When blood cells and other materials clump together in your blood vessels, a clot forms. Clots in the blood prevent excessive bleeding after an injury or surgery. There are other factors, such as medical disorders, that can increase your risk of developing blood clots.
A blood clot is a life-threatening medical emergency. Recognizing the symptoms and pursuing immediate medical attention is crucial. Learn about blood clot signs, treatments, and medications, as well as when to seek medical attention in the event of an emergency.
People who are immobile due to an accident or illness are more likely to develop blood clots (also known as deep vein thrombosis).
Signs You Might Have a Blood Clot
Symptoms of a blood clot include:
- There’s swelling in one of your limbs.
- Swelling and redness of the skin.
- Tenderness or soreness in the limbs.
Reasons Why Blood Clots Form
If you don’t move around much, blood clots can form. Other risk factors for developing a clot include:
- Been recently operated on.
- For those who use hormones, preferably as a method of preventing pregnancy.
- Have or are undergoing treatment for cancer.
- A bone in your hip, pelvis, or leg is broken.
- Be severely bruised or bumped up.
- Have a weight problem.
- Spend most of their time in bed or a chair.
- Suffer from paralysis or a stroke.
- Get a medication port surgically implanted into your body.
- Have varicose veins or poor vein health.
- Experience heart problems.
- Have a history of blood clots.
- Have someone in your family who has experienced a blood clot.
- Have experience with long-distance travel (over an hour) by car, aircraft, bus, or train.
Treatment
Blood clots are extremely dangerous, therefore anyone experiencing symptoms should see a doctor right away. When a blood clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs, it can lodge in a blood vessel there and cause severe shortness of breath or even death if the condition is not addressed.
For those seeking ways to manage blood clot risks and treatment costs, considering options like Eliquis coupon and discount offers can be beneficial. It’s crucial to prioritize your health and explore available resources to ensure appropriate care in case of a blood clot emergency.
The location and severity of a blood clot are key factors in determining the best course of treatment. To stop blood clots from forming or worsening, many people take blood-thinning drugs. Thrombolytic drugs are able to dissolve pre existing blood clots.
A catheter is inserted into a blood artery in the groin for catheter-directed treatments including percutaneous transcatheter therapy. The clot is dislodged or thrombolytic medicines are delivered directly to the clot site through the tube.
Although thrombectomy is typically performed on the lower extremities, it can be performed on any part of the body where a blood clot has formed. Patients at high risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), commonly known as clots in the deep veins of the legs, may benefit from preventative treatments. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices are highly successful and can be used in addition to or in place of blood thinners. An intermittently filling cuff is worn around the leg.