What are signs of blood clot in the leg: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – Symptoms and causes

15.06.202313.06.2023 by alexxlab

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Visiting the Emergency Department for a Blood Clot: What to Expect

Taking a trip to the emergency department (ED) is stressful and potentially costly – but it can be lifesaving. For patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), it’s especially important to receive treatment in a timely manner.

When should you go to the ED?

If you suspect that you have a blood clot or experience any of the signs and symptoms, you should consider going to the ED.

Signs of DVT include:

Swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet
Discomfort, heaviness, pain, aching, throbbing, itching, or warmth in the legs
Skin changes in the leg such as discoloration, thickening, or ulceration

Signs of PE include:

Sudden shortness of breath
Chest pain
Coughing up blood
Rapid or irregular heart rate

What can you expect in the ED?

While every patient’s ED trip will be different, there are a several things that you can expect when you visit. First, a medical professional will take your health and medication history. The doctor treating you will need to know what medications you take and how often. This information is especially important if you end up at an ED away from your home, in another state, etc. After discussing your medical history, the doctor will examine you and may ask some more detailed questions about your symptoms. Imaging is typically the next step after the physical exam. An ultrasound is the most common diagnostic test for DVT and uses sound waves to create a picture of the arteries and veins in the leg. Doctors also can order a blood test known as the D-dimer test. Computed tomography (CT) scans are typically used to diagnose PE.

While you’re in the ED, you may be seen by multiple healthcare providers along the way, including doctors, nurses, and physician assistants. If you visit a large teaching hospital, you may also be seen by clinicians in training. All of these medical professionals are a resource for you. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions in the emergency room,” says Dr. Jeremiah Schuur, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. “Since you may see multiple providers, it’s a good idea to ask questions or clarify things to make sure you understand what the doctor is considering and what the plan is.”

Will you be admitted to the hospital or sent home?

If a DVT is confirmed, you may be discharged and sent home with injectable or oral anticoagulant medication (sometimes called a blood thinner). That said, every patient is different, and you may be admitted to the hospital if the ER doctor believes it’s necessary.

Some patients with PE may also be sent home, according to Dr. Schuur, although the majority will be admitted. Studies have shown that it’s safe for certain patients to be discharged, such as those with a small PE and no other health risks. (This discharge practice is more common in Europe than in the U. S.) It’s safest to assume that you’ll be admitted to the hospital for treatment if you have a PE.

If I’m sent home, what do I do after my ED visit?

After your visit to the ED, it’s important to follow up with your primary care provider (PCP) within the next several days. Your PCP can help guide the next phase of your treatment and may refer you to a doctor who specializes in cardiovascular disease.

The bottom line

Take your symptoms seriously. The ED is there to help you in times of need. It’s always better to make the trip and have a blood clot ruled out than to stay home and potentially have complications.

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Deep Vein Thrombosis Symptoms & Treatment

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, typically in one of the legs. This condition can develop as a result of certain medical conditions that affect blood clotting or if a person is immobile for an extended period of time due to surgery, an accident or illness.

Deep vein thrombosis can lead to a condition called pulmonary embolism, if a clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lung. A pulmonary embolism is one of the most severe DVT complications. It can cause permanent damage to the affected lung, low oxygen levels in the blood, organ damage due to low oxygen and even death – especially if the clots are large or numerous – without rapid treatment.

Baptist Health is known for advanced, superior care for patients with heart disease and the diagnosis, management and treatment of deep vein thrombosis. You will appreciate timely appointments and a professional, friendly atmosphere where we take time to listen to your concerns.

At Baptist Health, you have access to the region’s most comprehensive, multidisciplinary team of specialists and innovative therapies, including many available only through specialized clinical trials. In every way, we work to demonstrate the utmost in excellent care to those who trust us with their health.

Where Does Deep Vein Thrombosis Occur?

Deep vein thrombosis typically occurs in one of the legs.

Signs and Symptoms

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may cause no symptoms. When symptoms appear, they include:

Pain (typically in the calf; may feel like cramping or soreness)
Redness of the skin on the lower leg
Swelling
Tenderness to the touch
Warmth to the touch

Diagnosis

To diagnose deep vein thrombosis, we ask questions about your medical history and do a physical exam. We then use advanced diagnostic procedures and technology to effectively diagnose, inform treatment and carefully monitor the condition. Common diagnostic procedures can include:

Diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism usually requires one or more of the following tests:

Blood test: Blood tests can check for the clot-dissolving substance D dimer. High levels may indicate an increased likelihood of blood clots. Blood tests also can measure the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and can help identify blood clotting disorders.

Computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): These scans use a series of X-rays (CT) or radio waves and a powerful magnetic field (MRI) to produce detailed images of internal structures, including the veins.

