

• Shortness of breath of varying severity (from mild to severe)
• Chest pain (in most cases “pleural”, aggravated by breathing)
• Hemoptysis is a rare symptom, body temperature may rise, cough may later join (as a rule, these signs are observed with a small embolism of small branches of the pulmonary artery)
• Shock or a sharp decrease in pressure with the development of a massive lesion of the pulmonary artery, there may be impaired consciousness

If you experience the symptoms described above, you should immediately seek medical attention at the nearest medical facility!

Sources:

1. Kirienko A.