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Blood clot pain in leg

24 Jul 18

How to understand that a blood clot has broken off in the leg: what to do

According to statistics, 70% of people have blood clots in their veins. A thrombus is a pathological blood clot that has formed in the lumen of a vein and attached to its wall. Most often, such blood clots form in the veins of the lower extremities, which leads to the development of various diseases. And if a blood clot in the leg breaks off, a person may develop a fatal disease - thromboembolism.

Symptoms of a blood clot

When a blood clot breaks off in the leg, the consequences can be very different. Symptoms depend on which vessel the blockage occurred in. It must be taken into account that a detached clot can split into several parts and clog several veins at the same time.

  • A blood clot located in a blood vessel in the brain can lead to a stroke. During a stroke, the patient's speech slows down, the swallowing reflex is impaired, and the face becomes asymmetrical. As a result of significant damage to the vessels located in the brain of the head, tactile sensitivity and movement are impaired.
  • When a blood clot blocks the vessels responsible for supplying blood to the brain, a person suffers from intense pain in the head and neck. In this case, visual impairment may occur.
  • If a blood clot breaks loose in a coronary artery and its blockage occurs, the patient will experience pressing acute pain in the chest and may develop myocardial infarction. Most often, pain caused by damage to blood vessels is localized in the heart area, but in some cases pain can be transmitted to the abdomen, lower jaw, neck, arm, or between the shoulder blades.
  • When the lumen of a vein located in the intestine is blocked, peritonitis develops and severe abdominal pain is felt.
  • As a result of a blood clot breaking off in the leg and blocking a vessel, the affected limb becomes bluish, swells significantly and hurts. In the place where the blood clot is located, there is redness of the skin, and the temperature of the sore leg is below normal body temperature. If not treated promptly, gangrene may develop and the leg will have to be amputated. However, you should know that the process of blocking a lower limb vein with a blood clot proceeds slowly, and thanks to this, the patient has time to go to a medical facility and begin treatment.
  • When a vessel located in the lung is blocked, the patient suddenly develops oxygen deprivation, shortness of breath, cessation of breathing and heartbeat, and possibly hemoptysis. The victim's skin takes on a bluish tint. This condition is called pulmonary embolism. If a person experiences the listed symptoms, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance and take him to a medical facility. If this is not done, the patient will die from embolism.
  • What to do if a blood clot breaks off

    If you suspect a detached blood clot, it is necessary to urgently hospitalize the victim. Often after separation, the patient’s death occurs within a few minutes, and the ambulance does not have time to deliver him to the hospital. It is almost impossible to predict the further behavior and path of movement of a blood clot, and the doctor makes a decision to save the patient based on the current situation.

    The location of the detached clot is of decisive importance for the patient’s life. If the victim was nevertheless managed to be taken to the hospital, then the following measures can be used as treatment:

  • Performing an operation to remove an embolus stuck in a vessel.
  • Installation of a vena cava filter into the vein cavity, capable of intercepting a detached clot and preventing it from moving further along the artery.
  • Injection of Heparin into a vein in large quantities.
  • It should be borne in mind that any surgical intervention in the vessels itself poses a risk of the formation of new blood clots in the future. Therefore, high-quality prevention of varicose veins, atherosclerosis, and thrombophlebitis is of utmost importance in the fight against this problem. If these diseases are present, it is necessary to treat them promptly and avoid complications.

    Why do blood clots form?

    No person is immune from blood clots. However, understanding what factors influence their formation can prevent the development of severe complications of thrombosis, and sometimes save lives.

    Blood clots can form as a result of:

  • Slow blood circulation.
  • Staying in a stationary position for a long time.
  • Formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
  • Physical damage to the walls of blood vessels.
  • After surgery.
  • In addition, abnormal blood clotting contributes to the appearance of blood clots. If a patient is predisposed to thrombosis, then he is recommended to periodically take tests for prothrombin and undergo other diagnostic procedures.

    When blood clots just begin to form, they have a soft consistency, so in the initial stages of the disease they are easily treatable. Over time, blood clots become denser and it becomes more difficult to dissolve them using special chemicals. The greatest danger is the separation of a blood clot located in a large blood vessel. This can lead to a heart attack, vein blockage, stroke, pulmonary embolism and death of the patient.

    In small veins, the flow rate and blood pressure are insignificant, due to which the clots in them almost never come off.

