Blood cells have the unique property of sticking together to form a clot. Blood clotting quickly stops the bleeding during injuries, preventing blood loss. But this boon can turn into a serious health threat if the blood clots fail to dissolve on their own. As they clog blood vessels, this raises serious health complications. Read on to know more about blood clots and blood clot symptoms.
A blood clot is a gel-like collection of blood cells, changing the blood’s form from a liquid to a partially solid state. Under normal circumstances, a blood clot is a body’s response mechanism to injury of a blood vessel – both arteries and veins. A blood clot is a mixture of platelets, a type of blood cell, and fibrin, a string-like compound. When these ingredients mix, they form a layer, called the platelet plug, to cover the injury spot. This stops the body from bleeding too much.
When Blood Clots Turn Risky – Thrombus
Blood clots can be risky when they form outside of the body’s response system. A clot that develops without reason and fails to dissolve itself on its own is called a thrombus. While a blood clot that stays static at one spot is called thrombosis, the one that moves around the body is called embolism or thromboembolism.
Blood clots (thrombus) can be of two types:
- Arterial clots – Blood clots that form in the arteries
- Venous clots – Blood clots that form in the veins
Which Blood Clot Poses the Maximum Health Risk?
Depending upon the size of the blood clot and where it forms in the body, the extent of damage varies – a few can be potentially life-threatening. Moving blood clots are risky and pose a greater health threat than static blood clots.
Arterial clots in the brain cause stroke, whereas the ones that form in the heart arteries cause a heart attack. Blood clots in abdominal blood vessels cause pain, nausea and vomiting.
Blood Clot Symptoms
Blood clot symptoms depend upon the location where the blood clot is formed. While some blood clots have no symptoms at all, others exhibit a range of symptoms. These include:
1. Legs and Arms
Blood clots that form in one of the deep veins of the arms or legs are called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These blood clots can be risky as they can travel to the heart and lungs. The symptoms of blood clot in leg are:
- Swelling – The exact spot where the blood clot forms or the entire leg or arm can swell up.
- Change in colour – There is a change in the colour of the skin of the arm or leg. It turns slightly bluish-red and can get itchy.
- Change in temperature – One of the main deep vein thrombosis symptoms is that the affected area turns slightly warmer.
- Pain – As the clots grow old and increase in size, they begin to hurt. The feeling ranges from a slight, dull ache to severe pain in the arm or leg. The intensity of pain increases on touch.
- Breathing difficulty – If the blood clot from the leg or arm moves to the lungs, it causes breathing difficulty. This deep vein thrombosis symptom is a medical emergency.
- Cramps in the lower leg –If the blood clot is in the calf area or lower leg, one of the dvt symptoms include acute muscle cramping.
- Pitting oedema. DVT can cause fluid accumulation in the affected area. Upon touch, it causes a pit-like creation that fills up again within a few seconds.
2. Brain
Blood clot in the brain is the cause of a brain stroke. It is caused due to build-up of fatty deposits in the inner lining of the walls of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. A blood clot in the brain may also be caused due to concussion. Alternatively, a blood clot that forms in any other part of the body can also travel to the brain through the bloodstream. The main blood clot symptoms include:
- Slurred speech
- Blurred vision
- Seizure
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Lightheadedness
3. Heart
The blood clots that form in and around the heart are responsible for a heart attack. The main blood clot symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Pain and heaviness in the left arm
- Discomfort in the back, neck and jaw area
- Sweating
- Rapid heart rate
- Breathing difficulty and shortness of breath
4. Lungs
A blood clot in the lungs is typically one that forms in a deep vein in the arm or leg. As it breaks off, it travels and reaches the lungs. This condition is medically termed pulmonary embolism and is extremely dangerous. The main blood clot symptoms if you have a clot in the lungs are:
- Breathing difficulty
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Gasping for breath
- Feel pain in the chest as you breathe or cough
- Excessive sweating
- Dizziness
- Discoloured skin
- Pain or swelling in the legs
5. Abdomen
Blood clots can form in the veins that carry blood from the intestines. A blood clot in the belly is caused due to conditions like diverticulitis (unwanted bulges that develop in the digestive tract), liver disease, or excessive and prolonged use of birth control pills.
The following blood clot symptoms can indicate a blood clot in the abdomen. These are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain that worsens after meals.
- Diarrhoea
- Blood in stools
- Bloated stomach
- Abdominal fluid retention
6. Kidneys
Blood clots in kidneys are an uncommon disorder. These clots obstruct the to and fro blood vessels to the organ and hinder the proper functioning. As the kidneys fail to remove waste from the body completely, it leads to other health complications. Furthermore, a blood clot in the kidneys can cause high blood pressure and may also lead to kidney failure.
The main symptoms include:
- Pain in the side of the abdomen
- Pain in the legs and thighs
- Pain in the lower back
- Blood in urine
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- High blood pressure
- Sudden and severe swelling in the legs
- Fluid retention in the feet and ankle
- Breathing difficulty
- Irregular heartbeat
- Reduced urine output
How are Blood Clots Diagnosed?
Irrespective of the location of the formation of the blood clot, its diagnosis remains the same. As blood clot symptoms mimic other health conditions, a variety of tests are available to detect or rule out a blood clot. After physical evaluation and assessment of symptoms, if the doctor suspects a blood clot, the following tests are recommended:
- Blood tests like the D-Dimer
- Ultrasound provides a clear picture of the blood flow in the veins and arteries
- CT scan of the brain, abdomen, or chest can confirm a blood clot
- MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) which is similar to MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) looks specifically at the blood vessels
- V/Q scan picks up signs of obstructed air and blood flow in the lungs.
Treatment of Blood Clots
The treatment of blood clots primarily focuses on preventing the blood clot from growing bigger and breaking or dissolving it. The treatment automatically reduces the risk of developing more blood clots in the future.
Blood clot treatment will depend upon the size of the clot and location of the clot. Available treatment options include:
1. Medication
Blood thinners, medically known as anticoagulants, reduce the thickness of the blood, preventing it from clotting. Thrombolytics, a class of drugs that help the clot to break down and dissolve, is administered in case of life-threatening blood clots.
2. Compression Stockings
If one shows symptoms of a blood clot in leg, a doctor may recommend the use of tight-fitting stockings. This will exert pressure and reduce swelling in the legs. It will also restrict the movement of the blood clot.
3. Surgery
This is an invasive procedure that delivers thrombolytics directly at the site of the clot through the insertion of a catheter. A team of certified surgeons and special instruments are required to carry out a thrombectomy surgery. A stent may also be implanted at the blood clot site which can keep the blood vessel open.
4. Vena Cava Filters
Patients who cannot be prescribed blood thinners due to other health concerns are fitted with vena cava filters. This is a small filter that is implanted into the inferior vena cava, the body’s largest vein. It filters out blood clots and prevents them from travelling to the lungs.
Conclusion
Blood clotting is a body’s natural mechanism. It is extremely useful during injuries as it prevents excessive loss of blood. But blood clots that fail to dissolve on their own can pose serious health concerns. Blood clot symptoms vary depending on where the clot is formed. While blood clots in the brain, heart and lungs can be life-threatening, symptoms of blood clot in leg must also not be ignored. A blood clot in one of the deep veins of the arm or leg can travel to the heart and lungs. The condition is called deep vein thrombosis and is potentially fatal. Thus, careful evaluation of blood clot symptoms, diagnosis and treatment is mandatory.
