{"id":1888,"date":"2018-07-14T08:23:41","date_gmt":"2018-07-14T08:23:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1888"},"modified":"2021-05-18T14:08:43","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T14:08:43","slug":"10-characteristic-blood-clot-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/10-characteristic-blood-clot-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Characteristic Blood Clot Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Blood clots are a surprisingly common condition that could be affecting you or your loved ones. There are many things that could put you at risk, including blood-thickeners, the wrong diet and a lack of mobility. What makes the condition exceptionally dangerous is the fact that most people don\u2019t realize that they have a potential blood clot, and in many cases they end up making the condition worse \u2013 and when a blood clot releases itself into your bloodstream, then it can go straight to your brain or heart and cause an aneurysm or stroke:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases this is fatal, and it\u2019s a condition that can be managed and treated if it\u2019s something that\u2019s spotted early. Would you be able to spot the symptoms of a blood clot if it happened to you or someone you know? Here are 10 characteristic symptoms of a blood clot that you should be looking out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Numbness or Tingling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, you should understand just what a blood clot does in the body: Blood cells collect, and they form a literal clot in a vein or artery that can affect the circulation \u2013 and everything around it. This lump of blood cells is referred to as a blood clot, and the danger is not just the fact that it can get stuck, but also the fact that it can release itself and travel through your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There, a blood clot can easily settle in another body part like your heart, your lungs or your brain \u2013 and this is condition which could prove to be fatal. One of the first symptoms that you should look for when it comes to a blood clot is any kind of numbness <\/a>or tingling in the affected area \u2013 usually only in one leg as opposed to both. Try to move around if you start feeling numbness or tingling, and see your doctor if the problem persists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blood clots<\/a> don\u2019t just manifest with numbness and tingling \u2013 they can also manifest with a feeling of pressure that sticks around for a long time. People who are sitting still for long periods of time will be much more likely to develop blood clots; for example, office workers or those who have to spend long periods of time travelling from one point to another, whether it\u2019s via truck, train or plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are starting to feel pressure, then you will likely benefit from moving around \u2013 though you should never massage or press the affected area too much, or you could be making the problem worse without realizing it. If the feeling of pressure persists for an especially long time, then you should see a medical professional to find the origin of the problem. In some cases, doctors might prescribe a compression sock to help with breaking down the blood clot \u2013 along with a prescription for blood thinners for moderate cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Take note that the symptoms of a blood clot will most often take place only in one leg \u2013 and very, very rarely both. There are also some cases of blood clots that are completely asymptomatic, and the only way to detect this kind of blood clot will be through taking a scan \u2013 this is why you should always know whether or not you have an existing family history of any of the conditions that can put you at a higher risk of developing blood clots, like high blood pressure or cholesterol<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the symptoms that you might experience when you have a blood clot apart from the numbness and tingling that we\u2019ve already mentioned is pain \u2013 this could be extremely severe pain, or it can be moderate and nagging for a long time. Always take note, and don\u2019t put your health at risk by ignoring pain that signals a bigger problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Sensitivity to Temperature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that there are other related conditions that could cause a sensitivity to temperature <\/a>to occur: There\u2019s cold and flu symptoms, which could give you cold shivers or make you feel like you are burning up; you could also have a fever due to some kind of infection in your body and it could make you feel like your skin is on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, sensitivity to temperature in the extremities (like your hands and feet) could also be caused by circulation problems \u2013 and this could in turn point to issues with your heart, blood pressure or cholesterol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any kind of feeling in your body that you aren\u2019t used to should warrant further investigation by a medical professional, even if you think that it is something insignificant: Things like blood clots are much better spotted early, when they can still be treated and the consequences prevented. You want to take care of your health, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Discoloration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are experiencing any kind of discoloration of a limb, then this could also be a sign that you are at a danger of developing a blood clot \u2013 or that you already have. Make an appointment with your doctor and find out what they think: Book a scan if this is considered necessary by your doctor, and get a second or third opinion if the problem continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discoloration could make your leg or arm appear blotchy, or it can even go pale, blue or slightly red \u2013 and there are several things that can cause this, all of which mean that you should be seeing your doctor to find and root out the cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blood clots, like already mentioned here, is just one of the things that could be behind it. Again, you could also be looking at problems with your circulation<\/a> or blood pressure if you are experiencing any kind of discoloration. There are also other syndromes, such as Raynaud\u2019s, which can cause this discoloration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Faintness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are experiencing faintness or lightheadedness, then this would likely mean that the blood clot is in the more advanced phases of progression \u2013 and it\u2019s likely that you could be close to a heart attack or stroke<\/a>. Seek medical attention immediately. There are also many other things which could be behind faintness or fainting spells, including problems with your heart or lungs; the feeling of faintness also many times comes with the onset of a panic attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could also signal that there is something up with your blood pressure and that you have either high or low blood pressure issues. It could be something small, or it could be something huge. If you are experiencing faintness, you should seek immediate help from your doctor to find the cause: It could be a serious knock to your health if you don\u2019t. Can you afford to risk it when it comes to your health? