Blood Clots: How They Get Dissolved

When you get a cut, your blood changes from a free-flowing liquid into a clump of gel — that’s a clot — to stop the bleeding. That’s like if a hose could patch itself after it springs a leak.

It’s a complicated process where platelets, a type of blood cell, and lots of different proteins all jump in at just the right time to plug things up.

As the wound heals, your body has another process to break them down. If a clot forms when it’s not supposed to — inside a blood vessel, for example — you might need a little help to make that happen.

How the Body Clears Clots

When your body senses that you’ve healed, it calls on a protein called plasmin. Here’s the clever part: Plasmin is actually built into the clot itself. It’s there the whole time, but it’s turned off. It just hangs out and waits.

To turn it on, your body releases a substance known as an activator. It wakes up plasmin and tells it to get to work tearing things down. That mainly means breaking up the mesh-like structure that helps the clot work so well.

How Medicine Clears Clots

Doctors use different medications based on the type of clot you have:

Blood thinners. Also called anticoagulants, these are some of the more common drugs for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). That’s a blood clot that happens in one of your large veins, usually in your leg. Blood thinners are also used to help prevent clots after a stroke or pulmonary embolism (when a blood clot travels to an artery in your lungs).

Blood thinners don’t dissolve the clot, but they can stop it from getting bigger and keep new ones from forming. That gives your body time to break up the clot.

Different blood thinners work in different ways:

• Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) keep your body from making fibrin, the protein the forms the clot’s mesh.
• Heparin keeps one of your body’s key clotting proteins, thrombin, from doing its job.
• Warfarin (Coumadin) slows down your liver’s ability to make the proteins you need for clotting.

Thrombolytics. These clot-busting drugs are used for serious conditions, like a pulmonary embolism. Unlike blood thinners, they do break down the clot. They work by turning on plasmin, which jump-starts your body’s natural process for clearing things out.

How Long Does It Take to Recover?

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. The pain and swelling from a DVT usually start to get better within days of treatment.

Symptoms from a pulmonary embolism, like shortness of breath or mild pain or pressure in your chest, can linger 6 weeks or more. You might notice them when you’re active or even when you take a deep breath. Exercise can help with this.

A blood clot puts serious stress on your body. So it’s not just about clearing it away, but also giving your body and mind time to recharge.

Long-Term Effects

Sometimes a clot can leave behind scars and other damage that can cause problems.

Continued

Almost half of people who get a DVT may end up with post-thrombotic syndrome. That’s where swelling, pain, or skin color changes last much longer. You also may get sores called ulcers.

About 4 in 100 people with a pulmonary embolism have long-term lung damage known as pulmonary hypertension. This means you have high blood pressure in your lungs, which can lead to issues like shortness of breath, tiredness, and chest pain.

Is your leg pain normal, or is it a blood clot?

Self Care, Leg

According to the American Society of Hematology, each year in the United States, approximately 900,000 people experience deep vein thrombosis or blood clots.

Know what to look for and avoid serious complications.

The first sign of a blood clot is mild pain. As the pain intensifies, the skin near the blood clot may become red and very warm to the touch. Since blood clots restrict blood flow, the pain often limits a person’s ability to move.

Most blood clots occur in the veins in the legs, but they can develop in arteries and other parts of the body, too.

Blood clots are serious.

If the blood clot breaks loose and travels through the veins or arteries to the heart, lungs, or brain, it could cause a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, stroke, or even death.

How do blood clots form?

In healthy people, blood clots form naturally after an injury or surgery. The platelets and plasma in the blood combine to start the clotting process. The first job of these cells is to build a dam to stop the blood, which prevents people from bleeding to death after a minor cut or scratch. The second job of this group of cells is to create a scab to protect the skin from infection while the body heals.

This is the body’s normal response to injury. As the tissues heal, the scab dissolves and is absorbed back into the body.

But blood clots that develop in the veins and arteries can be dangerous.

When circulation inside the blood vessels slows because of injury or other constricting conditions, the blood thickens. Platelets and plasma bond blood cells together and create the clot.

Blood clots that form for no apparent reason are the most dangerous.

Both arterial and venous clots can cause dangerous health complications if the clot travels.

A major cause of arterial blood clots is arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. When plaque-build-up on the arterial wall ruptures, platelets and plasma rush in to repair the damage and create a blood clot. If the clot breaks free and travels to the lungs or the brain, it can have fatal consequences.

Deep vein thrombosis or DVT blood clots occur in the arms and legs but are more common in the latter.

People experiencing DVT blood clots will feel increasing levels of pain. The skin around the area will become warm and sensitive to touch. The skin may have a reddened appearance as the body works to get rid of the clot. If blood flow is restricted, people often feel pain when they move the affected area, Anyone suffering these symptoms should call 9-1-1 and seek immediate treatment.

Are you at risk for a DVT blood clot?

Several conditions increase the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis.

• Obesity slows blood flow, which creates the potential for blood clots.
• Sitting in one position for two or three hours or more while traveling in a car or plane hinders muscle movement and restricts proper circulation.
• Smoking decreases the oxygen in the blood and blood flow.
• Trauma or surgery can cause immobilization and stress the circulatory system, which heightens the risk.
• Age increases the risk, especially for people over 60 years of age.
• Diabetes damages nerves and interferes with circulation.
• Cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases increase the risk of circulation issues.
• Pregnancy, birth-control pills, and other hormonal treatments can impact the body’s clotting response.

Some research suggests endurance athletes may also have an increased risk of life-threatening blood clots because of injury, dehydration, and travel. The signs of a blood clot mimic the symptoms of many sports-related muscle injuries. Athletes may ignore a blood clot thinking it is an injury that will heal with time.

Can you prevent blood clots?

Yes. Many blood clots are preventable.

Prevent arterial blood clots by watching your diet, monitoring your blood pressure, and taking action to keep your cholesterol numbers in check. Work with your healthcare provider to determine the best prevention plan for your health. You can reduce your risk of clots in your veins by making lifestyle changes.

• If you smoke, stop.
• If you’re overweight, lose weight by eating nutrition-rich foods and exercising to burn excess calories.
• Avoid long periods of immobility. If you’re traveling by car, stop often. If you’re flying, stand up and walk around every hour or two.
• If you have diabetes or a chronic inflammatory disease, be vigilant, and maintain your health. Ask your healthcare provider for specific ways you can avoid blood clots.

How are blood clots treated?

If you receive a DVT blood clot diagnosis, your healthcare provider may refer you to a hematologist, a physician specialized in the treatment of blood-related conditions.

After your diagnosis, your healthcare team will determine which treatment is the most effective for your condition. Your treatment plan will be based on your current health, any underlying conditions, and the location of the blood clot.

Medication is an effective treatment for some types of blood clots.

Anticoagulants, like warfarin or heparin, prevent blood clots from forming.
Thrombolytics dissolve blood clots that have formed and are causing problems.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis. Other blood clots require more intervention. Catheter-directed thrombolysis is a procedure that inserts a catheter into the vein to deliver clot-dissolving medication directly to the clot.

Surgery. Clots located in critical areas or those that don’t respond well to medication or other minimally invasive techniques may require surgical removal.

What if I have leg pain, but I’m not sure if it is a blood clot?

Blood clots that cause symptoms are serious and need immediate medical attention. If you have pain in your legs or arms accompanied by redness and swelling that seems to get worse, contact your healthcare provider or visit an urgent care facility for treatment.

Check out our latest blog articles:

Gardening is good for you

Do you need orthopedic surgery? Why not consider Bone & Joint’s Surgery Center?

