What are the key indicators of deep vein thrombosis. How can you identify blood clots in the legs. What symptoms should prompt immediate medical attention for potential DVT. When does leg pain or swelling warrant concern for blood clots.

Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious medical condition characterized by the formation of blood clots in the deep veins of the body, most commonly in the legs. These clots can pose significant health risks, particularly if they break loose and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE). Recognizing the signs and symptoms of DVT is crucial for early detection and prompt treatment.

What exactly is DVT?

DVT occurs when blood thickens and clumps together in a deep vein, typically in the lower leg or thigh. While clots can form in other parts of the body, those in the legs are of particular concern due to their potential to break off and cause life-threatening complications.

Common Signs and Symptoms of DVT

Identifying DVT can be challenging, as only about half of those affected experience noticeable symptoms. However, being aware of the following signs can be lifesaving:

• Swelling in the affected leg, often extending along a vein
• Pain or tenderness, particularly when standing or walking
• Increased warmth in the swollen or painful area
• Red or discolored skin on the affected leg

It’s important to note that these symptoms may develop gradually or appear suddenly. Any combination of these signs warrants immediate medical attention.

How does DVT pain differ from other leg pain?

DVT pain is often described as a cramping or soreness in the calf. Unlike muscle strains, which typically improve with rest, DVT pain may persist or worsen over time. The discomfort may be accompanied by swelling and skin discoloration, distinguishing it from other types of leg pain.

Risk Factors for Developing Blood Clots

Several factors can increase an individual’s risk of developing DVT. Understanding these risk factors can help in prevention and early detection:

1. Previous history of DVT
2. Inherited blood disorders that increase clotting tendency
3. Recent surgery or trauma to a deep vein
4. Prolonged immobility (e.g., long flights, bed rest)
5. Pregnancy and the postpartum period
6. Cancer and its treatments
7. Advanced age (over 60)
8. Obesity
9. Smoking
10. Use of hormone therapy or birth control pills

The presence of multiple risk factors significantly increases the likelihood of developing DVT.

Can lifestyle changes reduce DVT risk?

Indeed, certain lifestyle modifications can help lower the risk of DVT. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding prolonged periods of inactivity can improve blood circulation. For those at higher risk, such as during long trips, frequent movement and leg exercises are recommended.

Complications of Untreated DVT

Left untreated, DVT can lead to serious, potentially life-threatening complications. The most significant concern is pulmonary embolism (PE), which occurs when a blood clot breaks free and travels to the lungs.

What are the signs of pulmonary embolism?

Pulmonary embolism symptoms include:

• Sudden shortness of breath
• Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing
• Coughing up blood
• Rapid breathing and increased heart rate

These symptoms require immediate emergency medical attention, as PE can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Diagnosing Deep Vein Thrombosis

Accurate diagnosis of DVT is crucial for appropriate treatment. Healthcare providers use a combination of methods to confirm the presence of blood clots:

How is DVT typically diagnosed?

The diagnostic process for DVT usually involves:

1. Medical history review: Assessing risk factors and current symptoms
2. Physical examination: Checking for signs of swelling, tenderness, and discoloration
3. Ultrasound: The most common and non-invasive method for visualizing blood clots
4. Blood tests: To check for D-dimer, a substance present when blood clots are dissolving
5. Additional imaging: In some cases, venography or CT scans may be used for further evaluation

Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for preventing complications and initiating appropriate treatment.

Treatment Options for DVT

The primary goals of DVT treatment are to prevent the clot from growing, reduce the risk of PE, and alleviate symptoms. Treatment approaches may include:

• Anticoagulant medications (blood thinners)
• Thrombolytic therapy for severe cases
• Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters for those who cannot take blood thinners
• Compression stockings to reduce swelling and prevent blood pooling

How long does DVT treatment typically last?

The duration of DVT treatment varies depending on the individual case. Anticoagulant therapy may be prescribed for three to six months or longer, based on the underlying cause and risk factors. Some patients may require lifelong treatment to prevent recurrence.

Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis

While not all cases of DVT can be prevented, several strategies can significantly reduce the risk:

• Stay active and maintain a healthy weight
• Take breaks to move around during long trips or periods of sitting
• Wear loose-fitting clothes and avoid crossing legs for extended periods
• Stay hydrated, especially during travel
• Consider wearing compression stockings if at high risk
• Follow post-surgery instructions for movement and medication

Are there specific exercises to prevent DVT?

Simple leg exercises can help promote blood flow and reduce the risk of clot formation. These include ankle rotations, calf raises, and leg lifts. For those on long flights or confined to bed rest, performing these exercises regularly can be beneficial.

DVT in Special Populations

Certain groups may be at higher risk for DVT or require special considerations in prevention and treatment:

How does pregnancy affect DVT risk?

Pregnancy increases the risk of DVT due to hormonal changes and increased pressure on veins. Pregnant women should be particularly vigilant about DVT symptoms and discuss prevention strategies with their healthcare provider. The risk remains elevated for up to six weeks postpartum.

What precautions should cancer patients take regarding DVT?

Cancer and its treatments can significantly increase the risk of blood clots. Cancer patients should work closely with their oncology team to monitor for DVT signs and may require prophylactic anticoagulation therapy, especially during chemotherapy or hospitalization.

Understanding the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis is crucial for early detection and treatment. By recognizing the risk factors and implementing preventive measures, individuals can reduce their chances of developing this potentially life-threatening condition. If you experience any symptoms suggestive of DVT, seek medical attention promptly. Early intervention can prevent serious complications and ensure the best possible outcome.

Center for Limb Preservation and Diabetic Foot

Deep vein thrombosis (throm-BO-sis), or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Blood clots occur when blood thickens and clumps together.

Most deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh. They can also occur in other parts of the body.

A blood clot in a deep vein can break off and travel through the bloodstream. The loose clot is called an embolus (EM-bo-lus). It can travel to an artery in the lungs and block blood flow. This condition is called pulmonary embolism (PULL-mun-ary EM-bo-lizm), or PE.

PE is a very serious condition. It can damage the lungs and other organs in the body and cause death.

Blood clots in the thighs are more likely to break off and cause PE than blood clots in the lower legs or other parts of the body. Blood clots can also form in veins closer to the skin’s surface–however, these clots won’t break off and cause PE.

Other Names for Deep Vein Thrombosis

• Blood clot in the leg.
• Thrombophlebitis.
• Venous thrombosis.
• Venous thromboembolism (VTE). This term is used for both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Causes

Blood clots can form in your body’s deep veins if:

• A vein’s inner lining is damaged. Injuries caused by physical, chemical, or biological factors can damage the veins. Such factors include surgery, serious injuries, inflammation, and immune responses.
• Blood flow is sluggish or slow. Lack of motion can cause sluggish or slow blood flow. This may occur after surgery, if you’re ill and in bed for a long time, or if you’re traveling for a long time.
• Your blood is thicker or more likely to clot than normal. Some inherited conditions (such as factor V Leiden) increase the risk of blood clotting. Hormone therapy or birth control pills also can increase the risk of clotting.

Risk Factors

The risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include:

• A history of DVT.
• Conditions or factors that make your blood thicker or more likely to clot than normal. Some inherited blood disorders (such as factor V Leiden) will do this. Hormone therapy or birth control pills also increase the risk of clotting.
• Injury to a deep vein from surgery, a broken bone, or other trauma.
• Slow blood flow in a deep vein due to lack of movement. This may occur after surgery, if you’re ill and in bed for a long time, or if you’re traveling for a long time.
• Pregnancy and the first 6 weeks after giving birth.
• Recent or ongoing treatment for cancer.
• A central venous catheter. This is a tube placed in a vein to allow easy access to the bloodstream for medical treatment.
• Older age. Being older than 60 is a risk factor for DVT, although DVT can occur at any age.
• Overweight or obesity.
• Smoking.

