Blood clots can be very serious and potentially life-threatening, so it’s important to be aware of the symptoms and seek medical help if you think you may have one.
A blood clot is a serious and potentially life-threatening problem. Usually starting in the legs, as part of a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots are particularly dangerous if they travel to other parts of the body.
If they reach the brain they can lead to a stroke, while a blood clot in the lung can cause something called a pulmonary embolism. Therefore spotting the signs of a blood clot as soon as possible is vital.
It is easier to treat if it has been spotted early enough, with a number of medications available. With that in mind there are four telltale signs that you should be looking out for, particularly in the legs, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
And other symptoms may warn that your DVT has progressed, which will require immediate medical attention.
Pain
Symptoms of a blood clot include a throbbing or cramping pain. The leg pain or discomfort may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness or general soreness. The affected area where the blood clot may also feel warm to the touch.
Swelling
When a clot slows or stops the flow of blood, it can build up in the vessel and make it swell. NHS Inform says that the condition “usually occurs in a deep leg vein, a larger vein that runs through the muscles of the calf and the thigh”. It explains: “It can also occur in the pelvis or abdomen.
“It can cause pain and swelling in the leg and may lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism.”
Skin colour change
A person’s leg, or the affected area, may start to turn a red or blue hue. There have also been cases where a person’s skin gives off a discoloured white tone warning that something is not right.
The health platform Blood Clot Recovery explains that “changes in skin colour, such as turning pale, red or blue or purple”, can be indicative of deep vein thrombosis.
Trouble breathing
As a clot leaves the legs and starts to move to the lungs, patients may experience difficulty breathing and a bad cough. This could warn of pulmonary embolism, a condition that about one in 10 people with DVT will develop.
NHS Inform adds: “Seek immediate medical attention if you have pain, swelling and tenderness in your leg and develop breathlessness and chest pain.”