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Headaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You should not assume that you have a blood clot or a threatening stroke if you struggle with regular headaches<\/a>: It could be many other things. For example, sometimes headaches and migraines are caused by stress, and other times it could be down to your diet: The best thing to do if headaches have become a regular problem with your health is again to make an appointment with your doctor so that they could find the root cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might get a headache or a migraine every time you drink coffee or have chocolate \u2013 and simply taking these things out of your diet could be enough to fix it. But if you don\u2019t know what the cause of your headaches is yet, then the best course of action is to find out: It might just be something more serious, and you could be at a risk of developing a blood clot and not even know about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Mobility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lack of mobility <\/a>and exercise is one of the top causes of blood clots that we know of. This means that certain careers and life-paths are naturally at a higher risk of developing blood clots in the first place: If you spend a lot of time in one position, then your risk is automatically higher. This is true for many office workers, and many people who spend a lot of time having to travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this happens to you, then you might experience any of the symptoms that we\u2019ve mentioned on this list so far: Tingling and numbness, headaches, overall tiredness and the others. And when this happens to you, then the best thing you can do to counteract it is to make sure you take regular breaks from time to time to move around: This ensures that the circulation manages to keep going: It should be considerably easier for you to move around in the long term, and you\u2019ll find that you have less pain and discomfort, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. A Knot or Knob<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many symptoms that could tip you off to the fact that you might have a blood clot, and we\u2019ve gone through most of them on this list already: You might experience tingling and numbness in the affected area, you might even experience this as severe pain in one leg or another. This means that you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel over the affected area and notice that there\u2019s any kind of knot or knob, don\u2019t be so quick to assume that it\u2019s just a muscle knot \u2013 it could be a blood clot instead, and rubbing it might just put you at risk of the clot releasing into your bloodstream<\/a>. If you feel anything at all, make an appointment to get the area scanned to make absolutely sure what\u2019s causing the problem before you act yourself: It might cause more damages than you could anticipate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. None at All<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You should be able to spot the basic symptoms of a blood clot by the end of this article, and you should recognize the condition if it should happen to you or someone you know. You will likely even be able to tell if you are at a high-risk for developing blood clots due to another condition you have, or the fact that you have an existing family history of blood clots or heart conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about blood clots that have absolutely no symptoms? It\u2019s said that about half of blood clots<\/a> are completely asymptomatic \u2013 and no symptoms that we\u2019ve mentioned here will show, or you might only show a few of the affected symptoms. But you will know when you are at a higher risk, and this is something to go on \u2013 get a regular doctor\u2019s check-up every six months and you should be fine, and any problems with your health will likely be spotted early on before they become a bigger problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Swelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When blot clots form in the arteries of veins, they induce swelling <\/a>in the affected area. You may notice swelling in the arms, legs, or abdomen if any of the arteries in these areas experience a blood clot. Swelling is an inflammatory response to the reduction in circulation, and an increase in blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The affected area may also start to turn red, and pressure increases on surrounding blood vessels and tissues. If left untreated, this reddish color may progress to a blue and then a purple color as the clot starts to affect blood supply in the affected area.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated, you may notice that the swelling steadily increases as the clot grows or becomes lodged in the vein or artery. Physicians prescribe blood-thinning medications to dissolve the clot and reduce the swelling. It may take a few days for the swelling to dissipate as the drugs start to work. However, you should experience a return to normal after a few days of administration.<\/span><\/wp-block><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Throbbing<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A throbbing sensation in the affected limb is another common symptom associated with the development of a blood clot in a vein or artery<\/a>. People who suffer from the condition, \u201cdeep vein thrombosis,\u201d often report a steady throbbing sensation in the affected leg, especially when the situation becomes advanced. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This throbbing sensation starts to present mild discomfort in the initial stages of the clot. As the severity increases, they begin to notice a steady rise in discomfort that leads to dull, aching pain. The throbbing is often in time with your heart rate and occurs due to the blood trying to pass through the clot in the affected vein or artery.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated, this throbbing sensation continues to escalate, requiring surgery or medication to remove or dissolve the clot. Most people who are suffering from deep vein thrombosis need surgery to remove the affected veins and return circulation to the affected area.<\/span><\/wp-block><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Shortness of Breath<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When blood clots form in the arteries around the cardiovascular system, they can present a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical intervention to prevent congestive heart failure. Blockages in the lungs due to blood clots is known as, \u201cpulmonary edema<\/a>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pulmonary edema can prevent blood from reaching the heart, leading to cardiac arrest and death.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any symptoms of shortness of breath, especially after activity, you could be suffering from pulmonary edema, and it’s best if you ask for immediate medical attention. Sit down and raise your legs to lower blood pressure while you wait for the ambulance to arrive to transport you to the hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortness of breath may not be an immediate symptom of blood clots in the lungs, but if it occurs in conjunction with other pulmonary edema symptoms, such as pain in the chest, and pain when breathing deeply, then it\u2019s a warning sign you should pay attention to \u2013 or it may cost you your life.<\/span><\/wp-block><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Palpitations<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experiencing heart palpitations <\/a>is another symptom of blood clots affecting the cardiovascular system. People who experience palpitations report sudden shifts in the rhythm of the heart. These palpitations may feel like the heart adds an extra beat, and your mind will make you acutely aware of these abnormalities in rhythm. People who experience palpitations state that they feel their entire body grind to a stop suddenly for a few seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart palpitations caused by blood clots are a life-threatening issue. The heart has a \u201cdouble-pump\u201d action, where it draws blood into the chambers, and then expel it through the left ventricle. If blood clots enter the heart and lodge in the valves or arteries, it can result in the heart not receiving any blood, leading to instant cardiac failure and death.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice abnormal heartbeat and chest pain, you should seek immediate medical attention from your physician. Have someone drive you to the emergency room for diagnosis and treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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