Your risk for DVT increases if you have more than one of the risk factors listed above.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) might be related to DVT itself or pulmonary embolism (PE). See your doctor right away if you have signs or symptoms of either condition. Both DVT and PE can cause serious, possibly life-threatening problems if not treated.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Only about half of the people who have DVT have signs and symptoms. These signs and symptoms occur in the leg affected by the deep vein clot. They include:

• Swelling of the leg, or along a vein in the leg
• Pain or tenderness in the leg, which you may feel only when standing or walking
• Increased warmth in the area of the leg that’s swollen or painful
• Red or discolored skin on the leg

Pulmonary Embolism

Some people aren’t aware of a deep vein clot until they have signs and symptoms of PE. Signs and symptoms of PE include:

• Unexplained shortness of breath
• Pain with deep breathing
• Coughing up blood

Rapid breathing and a fast heart rate also may be signs of PE.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT) based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test results. He or she will identify your risk factors and rule out other causes of your symptoms.

For some people, DVT might not be diagnosed until after they receive emergency treatment for pulmonary embolism (PE).

Medical History

To learn about your medical history, your doctor may ask about:

• Your overall health
• Any prescription medicines you’re taking
• Any recent surgeries or injuries you’ve had
• Whether you’ve been treated for cancer

Physical Exam

Your doctor will check your legs for signs of DVT, such as swelling or redness. He or she also will check your blood pressure and your heart and lungs.

Diagnostic Tests

Your doctor may recommend tests to find out whether you have DVT.

Common Tests

The most common test for diagnosing deep vein blood clots is ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create pictures of blood flowing through the arteries and veins in the affected leg.

Your doctor also may recommend a D-dimer test or venography (ve-NOG-rah-fee).

A D-dimer test measures a substance in the blood that’s released when a blood clot dissolves. If the test shows high levels of the substance, you may have a deep vein blood clot. If your test results are normal and you have few risk factors, DVT isn’t likely.

Your doctor may suggest venography if an ultrasound doesn’t provide a clear diagnosis. For venography, dye is injected into a vein in the affected leg, which makes the vein visible on an x-ray image. The x-ray will show whether blood flow is slow in the vein, which may suggest a blood clot.

Other Tests

Other tests used to diagnose DVT include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (to-MOG-rah-fee), or CT scanning. These tests create pictures of your organs and tissues.

You may need blood tests to check whether you have an inherited blood clotting disorder that can cause DVT. This may be the case if you have repeated blood clots that are not related to another cause. Blood clots in an unusual location (such as the liver, kidney, or brain) also may suggest an inherited clotting disorder.

If your doctor thinks that you have PE, he or she may recommend more tests, such as a lung ventilation perfusion scan (VQ scan). A lung VQ scan shows how well oxygen and blood are flowing to all areas of the lungs.

For more information about diagnosing PE, go to the Health Topics Pulmonary Embolism article.

Treatment

Doctors treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with medicines and other devices and therapies. The main goals of treating DVT are to:

• Stop the blood clot from getting bigger
• Prevent the blood clot from breaking off and moving to your lungs
• Reduce your chance of having another blood clot

Medicines

Your doctor may prescribe medicines to prevent or treat DVT.

Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants (AN-te-ko-AG-u-lants) are the most common medicines for treating DVT. They’re also known as blood thinners.

These medicines decrease your blood’s ability to clot. They also stop existing blood clots from getting bigger. However, blood thinners can’t break up blood clots that have already formed. (The body dissolves most blood clots with time.)

Blood thinners can be taken as a pill, an injection under the skin, or through a needle or tube inserted into a vein (called intravenous, or IV, injection).

Warfarin and heparin are two blood thinners used to treat DVT. Warfarin is given in pill form. (Coumadin® is a common brand name for warfarin.) Heparin is given as an injection or through an IV tube. There are different types of heparin; your doctor will discuss the options with you.

Your doctor may treat you with both heparin and warfarin at the same time. Heparin acts quickly, while warfarin takes 2 to 3 days before it starts to work. Once the warfarin starts to work, the heparin is stopped.