Meet Scott D. Stuempfig, MD, FAAPMR

Does your child need a WIAA Sports Physical?

Bone & Joint publishes new blog articles every month. If you don’t want to miss out on the latest information, join our mailing list. You’ll receive an email when new topics are added to our blog. 

Click to subscribe to Bone & Joint’s orthopaedic health and wellness newsletter, e-Motion.

DVT (deep vein thrombosis) – NHS

DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a blood clot in a vein, usually the leg. DVT can be dangerous. Get medical help as soon as possible if you think you have DVT.

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if:

You think you have DVT.

Symptoms of DVT in the leg are:

• throbbing or cramping pain in 1 leg (rarely both legs), usually in the calf or thigh
• swelling in 1 leg (rarely both legs)
• warm skin around the painful area
• red or darkened skin around the painful area
• swollen veins that are hard or sore when you touch them

These symptoms also happen in your arm or tummy if that’s where the blood clot is.

What DVT in a leg can look like

Red and swollen right leg caused by DVT

Credit:

Who is more likely to get DVT

A DVT is more likely to happen if you:

• are over 60
• are overweight
• smoke
• have had DVT before
• take the contraceptive pill or HRT
• have cancer or heart failure
• have varicose veins

There are also some temporary situations when you’re at more risk of DVT. These include if you:

• are staying in or recently left hospital – especially if you cannot move around much (like after an operation)
• are confined to bed
• go on a long journey (more than 3 hours) by plane, car or train
• are pregnant or if you’ve had a baby in the previous 6 weeks
• are dehydrated

Sometimes DVT can happen for no obvious reason.

How DVT is diagnosed

If a doctor thinks you have DVT, you should be referred to hospital within 24 hours for an ultrasound scan. The scan shows whether blood is flowing normally through the vein.

You may also have an X-ray of the vein (venogram). For this, you will be injected with a dye to show where the blood clot is.

Treatment of DVT

You may have an injection of an anticoagulant (blood thinning) medicine called heparin while you’re waiting for an ultrasound scan to tell if you have a DVT.

After DVT is diagnosed, the main treatment is tablets of an anticoagulant medicine, such as warfarin and rivaroxaban. You will probably take the tablets for at least 3 months.

If anticoagulant medicines are not suitable, you may have a filter put into a large vein – the vena cava – in your tummy. The filter traps and stops a blood clot travelling to your heart and lungs.

A newer treatment involves breaking up and sucking out the clot through a small tube in the vein. You usually need to take anticoagulant medicine for several months after this treatment.

DVT in pregnancy is treated differently. It is treated with anticoagulant injections for the rest of the pregnancy and until the baby is 6 weeks old. Read more about DVT in pregnancy.

Recovery from DVT

Some lifestyle measures will help you recover from DVT.

After you leave hospital, you will be encouraged to:

• walk regularly
• keep your affected leg raised when you’re sitting
• delay any flights or long journeys until at least 2 weeks after you start anticoagulant medicine

Tips to prevent DVT

Don’t

• do not sit still for long periods of time – get up and move around every hour or so

• do not cross your legs while you’re sitting, it can restrict blood flow

• do not smoke – get support to stop smoking

• do not drink lots of alcohol

Going on a long journey

If you’re travelling for 3 hours or more by plane, train or car, there are things you can do during the journey to reduce your risk of DVT. These include drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol.

Find out more tips to reduce your risk of travel-related DVT

Going into hospital

If you go into hospital, your healthcare team should check your risks of DVT.

If they think you’re more likely to get DVT, you may be given treatment to prevent it, such as medicine or compression stockings (knee-high elastic socks that help your blood circulation), while you’re in hospital.

You may continue treatment after you leave hospital because a blood clot can happen weeks later.

You can also help protect yourself against DVT while you’re in hospital by:

• staying active and walking around if you can
• moving your toes (up and down) and ankles (in circles) if you have to stay in bed – your healthcare team may give you some exercises to do

Page last reviewed: 23 October 2019
Next review due: 23 October 2022

What are the symptoms of a blood clot in the leg?

A blood clot occurs when blood congeals. If this happens inside a person’s body, including their leg, it can cause severe problems. Some blood clots are especially dangerous as they can travel to a person’s lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism that can be fatal.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) note that the symptoms of a blood clot in a person’s leg include swelling, red skin, pain in the leg, or the leg feeling warm to the touch. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if a blood clot happens in a larger vein, this is a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

The AHRQ say that blood clots are more likely to occur if a person is unable to move around a lot. This can be due to surgery, an injury, or sitting down for an extended period, such as on a long-haul flight.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, blood clots or DVT can cause obvious symptoms. However, they also note that DVT does not always have any associated symptoms.

Symptoms include:

• Swelling: If a person develops a clot in their leg, it may swell up so that it is much larger than the other leg.
• Red skin: The skin on their leg may also become red or discolored.
• Pain: They may experience pain in the part of the leg where the blood clot has developed.
• Warmth: The swollen, red skin may feel warm to the touch.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a person should contact their doctor immediately if they suspect they have DVT. This is because DVT can result in a pulmonary embolism, where the blood clot moves to a person’s lung.

The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:

• shortness of breath
• pain when breathing
• rapid breathing
• increased heart rate

A pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate emergency treatment.

According to the AHRQ, risk factors for a blood clot include:

• having had surgery recently
• being older than 65
• taking birth control hormones
• being treated for cancer, or having had cancer
• having a broken hip, pelvis, or leg
• having a bad bruise
• being obese
• staying seated or in bed for long periods
• having had a stroke
• being paralyzed
• having a port in their body through which a doctor administers medicine
• having issues with veins
• having heart problems
• having had a blood clot previously, or family members who have had blood clots

According to the CDC, the best way to prevent a blood clot or DVT is to maintain a healthy weight, avoid a sedentary lifestyle where possible, and follow any recommendations from a doctor.

The CDC also recommend that a person gets up and walks around regularly, and exercises their leg muscles, even when seated.

A person could try:

• raising and lowering their heels while keeping their toes on the floor
• raising and lowering their toes, keeping their heels on the floor
• tightening and releasing their leg muscles

According to an article in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, taking a low dose of aspirin might be effective at reducing the chances of developing blood clots or DVT.

It is possible to minimize the risk of developing a blood clot or DVT by avoiding clear risk factors and practicing prevention techniques, such as exercising muscles wherever possible.

If a person thinks they have had a blood clot in their leg, they should contact a doctor immediately.

How Do You Know if You Have Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Muscle cramps and pulled muscles are common causes of leg pain. A less common cause is a blood clot in the deep veins of the legs, called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

DVT is relatively rare, affecting about 900,000 people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But it can have serious health consequences.

DVT happens when a blood clot forms in a vein deep in the body, usually in the lower leg or the thigh. If left untreated, the clot can break off and travel through the bloodstream to an artery in the lungs (known as a pulmonary embolism), blocking blood flow and potentially causing death.

A clot can cause problems even if it remains in the leg. In rare cases, DVT may lead to a serious condition called phlegmasia.

“If a leg DVT is extensive enough, it creates so much pressure within the leg that it impairs arterial blood flow into the leg,” says Deborah Hornacek, MD, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic. “There is risk of tissue injury and even limb loss if this emergency is not identified and intervened on quickly enough.”

Risk Factors for Deep Vein Thrombosis

Spotting deep vein thrombosis can be tricky, as the signs are sometimes mistaken for other conditions.

Here are signs of DVT to look for:

• The leg swells; this is the most common symptom.
• Usually, only one leg is affected.
• The area is painful and warm.
• Symptoms get worse over time, rather than dissipate as they would with a pulled muscle.