Ultrasound: Duplex ultrasonography uses soundwaves to check for blood clots in the thigh veins. The physician uses a wand-shaped device called a transducer to direct the sound waves to the veins, and the waves are reflected to the transducer and translated into a moving image by a computer.

Venography: A dye is injected into a large vein in the foot or ankle and X-rays create images of the veins in the legs and feet, to look for clots.

Causes

Certain behaviors and lifestyle factors can increase your chance of developing a blood clot in the leg, including:

Being overweight, especially if you smoke and/or have high blood pressure
Smoking, especially combined with other risk factors

Supplementing estrogen (birth control pills, hormone replacement), especially if you smoke or are overweight

Risk Factors

Risk factors that could contribute to DVT include:

Cancer: Some cancers – like pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancer – can increase levels of substances that help blood clots form. Chemotherapy can compound that risk. Women taking tamoxifen or raloxifene for breast cancer are also at a higher risk of clots.

Heart disease: Cardiovascular disease, particularly heart failure, makes blood clots more likely.

Pregnancy: The baby pressing on veins in the pelvis can slow blood return from the legs, increasing a woman’s risk of clots.

Prolonged immobility: Clots are more likely to form during long periods of inactivity, like being confined to bed after injury or surgery and/or long plane or car trips.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Surgery: This is a major cause of clots, so medication to prevent clots may be given before and after major deep vein thrombosis surgery.

Prevention

While all cases of DVT cannot be prevented, there are ways to reduce your risk, including:

Get out of bed, and exercise your legs and feet while on bedrest or traveling: It’s very important to get moving as soon as possible after surgery, injury or illness. If you cannot get out of bed – or if you’re confined to a car, plane, train or bus while traveling – make sure to exercise your legs and feet. Point your toes up to stretch your calves, then relax. Repeat several times.

Practice good heart health: Watch what you eat, exercise (as advised by your physician) and avoid smoking. Smoking and being overweight are two major, preventable causes of DVT.

Take anticoagulants before/after surgery: Before and after certain types of major surgery, your physician may prescribe blood thinners. Take them as directed.

Use compression stockings: If you have a known clot risk, wearing these specially fitted stockings can help blood circulate effectively in your legs.

Prognosis

DVT often goes away on its own, but it can return. Some people may have long-term pain and swelling in the leg. If a pulmonary embolism occurs, the deep vein thrombosis prognosis is much more serious.

Treatment

Deep vein thrombosis treatment may include:

Blood Thinning Medication

These medications prevent new clots from forming. They may be prescribed before or after surgery or for a diagnosed clotting disorder.

Clot-Dissolving Medication

These medications – also called clot-busting drugs – are administered through the vein and can dissolve clots quickly. Because they can cause sudden and severe bleeding, they are only used in life-threatening situations, like during a massive pulmonary embolism or stroke.

Clot Removal

A surgeon may remove a large or life-threatening clot via a thin, flexible catheter threaded through the blood vessels.

Compression Stockings

These stockings, which apply pressure to your feet and lower legs, reduce the chance that blood will pool and clot.

Vein Filter

A surgeon can use a catheter to position a filter in the inferior vena cava, which leads from the legs to the right side of the heart. The filter can help keep clots from being carried from the legs to the lungs.

DVT Complications

Some deep vein thrombosis complications could include:

Pulmonary embolism: This potentially life-threatening condition occurs when a clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lung. It requires immediate treatment. Symptoms include sudden and unexplained shortness of breath; chest pain or discomfort that worsens when you take a deep breath or cough; lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting; coughing up blood and/or a rapid heart rate.
Postphlebitic syndrome: This common complication of DVT describes a collection of signs and symptoms, including swelling of the leg(s), leg pain, skin discoloration and/or sores. It is caused by damage to the veins from the blood clot, which reduces blood flow in the affected areas. The symptoms may not occur until a few years after the DVT.

Can DVT Cause High Blood Pressure?

A specific correlation between DVT and high blood pressure involves pulmonary embolisms. People who have DVT’s are at a greater risk of pulmonary embolisms (PE), which is when the blood clot breaks off and travels up into the lungs, creating blockages in the arteries. A serious condition that can result from a pulmonary embolism is high blood pressure in the lungs, known as pulmonary hypertension. Although DVT’s may not directly cause high blood pressure, pulmonary embolisms, which are a complication of DVT, may result in issues with high blood pressure.

DVT complications are serious, specifically pulmonary embolisms. Sometimes patients exhibit noticeable symptoms with PE, but sometimes there are no symptoms. Because complications with DVT are both serious and numerous, it is important to contact your primary care physician if you have any noticeable symptoms. Diagnosis of DVT can help prevent or treat complications that may result from it.

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Why your legs hurt: symptoms and diseases

If you don’t put too much stress on your legs, but they still hurt all the time, you may have deep vein thrombosis. Let’s figure out what it is and what to do next.