Pregnant women are usually treated with just heparin, because warfarin is dangerous during pregnancy.

Treatment for DVT using blood thinners usually lasts for 6 months. The following situations may change the length of treatment:

• If your blood clot occurred after a short-term risk (for example, surgery), your treatment time may be shorter.
• If you’ve had blood clots before, your treatment time may be longer.
• If you have certain other illnesses, such as cancer, you may need to take blood thinners for as long as you have the illness.

The most common side effect of blood thinners is bleeding. Bleeding can happen if the medicine thins your blood too much. This side effect can be life threatening.

Sometimes the bleeding is internal (inside your body). People treated with blood thinners usually have regular blood tests to measure their blood’s ability to clot. These tests are called PT and PTT tests.

These tests also help your doctor make sure you’re taking the right amount of medicine. Call your doctor right away if you have easy bruising or bleeding. These may be signs that your medicines have thinned your blood too much.

Thrombin Inhibitors

These medicines interfere with the blood clotting process. They’re used to treat blood clots in patients who can’t take heparin.

Thrombolytics

Doctors prescribe these medicines to quickly dissolve large blood clots that cause severe symptoms. Because thrombolytics can cause sudden bleeding, they’re used only in life-threatening situations.

Other Types of Treatment

Vena Cava Filter

If you can’t take blood thinners or they’re not working well, your doctor may recommend a vena cava filter.

The filter is inserted inside a large vein called the vena cava. The filter catches blood clots before they travel to the lungs, which prevents pulmonary embolism. However, the filter doesn’t stop new blood clots from forming.

Graduated Compression Stockings

Graduated compression stockings can reduce leg swelling caused by a blood clot. These stockings are worn on the legs from the arch of the foot to just above or below the knee.

Compression stockings are tight at the ankle and become looser as they go up the leg. This creates gentle pressure up the leg. The pressure keeps blood from pooling and clotting.

There are three types of compression stockings. One type is support pantyhose, which offer the least amount of pressure.

The second type is over-the-counter compression hose. These stockings give a little more pressure than support pantyhose. Over-the-counter compression hose are sold in medical supply stores and pharmacies.

Prescription-strength compression hose offer the greatest amount of pressure. They also are sold in medical supply stores and pharmacies–however, a specially trained person needs to fit you for these stockings.

Talk with your doctor about how long you should wear compression stockings.

Prevention

You can take steps to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). If you’re at risk for these conditions:

• See your doctor for regular checkups.
• Take all medicines as your doctor prescribes.
• Get out of bed and move around as soon as possible after surgery or illness (as your doctor recommends). Moving around lowers your chance of developing a blood clot.
• Exercise your lower leg muscles during long trips. This helps prevent blood clots from forming.

If you’ve had DVT or PE before, you can help prevent future blood clots. Follow the steps above and:

• Take all medicines that your doctor prescribes to prevent or treat blood clots.
• Follow up with your doctor for tests and treatment.
• Use compression stockings as your doctor directs to prevent leg swelling.

Contact your doctor at once if you have any signs or symptoms of DVT or PE. For more information, go to “What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis?”

Travel Tips

The risk of developing DVT while traveling is low. The risk increases if the travel time is longer than 4 hours, or if you have other DVT risk factors.

During long trips, it may help to:

• Walk up and down the aisles of the bus, train, or airplane. If traveling by car, stop about every hour and walk around.
• Move your legs and flex and stretch your feet to improve blood flow in your calves.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing.
• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol.

If you have risk factors for DVT, your doctor may advise you to wear compression stockings while traveling, or he or she may suggest that you take a blood-thinning medicine before traveling.