“On occasion, you can see below the skin that some of the superficial, smaller veins are dilated as they try to compensate and shift blood around that blockage,” says Andrea Obi, MD, a vascular surgeon at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.

If you have pain and swelling in your leg, consider whether you have any risk factors that make deep vein thrombosis a more likely cause.

Risks for DVT include:

• Recent surgery, particularly orthopedic surgery
• A prior history of DVT
• Hormone medications like birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
• Cancer or cancer therapy
• An illness or injury that has caused you to be inactive for a long period of time
• Prolonged travel in a car or airplane

Age is also a risk factor. “We haven’t figured out why, but DVT seems to be a disease of age,” Dr. Obi says. “That risk seems to take off after age 45.”

Obesity, smoking, and extensive large varicose veins can also be contributing factors, Dr. Hornacek says.

Genetics may also play a role, “but the majority of blood clots are caused by ‘provoked’ or ‘situational’ factors,” Hornacek says. “That’s why it’s important to know family history, but it often plays less of a role than most people expect.”

How Is Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosed?

When you seek medical help for suspected DVT, your doctor will probably perform a physical examination of the affected leg to check for pain and swelling. He or she will also check for knots that can be felt, which may indicate a blood clot.

“As you can imagine, there are many medical conditions that can cause pain and swelling, but the way we make the diagnosis of DVT is with something called a duplex ultrasound,” Obi says.

An ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the veins and arteries. “This allows us to use a nonradiation technology to look at the deep veins, so it’s not risky to the patient in any way,” Obi says.

If the ultrasound doesn’t provide a clear picture, your doctor may order a venography, which involves injecting dye into a vein in the affected leg to make the vein visible on an X-ray. Signs of DVT can also be spotted through a D-dimer test, a blood test to check for a substance that is released when a blood clot breaks up.

Treatment for Deep Vein Thrombosis

If you are diagnosed with DVT, know that it is a treatable condition. Your doctor will likely prescribe anticoagulants, or blood-thinning medication, like warfarin, heparin, enoxaparin, fondaparinux, edoxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban.

“Anticoagulation helps to impressively reduce the risk for PE (pulmonary embolism) by stabilizing the clot that is there and helping the body break it down over time,” Hornacek says.

You may need to take blood thinners for several weeks or months. It’s important to take them exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Thrombolytics, sometimes referred to as “clot busters” may also be given to dissolve the clot. These medications have a higher risk of causing bleeding than blood thinners, so they are used only in severe cases.

Additionally, wearing compression stockings can help reduce the risk that blood will pool and clot and may also prevent the swelling associated with DVT.

In cases of phlegmasia, patients will need surgery to remove the blood clot and restore flow, Obi says.

Finally, patients who have been treated for DVT should take care to minimize the risk factors that led to the clot. “It’s a matter of staying active, being cognizant of not staying immobile for long periods of time, and staying well-hydrated,” Obi says.

Additional reporting by Ashley Welch

Post-Thrombotic Syndrome | Cedars-Sinai

Not what you’re looking for?

What is post-thrombotic syndrome?

Post-thrombotic syndrome is a
condition that can happen to people who have had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the
leg. The condition can cause chronic pain, swelling, and other symptoms in your leg.
It may develop in the weeks or months following a DVT.

Veins are the blood vessels that
bring oxygen-poor blood and waste products back to the heart. Arteries are the blood
vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to the body. A DVT is a blood
clot that forms in a vein deep inside the body. In most cases, this clot forms
inside 1 of the deep veins of the thigh or lower leg.

The veins in your legs have tiny
valves that help keep blood moving back up toward the heart. But a DVT may damage 1
or more of these valves. This causes them to weaken or become leaky. When this
happens, blood starts to pool in your legs.

DVT is a common condition,
especially in people over age 65. Post-thrombotic syndrome affects a large number of
people who have had DVT. It can happen in men and women of any age.

What causes post-thrombotic syndrome?

A variety of conditions can
increase your chance of getting a DVT, such as:

• Recent surgery, which decreases
  your mobility and increases inflammation in the body, which can lead to
  clotting
• Medical conditions that limit your
  mobility, such as an injury or stroke
• Long periods of travel, which
  limit your mobility
• Injury to a deep vein
• Inherited blood disorders that
  increase clotting
• Pregnancy
• Cancer treatment

Who is at risk for post-thrombotic syndrome?

Certain factors may increase
your risk for post-thrombotic syndrome, such as:

• Being very overweight
• Having a DVT that causes
  symptoms
• Getting a thrombosis above the
  knee instead of below it
• Having more than 1 DVT
• Having increased pressure in the
  veins in your legs
• Not taking blood thinners after
  your DVT

What are the symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome?

In some cases, post-thrombotic
syndrome causes only a few mild symptoms. In other cases, it can cause severe
symptoms. The symptoms occur in the same leg that had the DVT, and can include:

• A feeling of heaviness in the
  leg
• Itching, tingling, or cramping in
  your leg
• Leg pain that’s worse with
  standing, better after resting or raising your leg
• Widening of leg veins
• Swelling in your leg
• Darkening or redness of the skin
  around your leg

How is post-thrombotic syndrome diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will
ask about your medical history, including if you have had a DVT. He or she will ask
about your symptoms and give you a physical exam. This will include a careful exam
of your leg. You may also need some tests, such as:

• Ultrasound. This is done to look for problems with the leg
  vein valves.
• Blood
  test. This is done to check for clotting problems with your
  blood.

Healthcare providers often use
something called a Villalta score to assess post-thrombotic syndrome. This scale
rates the severity of your symptoms and signs. A score higher than 15 means that you
have severe post-thrombotic syndrome.

How is post-thrombotic syndrome treated?

Compression is the main
treatment for post-thrombotic syndrome. This helps to increase the blood flow in
your veins, and decrease your symptoms.

You may be given
prescription-grade compression stockings. These apply more pressure than the type
you can buy over-the-counter. These are worn during the day, on the leg that had the
DVT. You also may also be given an intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) device.
This device applies pressure on the veins of your leg.

Proper skin care is also
essential. You healthcare provider may advise that you use a product to lubricate
your skin, such as petroleum jelly. Barrier creams that contain zinc oxide can also
be helpful. In some cases, you may need a steroid cream or ointment to treat your
skin. If you develop leg sores (ulcers), they may need special treatment.

In some cases, your provider may
advise surgery. This can be done to remove a blockage in a major vein. It can also
be done to repair the valves in your leg veins.

Living with post-thrombotic syndrome

Symptoms often improve with
treatment, but your symptoms may not all go away. It may help if you:

• Ask your provider about exercise
  training
• Walk every day to increase calf
  muscle strength and general health
• Do daily ankle flexing
  exercises to strengthen calf muscles
• Raise (elevate) your legs several
  times a day and whenever you are at rest
• Pay careful attention to dry,
  itching skin and any skin changes. Ask your provider what types of
  skin moisturizers to use. 

What are possible complications of post-thrombotic
syndrome?

Post-thrombotic syndrome can
cause leg sores (ulcers). If so, you will need to have wound care. Aspirin and a
medicine called pentoxifylline may help aid ulcer healing. If an ulcer becomes
infected, you may need antibiotics. Severe ulcers that don’t get better with
medicines and wound care therapy may need surgery to remove the damaged tissue.

What can I do to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome?

