A blood clot is a mass of blood passed from a liquid state to a gel or semi-solid state. Coagulation, which causes it, is a necessary process that can prevent you from losing too much blood in some cases, such as when you cut yourself or get injured in general. But when a clot forms in the body, the blood circulation is hampered leading to venous thrombosis.
The danger of these small masses of coagulated blood depends on their degree of mobility in the body, so that as long as a blood clot remains still, it will not pose a danger to the body. But in the opposite case, if it moves to specific places, it can cause a whole series of dysfunctions manifesting in the form of symptoms. Such a case is called deep vein thrombosis.
Symptoms that should not be ignored
When a blood clot does not dissolve itself and it moves through the circulatory system, it ends up either by getting stuck in a vein or an artery, blocking blood flow or it ends up lodge in the brain, lungs or heart, resulting in a stroke, pulmonary embolism or heart attack.
So if you ever notice any of the symptoms below, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.
Swelling
As the blood clot prevents oxygen from reaching the body members, they eventually swell up. This happens most often at the level of the legs, which gives a clear difference in the appearance of these but also an obvious difficulty in the movement.
Pains
The presence of a blood clot in a limb usually results in cramps. In the case of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg, severe pain is one of the most common indicators of such a problem according to a study published in General Internal Medicine.
Sudden shortness of breath
According to a study published in The American Journal of Medicine in 2007, difficulty breathing is one of the most common symptoms of pulmonary embolism. This usually indicates the presence of a blood clot that prevents blood flow and oxygen from reaching the lungs correctly, making breathing more difficult and faster.
Excessive cough
An excessive cough for no apparent reason (such as a cold), is a symptom that indicates an advanced stage of pulmonary embolism. It also results from a certain difficulty in breathing, which can cause the person to cough continuously and quite violently.
Bruises
A particular body part or limb that changes color to bluish or red is usually a clear indicator that a blood clot has developed beneath the area where the skin has changed color. The vein where the clot has lodged changes color and causes inflammation that can be easily seen from the outside.
Heat sensation
In case of advanced DVT, a feeling of warmth can be felt where it is. This inflammation is always accompanied by swelling and pain. In the case of a person having a blood clot in the legs, it will regularly need to stop as soon as the pain resurfaces.
Risk factors to avoid
Blood clots usually occur in people who remain sedentary for very long periods of time, this also applies to patients recovering from surgery. Blood clots can also be formed during pregnancy, they can be due to excess weight or even genetics, especially if there is a history of blood clots in the family. Smokers, people over 65 and women taking birth control pills are also more likely to have them.