Living With Deep Vein Thrombosis

NHLBI Resources

• Pulmonary Embolism (Health Topics)

Non-NHLBI Resources

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (MedlinePlus)
• Pulmonary Embolism (MedlinePlus)

Clinical Trials

• Children and Clinical Studies
• Clinical Trials (Health Topics)
• Current Research (ClinicalTrials. gov)
• NHLBI Clinical Trials
• NIH Clinical Research Trials and You (National Institutes of Health)
• ResearchMatch(link is external) (funded by the National Institutes of Health)

Links to Other Information About Deep Vein Thrombosis

NHLBI Resources

• Pulmonary Embolism (Diseases and Conditions Index)
• Study Finds Ways to Improve Detection of Blood Clots in the Lung (NIH News Release, May 31, 2006)

Non-NHLBI Resources

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (MedlinePlus)
• Pulmonary Embolism (MedlinePlus)

Clinical Trials

• Current Research (ClinicalTrials.gov)
• NHLBI Pediatric Clinical Trials

Thrombosis | Blood Disorders

You have thrombosis [throm-BOH-sis] when you have a blood clot in your body. Another word for a blood clot is a thrombus.
A blood clot can be superficial [soo-per-FISH-uhl] if it is near the surface of the skin. Sometimes a superficial clot will move deeper. Other times, a blood clot will form in the deep tissues, and that is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Most of the time, a DVT is a blood clot deep in the leg.

DVTs are dangerous. They can damage the valves in your veins, leading to chronic pain and swelling. They can also break loose and travel in your veins.
A blood clot that has broken loose is called an embolism [EM-buh-liz-um]. If it has travelled to the lungs, it is called a pulmonary [PUHL-moh-ner-ee] embolism or PE. A PE can be life threatening.

Often deep vein thrombosis has no noticeable symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they can include:

• Pain in the affected area (such as a leg)
• Swelling in the affected area
• Redness or warmth in the affected area

Sometimes the first noticeable symptoms are from a pulmonary embolism. These symptoms can include:

• Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly
• Chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
• Coughing or vomiting blood

If you experience symptoms of pulmonary embolism, call 911 and get medical help immediately.

You should seek medical help right away if you have symptoms of thrombosis, including deep vein thrombosis:

• Pain or tenderness in one leg when walking or standing
• Swelling in one calf, ankle, foot, or thigh
• Redness or warmth in part of your leg

Call 911 if you have any of these signs of pulmonary embolism:

• Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly
• Chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
• Coughing or vomiting blood

Blood clots can be caused by anything that slows or stops the flow of blood in your body. This can include inactivity, surgery, injury, or inherited factors. Risk factors include:

• Sitting for a long time, such as when you are driving or flying
• Long periods of bedrest, as when hospitalized or paralyzed
• Injury to a deep vein from surgery, a broken bone, or other trauma
• Birth control pills
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Cancer and some of its treatments
• Heart failure
• Pacemaker or catheter in a central vein
• Being overweight or obese
• Smoking
• Personal or family history of DVT or embolism
• Pregnancy and the first 6 weeks after giving birth

There are two main reasons you are at higher risk during pregnancy and the first 6 weeks after giving birth:

• Hormones in your body make your blood more likely to clot than normal.
• Slower blood flow (from your expanding uterus pressing on your blood vessels and from being less physically active) also promotes blood clotting.

Your risk of DVT is increased further if you’re on bed rest during pregnancy or recovering from a C-section (cesarean section) birth.

If your doctor suspects you have DVT, you may be given one or more of these tests:

• Ultrasound. Sound waves are used to measure the blood flow through your veins and to identify any blood clots.
• Venogram. An x-ray is taken to produce an image of your veins and to identify blood clots.
• CT or MRI scans. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide images of the inside of the body, including the veins.
• Blood tests. Your blood may be tested for an inherited blood clotting disorder. It may also be tested for a substance called D-dimer, which is usually present in patients with blood clots. If you don’t have it, your symptoms are probably not caused by a blood clot.