You can reduce your risk of
post-thrombotic syndrome by lowering your risk of DVT. Not moving or walking for
long periods of time raises your risk of DVT. If you are immobile due to a medical
condition or surgery, your healthcare provider will advise you how to prevent DVT.
This may include:

• Taking blood-thinning medicine,
  such as warfarin
• Using prescription-grade
  compression stockings
• Using a compression device
• Moving and walking as soon as you
  are able

Treating DVT right away is the
best way to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome. Take blood-thinner medicine exactly as
prescribed. Don’t miss any follow-up tests to check your blood levels of the
medicine. Use your compression devices exactly as prescribed.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your healthcare provider
right away if you have:

• An ulcer or a warm, painful area
  on your leg
• Symptoms of infection of an ulcer
  on your leg (heat, redness, warmth, fluid leakage, or a fever)
• Symptoms of DVT, such as leg
  swelling, pain, or warmth

Key points about post-thrombotic syndrome

• Post-thrombotic syndrome is a
  condition that can happen to people who have had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of
  the leg.
• It can cause chronic pain,
  swelling, and other symptoms in your leg. It may develop in the weeks or months
  following a DVT.
• Certain medical conditions
  increase your chance of getting a DVT.
• Compression therapy is the main
  treatment for post-thrombotic syndrome. You might also need medicines, topical
  creams, or surgery.
• Post-thrombotic syndrome may cause
  skin ulcers that need special therapy.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most
from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for your visit and
  what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down
  questions you want answered.
• Bring someone with you to help you
  ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.
• At the visit, write down the name
  of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down
  any new instructions your provider gives you.
• Know why a new medicine or
  treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side
  effects are.
• Ask if your condition can be
  treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is
  recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if you do not
  take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If you have a follow-up
  appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your
  provider if you have questions.

Medical Reviewer: Mary Mancini MD

Medical Reviewer: Anne Fetterman RN BSN

Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN

© 2000-2021 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional’s instructions.

Not what you’re looking for?

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot?

Depending on where in the body they occur, blood clots can cause a range of symptoms from pain to numbness, from coolness to warmth. These symptoms also won’t be the same in everyone. And sometimes, there won’t be any symptoms at all.

Blood clots in the leg can cause redness or even pale skin. Blood clots in the brain can cause difficulty walking and numbness or weakness on just one side of the body. Blood clots in the lungs can cause sudden shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and coughing. Blood clots in the abdomen can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Blood clots in the heart can cause chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, and indigestion.

Blood clots are also different depending if they develop in a vein (venous) or an artery (arterial). Venous clots may take longer to build up, while arterial clots cause symptoms immediately.

It’s important to pay attention to the signs of potential blood clots and to seek treatment as soon as possible because blood clots can be dangerous to your health.

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Leg or Arm (Deep Vein Thrombosis)?

If a blood clot in the arm or leg is small enough, you may not have any symptoms. With a large clot, your entire leg might swell. The pain may feel like a pulled muscle or a “Charlie horse.”

The most common place for blood clots is the lower leg. It’s unusual to have clots in both arms or both legs at once. So, if you experience symptoms in only one leg or arm, they may indicate a blood clot.

A clot in your arm or leg may not be dangerous there, but it poses a risk of breaking off and lodging in your lungs. This is known as a pulmonary embolism and can be fatal.

Signs of a blood clot in the arm and leg include:

• Pain
• Redness or bluish skin coloration
• Swelling
• Pale color
• Coolness to the touch
• Tenderness
• Increased warmth in the part of the limb that’s swollen or hurting
• Loss of feeling or numbness in the limb

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Brain?

A blood clot on or in the brain is diagnosed through an MRI or CT scan. A blood clot in the brain can block blood flow, causing a stroke.

But not every blood clot in the brain results in a stroke. And not all strokes are caused by blood clots. About 20 percent of strokes are caused by aneurysms, which are bulges or weakness in the wall of a blood vessel.

Signs of a blood clot on or in the brain include:

• Trouble speaking
• Impaired vision
• Numbness or weakness on one side of the body or face
• Trouble walking
• Inability to think clearly or confusion
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Severe headache

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Lungs (Pulmonary Embolism)?

Clots in the veins of the legs or arms can break off and travel to the lung. The resulting pulmonary embolism can cause organ damage or leave to death.

Seniors are at increased risk for pulmonary embolism. This is partly because they are less mobile.

Symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs include:

• Chest pain that may be short and stabbing and may get worse with each breath
• Sudden shortness of breath
• Rapid pulse
• Rapid breathing
• Unexplained coughing possibly with bloody mucus

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Abdomen?

Blood clots in the lungs can cause sudden shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and coughing. Blood clots in the abdomen can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Blood clots in the heart can cause chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, and indigestion.

Researchers in Denmark found that certain abdominal blood clots may be a sign of undiagnosed cancer. Abdominal blood clots may also be more likely in people with medical conditions that cause fluid buildup or swelling in the abdomen.

Abdominal blood clots can cause the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain (especially if it gets worse after eating or over time)
• Nausea
• Blood in stool
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Buildup of abdominal fluid

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot in the Coronary Artery?

A blood clot in or near the heart can cause a heart attack, according to the World Heart Federation. Women may have different symptoms of heart attacks than men. Women’s symptoms may be less specific.

Blood clots in the coronary artery cause the following symptoms:

• Extreme chest pain that may radiate to the left part of your jaw, shoulder and arm
• Chest pressure or heaviness
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Sweating

When to Go to the Doctor for a Blood Clot

See your doctor right away whenever you think you may have symptoms a blood clot. The more quickly it is diagnosed, the better your chances of avoiding permanent harm or death. The diagnosis is usually made using a combination of symptoms, physical examination, and an imaging test.

A doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant, or blood thinner, to prevent new blood clots and keep existing clots from growing. Names of blood thinners include dabigatran (Pradaxa), warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto).

For people who cannot take blood thinners, doctors may recommend an IVC filter. These devices are also used in patients recovering from accidents and surgeries when there is a high risk of potentially fatal lung clots.

Share This Page:

https://www.drugwatch.com/news/2018/08/02/what-are-the-signs-of-a-blood-clot/Copy Link

90,000 Thrombosis symptoms – how to diagnose thrombosis

There are two main forms of venous thrombosis: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and superficial vein thrombosis or thrombophlebitis. The first form is the most dangerous. Deep vein thrombosis in the initial periods may be asymptomatic. Blood clots can break off and enter the pulmonary bloodstream and block the pulmonary arteries – then pulmonary embolism develops, sometimes this is the first sign of DVT. TELA is a life-threatening condition.[1]

Symptoms of venous thrombosis of the lower extremities are often nonspecific, but may differ depending on how much the vein is thrombosed, where the thrombus is located, and the duration of the disease. [1]

If thrombophlebitis is suspected, both legs should be examined, since bilateral damage to both superficial and deep veins is possible.In many patients, the transition of the process of thrombus formation from superficial veins to deep veins can proceed without obvious clinical symptoms. [1]

For an accurate diagnosis, it is additionally required to carry out special laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods. [2]

If you suspect you have any symptoms of thrombosis, immediately consult a doctor for advice.

SARU.ENO.16.05.0678 (1)

1. Russian clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolic complications (VTEC).Phlebology, 2015: 4 (2): 3-52
2. Givirovskaya N.E., Mikhalskiy V.V. Thrombosis and thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities: etiology, diagnosis and treatment. Russian medical journal, 2009. No. 25: p. 1663.

