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Blood Clots: Symptoms, Risks and Prevention

Description

Blood clots can be the reason for severe chest pain, trouble breathing or problems in seeing or speaking. Blood clots are gel-like blood collections which can form into the arteries or veins when the blood changes from liquid to somewhat solid form. Clotting is a function that can stop your body from bleeding when you are hurt. But the blood clots that form in certain places and do not dissolve may be risky for your health condition. These might need medical assistance, particularly when they are in your brain, lungs and legs.

Signs of blood clots

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Coughing up blood
  • Irregular heartbeat or faster than normal
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Lightheadedness or fainting
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness or pain due to injury
  • Skin that is warm to your touch
  • Skin discoloration or redness

Symptoms of blood clots

  • Abdomen – The blood clots in your belly area may lead to extreme pain, vomiting or nausea
  • Arms or legs – A blood clot in your arm or leg may feel tender or painful to the touch. Redness and swelling are other symptoms of blood clots
  • Brain: Blood clots in your brain may lead to various symptoms depending on the part of brain they affect. These blood clots can lead to problems in seeing or speaking, inability to feel or move and sometimes cause seizure
  • Lungs or heart – A blood clot in your heart can lead to symptoms of a heart attack such as sweating, crushing chest pain, pain that travels down your left arm and shortness of breath. A blood clot in your lungs may lead to difficulty breathing, chest pain and coughing up blood

How blood clots are diagnosed

The doctors conduct several tests to detect the presence of blood clots or rule out other causes. If the doctor suspects a blood clot, he/she might suggest:

Risks with blood clots

Blood clots are very common when people grow old, especially above 65 years. Long hospital stay, trauma and surgeries may increase the risk of blood clots.

Other factors include:

Which blood clots pose the most health risk?

Any blood clots that form into the arteries or veins may be serious. Talk to your healthcare provider when you suspect there is a blood clot. A clot that forms in one of your body’s larger veins is known as deep vein thrombosis. Though a stationary blood clot might not hurt you, a blood clot that begins moving through your bloodstream can be harmful.

How to prevent blood clots

What should you do when living with blood clots?

If you are extremely worried about your blood clot, then the doctor will provide more information on habits which can provide help. Make sure you follow the advice of your doctor and take blood thinning medicines to lessen the risks with your life.

Do you find warning signs before your blood clot?

There will be swelling in one arm or leg while leg tenderness is usually described as a cramp. You will also find bluish or reddish skin discoloration.

What does a blood clot in your body appear like?

A blood clot in the leg vein might lead to extreme pain and tenderness into your affected area. Deep vein thrombosis takes place when the blood clot forms in either one or more deep veins into your body, usually in the legs. The deep vein thrombosis can be the reason for swelling or leg pain. Sometimes, you will not find any visible symptoms at all.

When can you suspect a blood clot?

You may find pain throbs in your belly, arm or leg. The skin around these painful areas or in the arm or leg may make you feel warmer than other parts of your skin. You will also find trouble in breathing.

Should blood clots be treated immediately?

The blood clots can be serious and the doctor needs to evaluate the symptoms of blood clots without delay. If it is not treated on time, then a clot may break free and lead to pulmonary embolism where clot gets stuck into the  blood vessel in the lung,. This might be the reason for extreme shortness of breath and even untimely death.

Is it possible for blood clots to go away?

Your body will dissolve blood clot naturally after the injury gets healed. But the blood clots may form on the inside of vessels without obvious injury or may not dissolve naturally. Such situations seem to be risky and need proper diagnosis and treatment.

Should blood clots be treated without delay?

If you are having a blood clot, it is important to see your doctor without delay. Blood clots seem to be risky that form in the veins in your arms, legs and groin. They may lose and move to other body parts including lungs.

When you need to see a doctor for blood clot

If you are having a blood clot, it is important to visit a doctor immediately. Also, go to a doctor when you suffer from chest pain, trouble breathing or problems in seeing or speaking which can happen suddenly.

Visit your doctor immediately when you suspect a blood clot in your body!