DVT needs to be treated right away. The goal of treatment for DVT is to prevent the blood clot from getting bigger or becoming an embolism (breaking off and traveling toward the lungs). Treatment also aims to keep you from getting more blood clots. Your treatment may include one or more of the following:

• Self-care. Your doctor may recommend that you:
  • Elevate your leg.
  • Apply a heating pad for 20 minutes every 2 hours.
  • Limit your walking, physical work, and lifting.
• Compression stockings. These can reduce the swelling that happens after a blood clot forms in your leg. The stockings are tighter near the ankle and looser near the top. This helps keep your blood from pooling and clotting.
• Blood thinner medications. These medications (also called anticoagulants [an-tee-koh-AG-yuh-lunts]) reduce your blood’s ability to clot. They can’t break up clots you already have, but they can prevent them from getting bigger. They can also prevent new clots from forming. They’re usually taken for at least 3 months.
• Clot busters. These medications (also called thrombolytics) are given to break up blood clots. Because they can cause severe bleeding, they’re only given in very serious situations.
• Filters. If you cannot take medications, you may have a small filter inserted into a large vein in the abdomen called the vena cava. If a blood clot breaks off, this will reduce the chance of it traveling to the lungs.

If you’re at risk of having DVT or emboli, or have had one before, take these measures to help prevent having one in the future:

• Have regular checkups with your doctor. Make sure your prescriptions are still correct.
• Take all your medicine as prescribed.
• If you’ve been in bed after surgery or an illness, get up and walk around as soon as possible.
• If you have to sit for a long time, stand up and walk around every hour. Stretch your legs and feet every 20 minutes while sitting. Drink plenty of water.
• Modify your lifestyle to improve your overall health. Maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking, and control your blood pressure.

If you are on bed rest or recovering from a C-section, your care team may suggest these preventive steps:

• Sequential compression device (SCD). This device helps prevent DVT by gently squeezing your legs in sequence. This speeds circulation in your veins. Make sure your SCD is on your legs and that it is turned on for as long as you are confined to your bed. You may find the device noisy and perhaps a bit hot, but it’s important.
• Medication. You may need to take an anticoagulant, a blood thinning medicine. It can help prevent clots from forming or getting bigger.

All pregnant women and women recovering from childbirth should follow these general measures for preventing DVT:

• If you have to sit for a long time, stretch your legs and feet every 20 minutes. Get up and walk around every hour. (Note: This does not apply to women on bed rest.)
• Drink plenty of water.
• Follow your doctor’s or midwife’s advice about exercise and lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking.
• Keep all of your scheduled visits with your doctor or midwife.

Thrombosis happens when you have a blood clot in your body. A blood clot can be superficial (near the surface of the skin). Sometimes a superficial clot will move deeper. Sometimes a blood clot will form in the deep tissues. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a dangerous blood clot in the body’s deep tissues, usually in the leg. An embolism is a blood clot that has broken loose and can travel in your veins. If it reaches your lungs, it can be life threatening.

© 2018 Intermountain Healthcare. All rights reserved. The content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. 

Copyright ©2023, Intermountain Health, All rights reserved.

Blood clots in the veins of the legs – a danger to your health!

Many of us have heard that blood clots are dangerous to health and even to life. Is it possible to prevent their formation? Is it possible to recognize before the trouble occurs? It is possible, but for this you need to know the signs of the disease and be sure to seek help from a doctor.

Formation of a blood clot

First you need to figure out what exactly causes the formation of a blood clot. Often this is a consequence of damage to the vessel wall or its inflammation. As a result, the blood coagulation system begins to work more actively, and a blood clot forms near the inner wall of the vein. Over time, it spreads, closing the lumen of the vessel from the inside.

It must be remembered that the primary cause of blood clots can be varicose veins, which cause inflammation of the veins. Since most of us face varicose veins sooner or later, do not forget about the dangerous consequences of this disease.

The formation of blood clots can be a consequence of a malfunction of the blood coagulation system, and then blood clots form not in superficial, but in deep veins. The main risk factors here are smoking, weight gain, taking oral contraceptives and other hormonal changes, older age, and others.

Blood clots in blood vessels: why is it dangerous?