SARU.ENO.19.02.0227

90,000 5 signs of thrombosis | PHARMACY Weekly

Blood clots can help “close” a wound and stop excessive bleeding, but this process can be very dangerous if it occurs in the deep veins of the body.It often occurs in the vessels of the lower extremities, which is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

“When blood clots form in deep vessels, they can be painful and pose a health hazard,” said Dr. Luis Navarro, founder of the Vein Treatment Center in New York, USA. … The most serious complication can occur if the clot travels to the lungs and blocks systemic blood flow.It is important to know the symptoms of thrombosis, because they can often be subtle or imperceptible at all, ”said L. Navarro.

These 5 signs can help identify the presence of a blood clot.

1. Swelling of one leg

In most cases, deep vein thrombosis results in edema in the affected limb. It becomes noticeably below the knee and rarely affects both legs. “When a blood clot forms in a vein, blood cannot return to the heart, which causes swelling of the limb,” explains Dr. Patricia Vassallo, assistant professor of cardiology at Northwestern University, USA.

2. Skin discoloration

When blood flow is blocked in the veins, the color of the skin over this area may change. You can see shades of blue, magenta, or even red. If this area also feels itchy or feels warm to the touch, it is highly recommended to seek the advice of a specialist.

3. Shortness of breath

Due to the effect of the formed thrombus on the circulatory system, the oxygen level may begin to fall.As a result, you can feel an increase in heart rate, a suffocating cough appears and breathing becomes difficult.

This could be a sign that a blood clot has moved to the lungs, especially if on top of that there is dizziness. If these symptoms appear, you must immediately call an ambulance.

4. Pain in one leg

This pain can occur on its own or be accompanied by signs of discoloration of the skin and swelling in the limb. “Unfortunately, pain caused by a blood clot can easily be mistaken for muscle cramps or overexertion, so the problem is often misdiagnosed and especially dangerous,” said Dr. L.Navarro.

5. Acute chest pain

When a blood clot travels to the lungs, it can cause pulmonary embolism and produce symptoms similar to a heart attack.

According to Dr. Thomas Maldonado of NYU Langone Medical Center, dull pain that is concentrated in the chest but radiates to surrounding parts of the body is most likely a heart attack. On the other hand, he noted that a pulmonary embolism can manifest itself as acute pain, which seems to the patient to get worse with each breath.

Based on materials from www.medicaldaily.com

90,000 Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis

Contents:

1. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – what is it?
2. Deep vein thrombosis is dangerous!
3. Deep vein thrombosis with varicose veins
4. Deep vein thrombosis – causes of DVT
5. Risk groups for deep vein thrombosis
6. What symptoms develop with deep vein thrombosis
7. Deep vein thrombosis – diagnosis
8. Surgical methods for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis
9. Deep vein thrombosis – treatment in Moscow
10. Deep vein thrombosis – conservative treatment
11. Deep vein thrombosis drug treatment
12. Diet for deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities
13. Deep vein thrombosis – home treatment
14. Prevention of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities
15. Deep vein thrombosis – reviews of our patients
16. Frequently asked questions from our patients on the Internet about deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – what is it?

Deep vein thrombosis is a disease in which blood clots (thrombi) form in the lumen of the deep veins.The lower limbs are most often affected.

The mechanism of development of deep vein thrombosis

With the development of the disease, the health of the deep vessels is threatened. If treatment is not prescribed on time, there can be serious consequences.

Deep vein thrombosis is dangerous!

This is what a tangle-like vein thrombosis of the lower extremities looks like

Due to the formation of blood clots, the normal blood flow is disturbed, and this leads to a blockage of blood vessels.With such disorders, tissue necrosis can occur in some areas of the body. In the worst case, the resulting blood clots break off and enter the heart or lung. In such cases, due to thromboembolism of the artery of the lung, the person dies.

Deep vein thrombosis – Wikipedia says …

DVT is considered a pathological condition characterized by the formation of blood clots in the deep vein cavity. This disease is observed in 10-20% of the total population. 3-15% of people who do not receive proper treatment die from pulmonary embolism.

Deep vein thrombosis with varicose veins

Very often, deep vein thrombosis becomes a complication of varicose veins.

Deep vein thrombosis is often a complication of varicose veins

The severity of the disease will depend on the location of the thrombus and its size. If a complete blockage of the vessel does not occur, symptoms of the disease may be completely absent.

Deep vein thrombosis – causes of DVT

Deep vein thrombosis most often occurs when several factors are combined:

• for blood clotting disorders;
• when blood flow is slowed down;
• for damage to the vascular walls.

There are risk factors that provoke the occurrence of thrombosis, these are:

• old age;

90,072 smoking;

• overweight;

90,072 use of certain drugs, including oral contraceptives;

• pregnancy and childbirth;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• some operations;
• Injuries damaging blood vessels.

Risk groups for deep vein thrombosis

The risk group includes people who have:

• varicose veins;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• operations were performed on the limbs, as well as in the pelvis and abdomen;

90,072 had fractures of the leg bones;

• there are tumors in the abdominal cavity, pelvis and retroperitoneal space;
• dyshormonal state of the endocrine or reproductive system;
• Positional Compression Syndrome.

What symptoms develop with deep vein thrombosis

As a rule, symptoms do not appear immediately, only in the case of an increase in the blood clot. If there is a separation of the clot, shortness of breath, chest pain, hemoptysis may occur.

You can recognize the development of the disease by the following symptoms:

• swelling of the legs;
• bluish skin tone;
• pain when moving.

The main symptom of deep vein thrombosis is leg pain!

If you have these signs, you most likely have deep vein thrombosis.The stages or variants of the course determine the method of treatment.

Deep vein thrombosis – diagnosis

The main method for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis today is ultrasound duplex scanning. With ultrasound, it is possible to determine the location of the thrombus, its size, condition (it is attached to the walls of the vein or dangles in the lumen – it floats).

Doctor Malakhov A.M. conducts ultrasound diagnostics of deep veins of the lower extremities

Phlebography and radionuclide scanning are also prescribed to assess venous blood flow.The state of microcirculation is assessed based on the data of rheovasography.

Surgical methods for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis

If a patient has a severe form of thrombosis of the lower extremities, the most effective method of treatment, surgical intervention, is thrombolysis. A timely operation makes it possible to restore full blood flow, if the diagnosis is deep vein thrombosis. Only a timely intervention can completely cure the patient from this serious condition.Thrombolysis is performed only in an inpatient setting and by highly experienced endovascular surgeons. Treatment after surgery is also aimed at the same goal – resorption of blood clots.

In addition to thrombolysis, there are two more surgical methods for treating deep vein thrombosis – thrombectomy with angioplasty and installation of a thrombus trap – cava filter.

Surgical methods for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis – treatment in Moscow

Modern Moscow medicine offers several methods for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis, the use of which depends on the severity of the disease.In the early stages, thrombolytic drugs can be dispensed with if you have deep vein thrombosis. Treatment (Moscow is a city where there are world luminaries in phlebology) must be very qualified. In the later stages, such therapy is dangerous due to the possible separation of a thrombus and the occurrence of thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery. If severe circulatory disorders and deep vein thrombosis are observed, treatment is an operation (thrombectomy).

Deep vein thrombosis – conservative treatment

With conservative treatment, you can only stop or slow down the progression of the disease.Such therapy can also be prescribed with complex treatment.

Principles of Conservative Therapy:

• compression therapy (elastic compression) – the result of this effect is the elimination of the mechanisms of the progress of varicose veins, without such therapy, conservative treatment is impossible;
• The required level of compression is achieved through the use of special jersey (special medical product), in this case it is important to choose the right size of compression jersey;
• compression hosiery is able to relieve swelling, pain and fatigue of the lower extremities;
• The desired result is achieved with the constant use of elastic compression.

