7 signs you may have blood clots in your body

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If you don't ask for help in time, you can say goodbye to life.

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. How to Tell if You Have a Blood Clot.

Why are blood clots 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 clog blood vessels in the heart, brain, or lungs. This is a life-threatening situation that can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism - the stopping of the lungs.

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

When to call an ambulance immediately

Dial 103 or 112 urgently if What is Venous Thromboembolism?:

• suddenly it became difficult to breathe, there is a lack of oxygen;
• there was chest pain or just discomfort, which 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 in the eyes, 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 precisely 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 know if 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 What is Venous Thromboembolism? According to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of people have little blood clots.

Nevertheless, it is still possible to assume a blockage of blood vessels. Here are some How to Tell if You Have a Blood Clot signs that indicate possible thrombosis in different parts of the body.

1. Swelling in the leg or arm

Edema can either 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 calf muscle, sharp or throbbing Blood Clots, is almost the only sign of acute circulatory disorders.

4. Changes in skin color

A blood clot makes it difficult for the blood to circulate normally. 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 becomes cyanotic, in others, on the contrary, it turns pale.

5. Change in skin temperature

In the area of a blood clot, the skin can 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 on a regular basis, 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. Stomach 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 with a therapist 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 Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) will depend on where the blood 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 treatment method will be most effective in your case. Self-activity in this matter is deadly.

And don't relax. According to What is Venous Thromboembolism? In the 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.