Closure of the lumen of the vein is dangerous by circulatory disorders. In some cases, the spread of a thrombus leads to complete closure of the vessel, and blood flow through it stops. If this happens with superficial veins, the function of blood supply is taken over by deep vessels. If a blood clot has formed in a deep vein, taking blood-thinning medications, wearing compression stockings, or, in some cases, surgery may help.

Why does a blood clot come off?

In addition to blood clots that are “attached” to the walls of blood vessels, there are other types of blood clots. In particular, in places of active blood circulation, such blood clots appear that are attached to the vessel wall at only one point. They are called floating and pose a serious threat to the life and health of the patient.

The main reason why a blood clot comes off is active blood circulation. The clot, which is in the lumen of the vessel, begins to move and, as a result, can enter the pulmonary artery. This is the most dangerous scenario.
If blood clots form in the tributaries of vessels that have a small diameter, they are less dangerous. Usually they adhere more closely to the vein wall and gradually spread.

How to recognize a blood clot?

There are a number of signs indicating that blood clots may have formed in the superficial veins:

• redness and induration in the area of ​​the vein
• pain that is especially pronounced when walking
• possible increase in limb temperature

If blood clots form in deep veins, this is also accompanied by pain, but the limb becomes pale, cyanotic. Edema appears.

If you experience similar symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. The formation and spread of a blood clot poses a threat to life, so treatment should be started as soon as possible.

It is impossible to cope with a blood clot on your own, at home. Therapy in this case is prescribed by a doctor, and then a mandatory treatment of varicose veins is carried out. This is what serves as an effective prevention of the formation of blood clots in the vessels in the future

Arterial thrombosis – diagnosis and treatment at the medical center “Andreev hospitals”

Thrombosis (novolat. thrombosis – coagulation from other Greek. θρ?μβος – clot) – the occurrence of blood clots that block the normal flow of blood through the vessel.

Causes of arterial thrombosis

It develops due to the fact that with closed injuries of the vascular endothelium, the formation of an atherosclerotic plaque gradually occurs, and when it is fragmented (destroyed), the particles of this plaque are carried by the blood flow and clog a vessel of a smaller diameter, which leads to a cessation of blood supply to any area and the development of tissue ischemia. .

As it became known thanks to the research of scientists, thrombosis can occur not only in the veins, but also in the arteries. The occurrence of arterial thrombosis in young people is almost zero, because. atherosclerosis factor is not so significant.

Symptoms of thrombosis (embolism) of arteries

A symptom of thrombosis in the first place is severe pain in the place where blood cannot flow. Over time, the color of the skin in the affected area may change, the patient’s temperature drops, the sensitivity of the skin decreases, he feels a general malaise. With blockage of blood vessels in the intestinal area, the patient may experience nausea or vomiting, a swollen stomach, and stool disorders. It happens that the affected area is the limbs, so it becomes difficult or completely impossible to move them. The legs of a person turn white, and below the area where a blood clot may have stuck, there is no pulsation of the arteries.

When the vessels in the kidney area (renal arteries) are blocked, the patient develops a clinic of renal colic.

Often embolism of large vessels is accompanied by hemodynamic disturbances (falling blood pressure, tachycardia) and signs of shock.

Diagnostics of thrombosis (embolism) of arteries

As a rule, in order to diagnose the disease, it is necessary to undergo various examination methods:

• The most important method for diagnosing this pathology is Doppler ultrasound of the arteries
• Angiography
• MRI
• APTT
• Thrombosed test

Treatment of arterial thrombosis

After the examinations, the doctor should prescribe the patient a diet low in cholesterol, as well as drugs that tend to lower LDL levels:

• Anticoagulants,
• Antiplatelet agents
• Drugs that inhibit platelet aggregation
• Fibrates
• Statins
• Inhibitors that interfere with intestinal absorption of cholesterol

Prevention of arterial thrombosis

Precautionary methods in order not to get sick with thrombosis are, first of all, an annual examination by a doctor for arterial thrombosis.