Deep vein thrombosis drug treatment

This implies a course of treatment with anticoagulants (drugs that prevent blood from clotting). The average duration of such a course is at least 3 months, and sometimes even longer. A combination of drugs that differ in the mechanism of action is envisaged. An important step in the medical treatment of DVT is the selection of blood thinners. To prevent gastrointestinal complications, some medications are given parenterally.

Pharmacotherapy is often performed on an outpatient basis. In severe forms of the disease, patients who have suffered thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery or thrombosis of the vena cava are annually hospitalized in the therapeutic or cardiological department for 2-3 weeks, where infusion hemorheological and cardiotonic therapy is performed.

Diet for deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities

In case of venous thrombosis, you need to follow a diet, excluding foods containing a significant amount of vitamin K and C from the diet.Moderate fluid intake is also recommended.

You should eat foods that thin your blood, such as garlic, peppers and artichokes.

Deep vein thrombosis – home treatment

Today, along with traditional methods of treating the disease, traditional medicine is practiced if deep vein thrombosis is determined. Treatment with folk remedies is used as an adjunct to the main treatment.

The first thing to do is to thin the blood.If you have deep vein thrombosis, traditional treatments include the following foods:

• onions and garlic;
• sunflower seeds;
• cocoa;

90,072 beets;

• apple cider vinegar;
• tomatoes or tomato juice;
• hercules;
• oatmeal;
• cranberries;
• oatmeal;
• lemon;
• cherries;
• viburnum.

Blood thinning should be approached with caution so as not to provoke bleeding.It is not recommended to eat fatty and meat products if there is deep vein thrombosis. Photos, the results of the wrong treatment are on the Internet.

Every day you can eat one spoonful of a mixture made from crushed garlic, two tablespoons of unrefined vegetable oil and one tablespoon of honey.

Prevention of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities

Prevention of the disease is primarily aimed at eliminating the causes of the development of vascular diseases.Thus, you need to get rid of bad habits, reduce body weight, treat diabetes mellitus, lower blood cholesterol levels and move more. So it will be possible to defeat deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities (diet, photos, the results should be a stimulus!).

Deep vein thrombosis – reviews of our patients.

Testimonial from our patient about the deep vein thrombosis treatment performed at the MIFC

Anita, 38 years old, Moscow.

I would like to thank the clinic staff for their professionalism.With their help, I began to trust traditional medicine again. Before I went to the clinic, I repeatedly underwent various therapeutic procedures for deep vein thrombosis in my legs. At first I had varicose veins with a complication, in which they underwent an operation to “suture the veins.” As a result, I practically became disabled. On the advice of my friends, I turned to the doctors of the MIFC clinic, who brought me back to a full life. It’s good that everything was done without surgery. Anita, 38 years old, Moscow.

Patient testimonial on the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in our center

Andrey, 40 years old, Krasnogorsk.

Due to frequent stressful situations and bad habits, I have problems with my legs, or rather, impaired blood circulation. The legs were often swollen, blue and sometimes painful when walking. On the Internet, I accidentally saw an article about venous thrombosis, while the described symptoms coincided with my feelings. I was just recently advised a phlebology clinic, and I decided to go for a consultation.Doctor Malakhov A.M. diagnosed with acute deep vein thrombosis. At first, I was reassured and told that in this case, surgical intervention is indispensable. Since there was no other way out, I agreed and did not regret it. The operation in the vascular department of the city hospital, where I was urgently hospitalized, to remove the blood clot was successful and without complications. Now nothing threatens my life, thanks to the doctors of the clinic “MIFC” for their professionalism and “human” attitude towards patients! Andrey, 40 years old, Moscow.

Frequently asked questions from our patients on the Internet about deep vein thrombosis

How to understand that there are blood clots in the veins?

Only a specialist, phlebologist or vascular surgeon can reliably understand that there are blood clots in the veins. And even a specialized specialist will need instrumental support, an ultrasound examination of blood vessels. You can assume that you have blood clots in your veins by the following signs:

• Edema.
• Cyanosis of the skin.
• Soreness, tissue swelling, redness of the skin along the veins.

If there are blood clots in the veins, how are they recognized, symptoms and treatment?

Blood clots in the veins can be detected using duplex ultrasound scanning. The following symptoms indicate the presence of blood clots in the veins: swelling, pain, discoloration of the limb. The best diagnostic option, as well as subsequent treatment, would be to contact a good phlebological center.

How to recognize a blood clot in your leg?

In order to recognize a blood clot on the leg, you must seek professional medical attention. Alternatively, do an ultrasound examination of the vessels of the lower extremity. The best solution would be to consult a narrow specialist, phlebologist.

How to identify blood clots in the legs?

From the point of view of modern diagnostics, the best way to identify blood clots in the legs is an ultrasound examination of the vessels of the lower extremities.

A thrombus in a vein, how is it formed?

A thrombus in a vein is formed as a result of a complex chain of biochemical reactions, during which a network of insoluble fibrin molecules is formed from fibrinogen molecules. In the latter, blood cells are fixed, creating a dense intravascular structure, which is a thrombus.

How to identify a blood clot?

A thrombus can be determined by various methods, both computed and magnetic resonance imaging, and a good ultrasound examination.The latter technique is more optimal in terms of price-quality ratio and is the gold standard for the diagnosis of thrombosis.

How to prevent blood clots in blood vessels?

It is possible to prevent the formation of blood clots in the vessels if you are examined by a phlebologist in a timely manner, follow the doctor’s recommendations, eliminate varicose veins, if detected.

90,000 symptoms, causes, treatment of venous thrombosis of the lower extremities, arteries (deep / superficial) – Department of Phlebology – Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow

What is it?

Thrombosis is a pathological condition in which dense blood clots (thrombi) form in the vessels, slowing down or even stopping the normal flow of blood.As a result, there may be a lack of nutrition of organs (ischemia), which in turn can lead to tissue death (necrosis, heart attack) and death. There are two types of thrombosis: venous and arterial. From the names you can see where the formation of blood clots occurs. In the first case – in the veins, in the second – in the arteries. The disease can be acute or chronic. Arterial thrombosis is the most dangerous.

Main causes of occurrence

There are three main factors for blood clots.

1. Damage to the vessel wall (as a result of trauma, surgery and improper diet (cholesterol plaques are formed), infection, heavy lifting, childbirth, etc.).
2. Blood clotting disorder (tendency to increased coagulability). Changes in blood clotting can occur due to metabolic disorders or hormonal imbalances.
3. Blood congestion . It occurs when a person stays in one position for a long time (for example, in front of a computer, in an airplane seat, or bedridden).

The risk group also includes people with varicose veins, overweight, bad habits, leading a passive lifestyle, as well as people over 60 years old.

Thrombosis symptoms

For arterial thrombosis , the following symptoms are characteristic:

• Sharp pain that occurs in one place and spreads to the adjacent areas in the form of a pulsating stream
• Feeling of numbness of the limbs, depending on the location of the thrombus, as a result of which they lose sensitivity and become cold
• Shortness of breath, heart rhythm disturbance, chest tightness (with blockage of the pulmonary artery)
• Dizziness, speech disorder (when the cerebral arteries are blocked)

With venous thrombosis , the following is observed:

• Increasing pain in the affected area
• Swelling and thickening of veins at the site of the thrombus
• The skin color in this area becomes blue
• Swelling and bulging of superficial veins.