What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Signs of DVT on the right leg: redness and swelling. Photo © hotcore.info

Deep veins in the legs usually pass through the muscles of the lower leg or thigh. They are located deep under the skin and are thicker than normal veins. Blood clots can appear in them – clots that interfere with the normal flow of blood. When this happens, DVT occurs.

Deep vein thrombosis: Causes

1. Lack of physical activity. If you move little, blood accumulates in the lower part of the body. There it slows down, which increases the risk of blood clots.

Why legs hurt – the main causes of TVG. Photo © Freepik

2. Operations on the legs or abdomen. If surgery and recovery are prolonged, the risk of blood accumulation is also increased.

3. Damage or inflammation of blood vessels. Bone fractures and muscle injuries can damage or narrow blood vessels. Inflammatory processes also worsen their function.

4. Pregnancy. During this period, blood clotting increases to prevent its excessive loss during childbirth. Clots may also appear up to six weeks after delivery.

5. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. The female hormone estrogen increases blood clotting.

Other risk factors contributing to the manifestation of deep vein thrombosis:

smoking;
overweight;
dehydration;
age from 60 years.

Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis

Sometimes DVT doesn’t show up at all, but it’s worth paying attention to the main symptoms:

pain or swelling in the leg;
warming of any part of the skin on the leg;
redness of the skin on the back of the leg just below the knee.

Usually only one leg is affected. Both are less common, but it happens that DVT manifests itself in other parts of the body.

Deep vein thrombosis: Treatment

If you have any of the symptoms, see a doctor. If a blood clot is detected, you will be prescribed anticoagulants – drugs that “thinn” the blood. They will restrain the growth of the clot and prevent it from dividing into fragments that can enter other parts of the body or organs through the bloodstream.

If DVT is not treated in time, there will be big problems. Every tenth patient develops a pulmonary embolism – blockage of an artery in the lung. Its symptoms are shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling, and a sudden drop in blood pressure until it collapses.

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ows its signs

What is DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis is an abnormal blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg or pelvis, and is thought to affect about 1 in every 1000 people in the UK.

Large DVT can travel from the veins of the legs or pelvis and travel through the venous system to the heart and then to the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE), which is a very serious medical condition and can even be fatal.

While most DVTs are small, harmless, and go away on their own, it is true that many DVTs are never diagnosed and are often misrepresented by patients, doctors, and nurses as “sprained muscles” or other leg pain. Without duplex vein ultrasound by a vascular specialist (who can scan even the smallest veins in the calves), it is impossible to accurately determine the presence or absence of DVT.

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How to avoid DVT

Most people have heard of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), but are surprised to learn about the causes of this condition. Many people associate DVT with long-haul flights, and while this is one of the main reasons, there are many others that should be acknowledged.

If you are in the hospital for an operation, the risk of a blood clot increases. This is because DVT is more likely to occur when you are unwell or less active than usual. Pregnancy can also cause DVT. During pregnancy, blood clots more easily. This is the body’s way of preventing too much blood from being lost during childbirth. Genetics also play a role, and if someone in your family has had DVT before, then you are also more likely to have this condition.

Warning signs of deep vein thrombosis

Possible symptoms of deep vein thrombosis may include:

Leg pain or tenderness for no apparent reason – may be above the knee, below the knee, or in both legs.
Swelling of the ankle, ankle and calf, ankle, calf and thigh, or even of the entire leg.
Severe pain in the leg – especially when standing or walking
Warm skin in the area of swelling
Sometimes the skin may be slightly redder, but this is less common.
DVT usually affects one leg, but in rare cases it can affect both.

Approximately half of patients have no symptoms or “warning signs” and are diagnosed with DVT only when complications occur.

See a specialist

If people are in doubt as to whether they are suffering from DVT or any other venous disease, they should see a venous specialist as soon as possible for duplex ultrasound and treatment advice.

Many emergency departments do a blood test and, if positive, give heparin while duplex scanning is being arranged.

If DVT is diagnosed and treated immediately, in most cases the clot resolves and the vein returns to normal. If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, or if repeated DVTs occur in the same leg, deep veins can become frightened and stop working properly. This causes “post-thrombotic syndrome” (PTS), which can cause chronic leg pain and swelling, discoloration of the skin, and often leg ulcers.

It is also important to know why the blood clot formed. This may be due to varicose veins, tightness of the veins, changes in the blood (dehydration, smoking, and certain drugs) or blood flow, or even a sign of another medical condition, including abnormal blood clotting. Long flights and immobility are also factors contributing to the development of the disease.

After diagnosing and treating DVT, it is important to find the underlying cause and treat it to reduce the risk of recurrent DVT in the future.

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What are signs of blood clot in the leg: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – Symptoms and causes