    Diagnostic procedures

    Timely detection of thrombosis avoids surgery and the risk of serious complications. Patients at risk should undergo regular examinations to identify blood diseases. Such procedures are carried out using:

  • Thrombin generation test.
  • Thrombodynamics.
  • Prothrombin test.
  • Signs of a detached blood clot indicate advanced disease. The main risk groups include people:

  • with excess weight, because cholesterol accumulates in their vessels;
  • those who do not comply with their diet;
  • regularly consuming large amounts of alcoholic beverages;
  • leading a sedentary or sedentary lifestyle;
  • who have undergone surgery on the joints and abdominal area;
  • having cancer;
  • suffering from diseases that lead to increased blood clotting.
  • Also at risk are men over 40 years of age and women who have reached menopause. Because their blood clotting changes at this stage of life.

    Preventive measures

    To prevent the formation of blood clots and avoid their rupture, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

  • Follow your diet and nutrition regimen. Do not abuse foods rich in cholesterol: fatty broths, fried foods, spreads and margarine.
  • People at risk are recommended to take anticoagulant drugs. These include Heparin, Warfarin, Aspirin and others. But these medications must be taken under the strict supervision of a doctor.
  • To reduce blood clotting, strengthen the heart muscle and speed up blood circulation, physical activity is necessary.
  • Patients undergoing treatment for a blood clot in the leg are prohibited from exercising the lower extremities, since any sudden movement can lead to the blood clot breaking off.

    Blood clot in the leg: symptoms and treatment of vascular thrombosis

    Vascular thrombosis of the legs is a very insidious disease, its essence lies in the appearance of blood clots, which are called thrombi. Then these formations clog the gaps inside the veins or arteries, attaching to their walls. The danger of the disease is that when the vascular space is completely clogged, they interfere with normal blood circulation in the extremities.

    In each case of thrombosis, the symptoms may differ significantly from each other, so there are no clear signs of a blood clot in the leg. Because of this, timely identification of the disease can be complicated. In this article we will get acquainted with the factors that cause thrombosis and find out how it is treated.

    Thrombosis and its classification

    Nature created human blood as liquid, and maintaining it in this state is due to the balance of biological reactions. Thrombi are formed blood clots that tend to attach to the walls of blood vessels.

    A feature of these formations is their constant increase in size if there is no adequate treatment. They grow all the time, and one day they will be able to block the lumen of the vessel.

    So what do blood clots on the leg look like? The photo shows the external symptoms of thrombosis:

    Important! The formation of clots occurs due to 3 factors: changes in the surface of the wall of a vein or artery, a decrease in the speed of blood flow, and a genetic abnormality in the composition of the blood.

    In older people, thrombosis occurs much more often than in children, but children are not protected from the occurrence of clots.

    Blood clots can be localized in the veins or arteries of a person . Depending on this, there are different types of thrombosis. They consist of formations of fibrin fibers and platelets that have changed in structure.

    Types of disease depending on location:

    • Atherothrombosis of the coronary vessels . Refers to arterial thrombosis. In this disease, a vessel blocked by a thrombus stops being supplied with blood and ischemia occurs, which leads to dysfunction and then to necrosis of the cells of the diseased organ.
    • Phlebothrombosis . Blood clots occur in the venous part of the circulation. The disease is dangerous because it also poses a threat to human life, since a blood formation can block the pulmonary artery. The severity of the disease depends on the location of the blood clot and the blockage of the vein.
    • Thrombophlebitis. The essence of this disease lies in the presence of an inflammatory process and the appearance of blood clots. As a result, thickening and redness of the skin form on the leg. This type is characterized by complications requiring surgery.
    • Thrombophilia. This is a predisposition to the occurrence and development of thrombosis in various areas of the vessels. It occurs due to a genetic predisposition or due to acquired cell pathology, as well as due to a blood clotting disorder.
    • Most often, the consequences of a blood clot in the leg are that the clogged vessels cannot fully provide nutrition to the tissues of the limb, and they gradually begin to die, which can provoke gangrene.

      The most dangerous is considered to be the rupture of a blood clot from its place . In this situation, there is a high risk of it entering the coronary or pulmonary artery of the body through the bloodstream. A blood clot can also cause a stroke if it blocks a vessel supplying the brain.

      Since a blood clot does not allow the normal functioning of the human body, the consequences may be a skin rash, an increase in the level of eosinophils, and the development of cyanosis (cyanosis) due to oxygen deficiency.