Disease diagnosis

When contacting a medical institution, the doctor diagnoses and prescribes treatment. Basic diagnostic methods:

Specialists to contact:

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the ongoing disease, conservative and surgical treatment is possible. During surgery, the following is carried out: removal of blood clots, suturing of a vessel, ligation of veins, arteriovenous bypass grafting or other necessary operation.

Conservative treatment includes:

• Drug therapy (anticoagulants, administration of blood clot dissolving agents, etc.)
• Diet therapy
• UHF therapy.

Prevention

Preventive actions:

• Use of elastic bandages and compression garments
• Quitting smoking
• Rational and proper nutrition
• Vitamin therapy
• Physical activity
• Timely treatment of concomitant diseases
• Monitor cholesterol and blood glucose levels
• Weight loss.

If symptoms of the disease appear, you can seek advice and examination in Moscow from the specialists of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Recording is made by phone …

7 signs that there may be blood clots in the body

Blood clots are blood clots. Normally, they protect us from scratches and other wounds: blood clots, a blood clot stops bleeding from a damaged capillary or vein. And then, having completed the task, within a few hours or days it safely disintegrates and disappears.But sometimes things don’t go according to plan ^.

Why blood clots are dangerous

Blood clots can also occur inside the veins. This condition is called thrombosis. It most often affects the legs, especially if you are sedentary. But any part of the body can be at risk.

If such a blood clot breaks off, it will enter the general bloodstream and can block blood vessels in the heart, brain or lungs. This is a life-threatening situation that can lead to heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism ^{– lung failure.}

Therefore, it is extremely important to know the symptoms of blood clots. Your life may depend on it.

Now reading 💔

When you need to call an ambulance immediately

Urgently dial 103 or 112, if ^:

• it suddenly becomes difficult to breathe, there is a lack of oxygen;
• there is chest pain or discomfort that is aggravated by coughing or taking a deep breath;
• when coughing, sputum is released with blood;
• have difficulty speaking;
• vision deteriorated – double vision began to appear, blind spots, “fog” appeared;
• blood pressure has dropped sharply, and this is accompanied by dizziness, blurred consciousness, fainting.

This is how a heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism manifest themselves. It is not a fact that they are provoked by a detached blood clot. But in any case, there is no time to think about the reasons: if the above symptoms appear, immediately seek help.

How to understand that you may have blood clots

It is better not to bring the matter to critical, deadly manifestations – this is understandable. It is important to catch thrombosis at the earliest possible stage in order to prevent complications.

The problem is that it is difficult to suspect the presence of blood clots in the vessels. According to 90,583 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of people have little to no blood clots.

Nevertheless, it is still possible to assume a blockage of the vessels. Here are some ^{signs that indicate possible thrombosis in different parts of the body.}

1. Swelling in the leg or arm

Edema can occur in the place where the vessel is directly blocked, or spread to the entire limb.Moreover, in this case, only one hand or leg suffers – the one in the vessels of which the alleged thrombus is located.

2. Leg cramps

Regular cramps can be a symptom of poor circulation. Blood clots can also cause it.

3. Sudden leg pain

This is one of the main symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. Often pain in the area of ​​the gastrocnemius muscle, sharp or throbbing ^{, is almost the only sign of acute circulatory disorders.}

4. Changes in skin color

Thrombus impedes normal blood circulation. As a result, some of the blood vessels are overflowing with blood, and some, on the contrary, suffer from a lack of it. This can be manifested by changes in skin color: in some areas of the affected limb, it turns red or cyanotic, in others, on the contrary, it turns pale.

5. Changes in skin temperature

In the area of ​​a blood clot, the skin may regularly heat up and itch. The rise in temperature has a chance to feel it by touch.

6. Unmotivated attacks of nausea or vomiting

If you feel nauseous regularly, this may be a symptom of thrombosis of the mesenteric vessels – those that supply blood to different parts of the intestine. It is possible to assume the condition if vomiting appears, but does not bring relief, and you continue to feel nauseous.

7. Abdominal pain

It can also be a sign of blockage of mesenteric vessels. Especially if the stomach aches almost constantly, and the pain intensifies after eating.Also among the indirect signs of thrombosis are diarrhea and bloating.

What to do if you have signs of thrombosis

If you have the slightest suspicion, be sure to consult your physician as soon as possible. The doctor will conduct an examination, ask you about the symptoms and, if necessary, send you to a narrow specialist – a phlebologist or vascular surgeon.

Treatment for ^{will depend on where the clot is located and how high the risk is that it may come off.One option is to wear compression stockings to reduce swelling and pain and prevent the clot from growing in size. Medications may also be required: thromboembolytics (they dissolve blood clots) and anticoagulants (reduce blood clotting and prevent new blood clots from forming). The last resort is surgery.}

We remind you once again: only a qualified doctor can decide which method of treatment will be most effective in your case.Self-activity in this matter is deadly.

And don’t relax. According to 90,583 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 out of 10 people who get rid of thrombosis will have blood clots again within the next 10 years. Therefore, train yourself to monitor your well-being. Life can depend on it.

Read also 🦵🛌😭

6 signs of thrombosis you must know

Most often, thrombosis occurs in the legs
Photo: pixabaycom

The earlier it turns out to detect the formation of blood clots, the higher the chances of maintaining health, and even life, doctors warn.

The health consequences of thrombosis are catastrophic. A blood clot formed in a vein can break off at any time and block blood access, leading to a stroke, heart attack, or death.

Thrombosis can be recognized by certain symptoms.The main thing to remember is that blockage of veins can form in different parts of the body, but most often it occurs in the legs or hip part of the body.

Six life-saving signs of thrombosis

1. If there is a blood clot, the inside of the foot, calf, or leg is usually very painful. The pain subsides a little when you lift your leg.

2. Soreness or severe muscle tension is felt in the leg.

3. Swelling may occur in the area where the blood clot has formed.

4. Pain in the calf muscles that occurs when the foot is bent or when pressure is applied to the calves.

5. Veins are strongly inflated with bumps.

6. Burning sensation in the leg, as if from fire.

Attention! With arm thrombosis, the symptoms are usually more noticeable.In addition, the signs mentioned above may appear unevenly, depending on the general condition of the person.

What you need to know about thrombosis

• Most often, blood clots occur in the veins connected to the heart – these are the pelvis and legs.

• Pulmonary embolism is a dangerous consequence of thrombosis. This happens when a blood clot breaks down and travels through the veins, through the heart, to the lungs.

• In some cases, the blood clot can also be infected with bacteria. They can then spread, resulting in blood poisoning.

• As a result of thrombosis, skin inflammation may occur, ulcers may appear, or edema of the legs and arms may occur.

Earlier, “Kubanskie Novosti” told about the danger of varicose veins.

90,000 A blood clot came off.Symptoms and consequences – Vinsky’s website

A blood clot came off

I am not a vascular doctor.
But here I was again in the hospital with pulmonary embolism (PE). This is when a blood clot breaks off and enters the lungs, clogging up the vessels.

There is nothing to do in the hospital, except for viewing rosgovno TV.
Therefore, I decided to write the second part, or the continuation of my article from 2012. Vein thrombosis due to frequent and long flights
Just in case, I will say that I write articles on this site only on the basis of my own experience.

Part two will be devoted to deep vein thrombosis of the legs and Russian roulette – the consequences of a thrombus breaking off into the blood vessels of the lungs (PE).
Roulette because a person either dies or remains alive.

My initial data before thrombus separation

1) Quite a short flight Moscow – Thessaloniki (Greece) 3 hours in economy.
2) After – rest at sea for 6 days.
3) Transfer by small car from Thessaloniki (northeastern Greece) to the coast of the Ionian Sea of ​​Greece (500 km).
4) Heat.

Thrombosis symptoms

Familiar symptoms of thrombosis appeared while moving around Greece: from Thessaloniki to the Ionian Islands by car.

Considering my first experience with thrombosis, I fly in economy if the flight is less than 4 hours. In other cases (after 2012), he began to fly only in business class with horizontally folding seats. And before the flight he took aspirin.

A vein examination, which I did twice a year at the Mashuk Aquatherm sanatorium, in March showed: “all veins are clean.”
After the flight from Moscow to Greece, we rested on the beaches of Sithonia for 6 days and there were no symptoms of thrombosis.

Therefore, option (1) of the influence of flights, which we had a lot (as usual) this year, on the formation of a blood clot, I exclude. Blood clots in the veins form quite quickly: an hour or two. Therefore, a car (3) falls under suspicion.

But even before the last trip to Greece, we always rented cars, and sometimes I drove more than 300 km a day.

I began to analyze and remember:
There were long journeys by car in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil … But there were no symptoms of thrombosis.

Vehicle size and comfort

Although no – I just remembered: there were no large Land Cruiser SUVs available in Australia, so I had to take an FJ Cruiser with an uncomfortable seat and a smaller cabin size (the seat could not move further than I was used to).

And after the trip to the Outback (long stretches and heat) – my left leg ached.
This was a familiar symptom of the onset of thrombosis, and in the very first village we came across we drove into a pharmacy and bought compression socks and aspirin.

There were similar symptoms while traveling in a small car in Morocco, but then as soon as my leg started to ache, we immediately stopped and rested at the hotel for 3 days.

How are these cases similar?

1) The size of the car and the comfort of its seats.
2) Heat. Sometimes you feel thirsty, but the water has run out.

Regarding the heat in Europe: we ride in Europe outside the summer vacation season, that is, when it is not hot outside.
Usually, at the peak of the summer heat, we try to get out to those countries where it is cool at other times – Canada, Scotland, Iceland, Norway.

Well, and even if we got out to sea in Europe, then we do not travel long distances – only local sorties no more than 100 km.

Factors leading to thrombosis while driving

I conclude that a combination of several factors is needed for thrombosis while driving:

1) Hereditary thrombophilia (found out by blood test).
2) Uncomfortable car seat and manual gearbox due to which the left leg is squeezed by the edge of the seat and becomes numb.
3) Heat and dehydration of the body.

What does a person feel when a blood clot breaks off

Earlier I wrote about the symptoms of the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins of the legs:
– An ache in the leg (this time the thigh hurt), as if a sprain.
– Chills and high fever in the evening.

But if the first time everything worked out, the thrombus was in the sural vein and did not dangle.
That this time the blood clot came off and got into the lungs.

Rather, into one of the vessels of the lungs, blocking it. As a result, some part of the lung died.
This is called Lung infarction .

For your information, if a thrombus that comes off is large enough, it blocks the pulmonary artery, causing almost instant death.

In my case, I was just lucky: the thrombus was small and could not block the entire lung.
I got off with infarction pneumonia: inflammation develops in the dead part of the lungs.

This is probably why, feeling an aching leg and chills and at the same time a burning sensation and pain in the lungs, I paid more attention to the lungs, correlating my temperature with a cold due to the air conditioner.

After the thrombus came off

However, the pain in my leg did not go away, and on the third day of our trip to the Ionian Islands, we decided to urgently interrupt the trip and evacuate to Moscow.
I chose the most gentle route: with one change and an overnight stay in Prague, so that the flight would be no longer than 2 hours. I drank aspirin before the flight.

In the hospital with TELA

In the hospital, the therapist traditionally said that I was healthy:

– I didn’t have a temperature
– my lungs didn’t wheeze
– X-rays showed nothing.

But I insisted on ultrasound of deep veins and, after ultrasound, according to the same tradition, was sent to the ambulance in the department of vascular surgery.
There they made a computed tomography of the lungs with a dye in the blood (iodine) and told me the diagnosis: pulmonary embolism (PE).

What do I have to do in the hospital now

1) Do an ultrasound scan a couple of times a week and watch the dynamics of the resorption of the thrombus in the thigh (the dynamics are good – 2 cm per day).
2) Every day put a dropper with a solution that washes off the blood clot.
3) Continue to inject anticoagulants into the stomach and continue injecting antibiotics for several days to finish off pneumonia.

What will happen to me in the future after a blood clot is torn off

1) Xarelto’s lifelong admission.
2) Wearing compression stockings on airplanes and when traveling for a long time by car.
3) Revision of the mode of transport, travel style and routes of the nearest trips.

For July-August I am considering traveling on a houseboat in Germany and Great Britain.
He refused to travel to distant Australia, having lost money. China moved from July to late August. Croatia by car is in question.

And then we have an Asiatic without a car: the Philippines, Thailand, Borneo and wintering in Phuket. Namibia was canceled in February.

What to do to prevent a blood clot from coming off

Recommendations that I can give based on my own experience:

1) During a long journey by car, be sure to stop after 2 hours and go squat near the car to disperse the blood in your legs.

2) If it’s hot, be sure to have a supply of water and drink water while driving.

3) If possible, adjust the seat so that its edge does not pinch the vessels under the knee.

4) If possible, rent a comfortable car on the machine: car rental all over the world.

If, after long driving or standing in a traffic jam, you feel an aching leg (dull pain, as if you hit your foot or pulled) do not make physical efforts to lift weights.

The thrombus breaks off when the abdominal cavity is strained.
I suspect that in my case the moment of separation coincided with taking the suitcase out of the trunk – that is, at the moment when the blood accelerates its flow.

And although I had many cases of blood clots in deep veins before part 1 (I remembered the moments when I had an ache in my leg and a temperature during motor rallies in Australia, Morocco, Bolivia, and an ultrasound scan showed traces of old blood clots in my veins), they all passed without consequences. A blood clot formed, got sick, and resolved itself.
Therefore, you do not need to be very scared.

What to do if your leg hurts

If your leg suddenly hurts after long driving, if possible, do a deep vein ultrasound.

I have unknowingly all these blood clots have broken the valve system of the veins in the legs, which is why now I have to constantly walk in compression socks.

Tomorrow I will be discharged from the hospital and go to the dacha.

Next week I will plan our travel schedule taking into account new realities.

Supplement: thrombosis and cholesterol

I see in the comments that they confuse blood clots in the veins (they are formed only in the veins) with high cholesterol, which affects the arteries.These are two different things. Cholesterol damages the walls of the arteries, which leads to other equally serious consequences: strokes, heart attacks, atherosclerosis …

I want to emphasize that my article refers specifically to deep vein thrombosis of the legs (90% of all thrombosis).

Update 21/07/16

In “Pirogovka” passed a blood test for “Genetic risk of disorders of the coagulation system – 3510 rubles.”
Wait 14 days for the result, but it’s clear that my blood coagulation system is irretrievably broken.Therefore, Ksarelto’s reception is prescribed for life.

I made a detailed ultrasound of the veins in both legs and the verdict was as follows: I had thrombosis before 2012, I just did not suspect about them.
Well, my leg hurt for a while, then it passed – traces of blood clots were found in both legs and in 90% of the veins.

I made a CT scan of the lungs: there are traces of blood clots in the blood vessels, but there is no more pneumonia.

I consulted a doctor, unfortunately knee-highs are prescribed for constant wearing, which is the most uncomfortable in this situation.

Good News

But there is some good news.

I’m not going to change my lifestyle, so I continue to travel.