      Signs: how to identify a blood clot in the leg

      A person’s legs are the area of ​​the body where thrombosis often occurs, because people receive heavy loads on their lower limbs because they move in an upright position. There is a list of signs of vascular thrombosis.

      The disease begins with swelling of the leg and pain . Then some of the following symptoms occur:

    • temperature rises;
    • chills occur;
    • there are pressure surges;
    • lymph nodes become inflamed;
    • the color of the skin on the sore leg changes - it acquires either a red tint or turns blue;
    • I am bothered by cramps in my calves.
    • When thrombosis forms in the external vein of the lower limb, the clot can be identified by palpation. If thrombophlebitis occurs, peeling of the skin and bruising may still be present.

      When the disease is acute, the person becomes bedridden : severe pain prevents movement.

      Important! If you do not notice the first symptoms of a blood clot, then after a certain period the disease will worsen, and then tissue necrosis and gangrene may form. Thus, a threat to human life is created.

      Ileofemoral thrombosis is characterized by a severe course. With this type of disease there is a high risk of pulmonary embolism. Solid formations appear in the vessels at the level of the femoral and iliac veins.

      The disease occurs for the same reasons and has the same symptoms as in other types of thrombosis. The development of the disease occurs quickly . The diagnosis is finally determined using ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities. Treatment is similar to that of other types of thrombosis.

      Factors that provoke the development of vascular diseases

      What contributes to the occurrence of thrombosis? The very first reason is the increased ability of blood to clot . The next 2 reasons are slow blood flow and changes in the surfaces of the vessel walls.

      There are factors that contribute to an increased risk of thrombosis, these are:

    • presence of obesity;
    • smoking;
    • pregnancy, including childbirth and caesarean section;
    • presence of infection;
    • inactivity;
    • elderly age;
    • taking medications that increase blood clotting;
    • surgical interventions;
    • phlebeurysm.
    • To know what to do in case of thrombosis, you need to make sure that these are really its signs. The form of the disease should also be determined. It can be acute, subacute and chronic.

      Chronic thrombosis often goes unnoticed, so the patient may not even realize that he has this disease in his body.

      Acute thrombosis is characterized by the following symptoms:

    • severe pain in the lower leg muscles;
    • discomfort when squeezing the muscles in the legs;
    • presence of swelling;
    • change in skin color of the sore leg.
    • It is possible to independently diagnose the acute stage of the disease, and the patient, knowing the signs of blood clot separation, is also able to determine the fact that the blood clot has separated from its previous location. If a blood clot in your leg breaks off, the symptoms are as follows:

    • decreased blood pressure;
    • cardiopalmus;
    • feeling of pain in the chest (with a heart attack);
    • incoherence of speech, difficulty swallowing (with a stroke);
    • fluid retention in the body;
    • loss of consciousness.
    • Often the blood clot breaks off due to its migratory nature and the rapid movement of blood flow in the veins.

      Therapeutic course

      All adults have heard about this terrible disease - thrombosis. Therefore, many who have a blood clot on their leg are in a panic, deciding what to do next.

      And the treatment of this disease depends on the location (artery or vein), the size of the clot formed, the specific area of ​​the vessel where it is attached and the general well-being of the patient.

      The size and exact location of the blood clot is determined through diagnosis. This is followed by a therapeutic course.

      Treatment of blood clots in the veins of the legs is divided into the following stages:

    • removal of formation in accessible areas;
    • preventing complications;
    • minimizing the consequences caused by the formation of clots;
    • prevention of recurrent disease.
    • When a blood clot in the leg bursts and moves closer to the heart or brain, it can lead to blockage of blood vessels in the form of a stroke, heart attack or pulmonary embolism . Therefore, there is a medication that can dissolve blood clots. It must enter the human body no later than 3 hours after the onset of the attack.

      If necessary, invasive procedures (vascular surgery, insertion of a catheter to simplify the delivery of a blood-dissolving drug, installation of a stent to increase the lumen in the veins or arteries).

      Anticoagulants , medications that prevent blood from clotting and forming clots, also help eliminate the symptoms of a blood clot in the leg and treat it This is Warfarin or Heparin.

      This is followed by therapy with antiplatelet agents . It is aimed at reducing the “stickiness” of platelets.

      The following antiplatelet agents are prescribed: Trental, Curantil, Reopoligyukin.

      In the therapeutic course, in addition to oral medications, external medications .

      These are ointments that relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

      Products based on horse chestnut, heparin, and tar are good. These are the following medications: Lyoton, Vishnevsky ointment, Gepatrombin.

      Important! The goal of therapy is to prevent the ruptured clot from clogging the lumen of the vessel and to protect the lungs, and the doctor prescribes how to treat blood clots on the legs on an individual basis.

      To prevent the formation of thrombosis, the legs need movement. You also need to drink more fluids. Varicose veins should also be treated.

      Prevention of thrombosis for bedridden patients is carried out using special exercises.

      After reading the material in this article, you will already know exactly how to recognize a blood clot in your leg in order to get an appointment with a specialist on time.

      Blood clot rupture in the leg symptoms

      Blood clots that occur in different parts of the body are a fairly common phenomenon. What is this pathology? A thrombus is a blood clot that has formed in the lumen of a vessel or cavity of the heart.

    • Why do blood clots appear?
    • Symptoms of a blood clot formed in the leg
    • How to prevent and treat blood clots on the legs
    • How to independently identify a blood clot in your leg
    • How to resolve a blood clot that has formed in the leg
    • Comments and reviews

      Why do blood clots appear?

      This pathological phenomenon occurs due to a violation of the coagulation and anticoagulation systems, when thickening and increased blood clotting occur. Clots usually form at sites of damage to the walls of blood vessels or at areas with atherosclerotic plaques. After this, microinflammation occurs and, as a result, fibrin threads are deposited.

      In this way, a primary thrombus is formed. The growth of a clot occurs through the layering of thrombotic masses both along the blood flow and against it. At the next stage, separation and cessation of blood flow occurs. This phenomenon can be fatal.

    • Damage to the walls of blood vessels;
    • Decreased blood flow speed;
    • Increased blood clotting;
    • Prolonged immobility (work specifics, paralysis, etc.);
    • Changes in hormonal levels (pregnancy, abortion, taking hormonal medications, diseases of the endocrine system);
    • Surgical intervention, trauma, injury;
    • Diseases of the cardiovascular system (atherosclerosis, heart failure, heart rhythm disturbances);
    • Genetic predisposition.
    • Symptoms of a blood clot formed in the leg

      Signs differ depending on what part of the bloodstream it is located on. For example, when a clot is in a deep vein, fever, chills, severe pain, and blue discoloration occur. However, the course may be asymptomatic.

      When the pathology is located in the superficial vein, it is easily palpable, the vessel itself becomes more compacted, and painful sensations occur during palpation. The affected area swells, becomes hot and reddish. When located in the lower limb, the patient experiences pain in the calves, as well as cramps of the calf muscles.

      If a vein is inflamed and a blood clot is detected in its lumen, then this phenomenon in medicine is called thrombophlebitis. In this case, the main symptoms are: pain in the affected area, fever, bruising, redness, swelling of the tissue.

      At the next stage of the disease, the skin begins to peel off, change color, and bluish spots appear. Basically, these symptoms are a complication of varicose veins.

      If a blood clot breaks loose on your leg, the consequences can be disastrous. A clot can get stuck in any part of the circulatory system. This phenomenon is very dangerous, as it often leads to death, for example, due to blockage of the pulmonary artery. When the pathology is localized in the head, cerebral vascular obstruction is possible and, as a result, a stroke.

      The first signs of this are speech impairment, loss of balance and paralysis of the limbs. Blockage of intestinal vessels leads to mesenteric thrombosis and peritonitis. Damage to the vessel supplying the heart causes myocardial infarction.

      How to prevent and treat blood clots on the legs

      For prevention purposes, you must follow some rules that will help protect yourself from thrombosis:

    • Avoid staying in one position for a long time. If this is not possible, try to take short breaks to move;
    • Move more;
    • Lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, control blood pressure.
    • How to independently identify a blood clot in your leg

      First, you need to carefully examine your legs, because clots most often occur in the extremities. We can talk about thrombophlebitis if compaction and redness of the vein area are detected, as well as pain upon palpation (pressure). In addition, the temperature in the affected area will increase significantly.

      Homans' sign - pain in the calf muscles when dorsiflexing the feet indicates a blood clot. It is necessary to pay attention to the uniformity of the skin of the legs. In some cases, the disease is asymptomatic, but it can be detected by bluish areas on the skin and small swellings.

      Secondary signs of the disease: general weakness, malaise, fever. It is worth noting that bedridden patients most often develop phlebothrombosis of the deep veins in the legs.

      Seeing a doctor after this is mandatory. The doctor will also evaluate the signs of a blood clot that has formed in the leg, prescribe an examination (ultrasound scan), tests for blood clotting (coagulogram), etc.

      The method of getting rid of pathology is chosen individually in each specific case. The method of treatment depends on the location of the clot, its type, and the presence of concomitant diseases (for example, anticoagulants are contraindicated for stomach ulcers).

      To prevent clot growth, anticoagulants (eg heparin) are prescribed. After the first course, the next one should begin, which consists of taking direct-acting anticoagulants (eg. Warfarin).

      These drugs make the blood more fluid and liquid, which prevents the formation of blood clots. However, taking such medications should be accompanied by regular testing, since drugs of this series can cause bleeding (intestinal, gastric, which is often observed with ulcers). Treatment with tablets is effective only at the early stage of the disease.

      If blood clots in the legs cause complications, then in some cases it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention. During surgery, the abnormal blood clot is removed. In medicine, this event is called thrombectomy.

      In the presence of a floating thrombus, the decision on the need to take antiplatelet drugs is made only by the attending physician, because the consequences of taking them can lead to detachment. If it is localized in the veins of the legs, then a filter can be installed and thrombolytic therapy can be performed. In this case, the clot that has come off will not be able to pass further.

      Another method of elimination, minimally invasive, involves passing medications through a catheter directly to the clot. Special absorbable drugs are administered using a catheter: Alteptase, Streptokinase, Urokinase. For example, this method can resolve a blood clot in the pulmonary artery.

      The most effective preventative measure is taking aspirin (Thrombo ACC). It is recommended to take this drug or its analogues for arrhythmia and hypertension. If the patient neglects such medications, then there is a high probability of thrombosis.

      How to resolve a blood clot that has formed in the leg

      • Antibiotics are prescribed to relieve inflammation, with increased temperature, purulent processes;
      • Anticoagulants to reduce clot formation. Initially, it is possible to use low molecular weight heparins, and then tablets. At this time, blood clotting is monitored to prevent bleeding;
      • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain and inflammation, prevent the formation of blood clots;
      • Fibrinolytics dissolve pathological clots;
      • Strengthen the vascular wall with the help of such agents as Detralex, Rutozid and analogues;
      • Heparin-based ointments, creams, gels;
      • It is possible to treat chronic superficial thrombophlebitis with the help of physiotherapy (infrared rays, UV irradiation).
      • To correct blood flow in the veins, elastic bandages and bandages are used - elastic compression. There is often a need to apply bandages to all extremities. For two weeks, round-the-clock compression is required using elastic bandages of medium extensibility.

        When the symptoms of inflammation have passed, compression is carried out only during the day, when intense physical activity occurs. For these purposes, special knitwear is used. However, elastic bandaging should be determined and prescribed only by the attending physician, since in some cases it may be contraindicated.

        Hirudotherapy – treatment with leeches – is highly effective. It is worth noting that the course is best taken in a medical facility under the supervision of specialists. Hirudotherapy should not be used for purulent thrombophlebitis.

        Nutrition should also be balanced. It is worth eating more foods that strengthen the walls of blood vessels (onion, garlic, cinnamon, melon, watermelon, ginger, pineapple), more fruits and vegetables. It is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day. During the period of exacerbation of the disease, it is necessary to exclude from the menu: meat, fish, beans, peas, soybeans, rose hips, black currants and bananas.

        Take care of yourself and your health, and seek help from specialists in time!

        One of the most dangerous ailments is thrombosis, which develops as a result of blockage of veins and circulatory disorders. A blood clot in the leg, the symptoms of which are given in the article, if broken off, can cause the formation of a fatal disease - thromboembolism.

        Signs of a blood clot in the leg

        Thrombosis is a constantly evolving disease. At the very beginning, the formation does not exceed a millimeter. However, gradually the clot begins to grow, which interferes with normal blood flow. At this stage, the first signs of a blood clot in the leg begin to appear. The most pronounced are:

      • pain in the affected area, increasing intensity when walking;
      • change in skin color;
      • swelling of the limb;
      • temperature increase;
      • chills.
      • In some cases, the patient can feel the lump and visually detect its increase. Another main sign of a blood clot in the leg, which is very difficult to miss, is the redness of the affected area and its bluish appearance.

        Thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the leg is accompanied by high fever, muscle swelling, and severe pain when lowering the limb down. After two days, the skin begins to become covered with a network of superficial veins, and the skin takes on a bluish tint.

        Symptoms of a developing blood clot in the femoral vein of the leg include swelling of the skin, swelling of the superficial veins, and pain in the inner thigh.

        When the common femoral vein is affected, acute pain, blueness and swelling of the limb, and swelling of the saphenous veins in the groin are observed. Also, this case is characterized by high temperature and febrile condition.

        Deep vein thrombosis or phlebothrombosis is a more dangerous disease. Vein thrombosis of the leg is more common in patients on bed rest. In this case, swelling and heaviness of the limb are observed. As a rule, the disease has little effect on the general condition of the patient, however, despite the weak signs, deep thrombosis more often leads to avulsion than thrombophlebitis.

        A blood clot in my leg came off

        What are the symptoms if a blood clot breaks loose in your leg? The danger of moving blood clots is that they can cause blockage of many other vessels. The most common event caused by a blood clot is pulmonary embolism. In this case, the following symptoms of a blood clot in the leg occur:

        1. First of all, there is a decrease in pressure and an increase in heart rate. Due to deterioration in the blood supply to organs, collapse occurs, accompanied by chest pain, which is typical for myocardial infarction, urinary retention, loss of consciousness, difficulty swallowing food and pronouncing words (cerebral ischemia).
        2. Due to the fullness of the internal organs and the malfunction of the stomach, abdominal pain occurs.
        3. Shortness of breath and lack of air indicates respiratory failure. Due to oxygen deficiency, cyanosis of the mucous membranes and skin develops.
        4. Often a sign of a blood clot in the leg is pleurisy or infarction pneumonia with an increase in body temperature. Often in patients the disease is accompanied by hemoptysis.
        5. After some time, reactions of the immune system may manifest themselves. In this case, reactive pleurisy develops, a rash appears, and the concentration of eoinophils in the blood increases.
        6. If signs of a detached blood clot are detected in the leg, it is necessary to urgently lyse the embolus. The process of normalizing blood flow will take no more than two hours. To combat the disease, the patient is prescribed thrombolytics, which help dissolve the blood clot, and anticoagulants, which help stabilize it.

          Causes of blood clots

          A thrombus is a pathological blood clot that, during a person’s lifetime, forms in the lumen of a vein or artery and attaches to its wall. Depending on the structure, there are several types:

        7. white - form very slowly in the arteries, consist of platelets, leukocytes, fibrin;
        8. red - include, in addition to everything described above, red blood cells and are formed in the veins with slow blood flow;
        9. layered - they contain elements of a white and red blood clot, such blood clots appear in the heart, aorta, arteries;
        10. hyaline - include destroyed platelets, fibrin, plasma proteins, most often appear in small vessels.

      Thrombi can be parietal or occlusive, which clog the lumen of the vessel. The clot can also be floating - weakly fixed, which is held in place only by a small area and can come off at any time. Most often, such blood clots are found in the veins of the leg or arm. Once a blood clot breaks off, it is called an embolus.

      The reasons why blood clots appear are varied. First of all, this process is a protective reaction of the body, which is needed to stop bleeding. Therefore, when a vessel becomes inflamed, injured, or given an injection or IV, a blood clot may appear - a thrombus. In a healthy person, it quickly resolves without the use of any drugs. But in the presence of certain pathological changes, the clot does not reabsorb; on the contrary, it becomes overgrown with thrombotic masses and can break off over time. The conditions for the formation of blood clots are:

    • violation of the integrity of the vascular wall;
    • increased blood viscosity;
    • slowing down blood flow.
    • Also, blood clotting disorders and blood thickening often occur with heart pathologies, autoimmune and tumor diseases, genetic defects, diabetes mellitus, etc. Blood thickening is often caused by taking oral contraceptives, smoking, dehydration and other factors.

      First symptoms and full clinical picture

      Signs of a blood clot will depend on where in the body it occurs. Up to half of people with deep vein thrombosis do not experience any unpleasant symptoms at all. But for the rest, when a large blood clot appeared, the following initial signs of the disease appeared:

    • redness of the skin around the affected vessel (with thrombosis of the superficial vein)
    • pallor, marbling, cyanosis of the skin (with thrombosis of a deep large vessel); Read more about the causes of marbled skin
    • local pain;
    • hyperthermia;
    • sometimes - the possibility of detecting a lump on the leg or arm by palpation;
    • soreness when touching the skin;
    • leg cramps;
    • edema and severe swelling of the limb.
    • These symptoms are early symptoms of thrombosis, and in the future the development of events can follow different scenarios. If a vessel is completely obstructed by a blood clot, the skin turns brown, the pain is unbearable, and the skin becomes covered with blue spots. Blood clot rupture is a more severe variant of thrombosis progression. The signs of a broken blood clot will depend on where it occurs and where it stops. These pathologies are accompanied by their own specific symptoms:

    • a blood clot burst in the brain: stroke development - headaches, neck pain, blurred vision;
    • a blood clot has broken off in the heart: the occurrence of myocardial infarction - pain behind the sternum, strong compression, pressure in the chest, pain radiating to the stomach, arms, neck, shoulder blades;
    • separation of a blood clot in the lungs: shortness of breath and asphyxia, or falling into a coma, pleurisy, infarction pneumonia, hemoptysis;
    • thrombus in the extremities: rapid cessation of blood flow, coldness of the extremity, its cyanosis, development of tissue necrosis, gangrene of the extremity;
    • pulmonary embolism: drop in pressure, increased heart rate, chest pain, urinary retention, loss of consciousness, cerebral ischemia, collapse, respiratory failure.
    • If an embolus enters the lungs, large arteries or heart, in many cases it threatens the death of a person, so the task of him and the attending physician is to prevent such consequences and not allow the blood clot to break away.

      How to prevent separation

      In order for a blood clot to move inside the body, the following conditions must be met. Firstly, the thrombus should not be occlusive, that is, it should be freely located in the vessel. Secondly, the speed of blood flow must be high enough so that the clot can flow from one vessel to another. Migrating blood clots can fragment into fragments and block several vital vessels, and it is almost impossible to predict exactly where this will happen. The result may be sudden death. Therefore, it is very important to do everything to prevent the blood clot from breaking off, that is, to ensure timely prevention and effective treatment of thrombosis at its early stage.

      Often, deep vein thrombosis is treated with surgery - thrombectomy, or removal of the blood clot. Modern clinics most often perform such operations in a minimally invasive way, using vasodilator catheters or other special devices that insert a blood clot into the vessel and remove it from it. In this way, the vessels that contain clots are “cleaned” in order to completely rid the body of them.

      Thrombosis is also treated with medication (according to indications). It may include the following methods:

    • Taking or administering anticoagulants - Heparin, Warfarin, Fragmin, Fraxiparin, etc. These drugs thin the blood and prevent new blood clots from appearing.
    • Taking antiplatelet agents - Aspirin, Cardiomagnyl to prevent blood clotting.
    • The use of thrombolytic drugs - Urokinase, Streptokinase to dissolve existing blood clots. These medications are administered to the patient only in a hospital under the strict supervision of a doctor. In the presence of large clots, such drugs cannot be used due to the risk of pulmonary embolism.
    • Non-drug therapy methods will help prevent blood clot rupture: wearing compression garments and elastic leg bandaging. You also need to monitor your diet so that it also reduces blood viscosity. The diet should contain as many vegetables, herbs, fruits as possible, as well as foods that prevent the formation of blood clots - beets, cherries, green tea.

      What to do if a break occurs

      First aid for embolism at home is almost impossible. Only emergency hospitalization and subsequent hospital treatment or surgery can save a person. It is difficult to answer unequivocally how the blood clot will behave and what the doctor will do in this situation, because the localization of the blood clot will be of great importance. Often, death when a blood clot breaks off occurs in a matter of minutes, so the ambulance arrives to the dead person.

      If it is still possible to deliver the patient to the hospital, then treatment may include completely different methods:

    • installation of vena cava filters to “intercept” a blood clot;
    • an operation to remove an embolus that has stopped in a vessel - embolectomy;
    • intravenous administration of a large dose of Heparin.
    • Any vascular surgery itself poses a risk of new blood clots in the future. Therefore, it is important to carry out high-quality prevention of varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis, as well as timely treatment so that the danger of thromboembolism does not arise.

      Causes of the disease

      The main causes of thrombosis of arteries or veins are considered to be mechanical damage to the vessel, the presence of an infectious disease, vascular inflammation, a high degree of coagulation (blood clotting), and circulatory disorders. The presence of various tumors also causes the development of blood clots due to the possibility of compression of the vessel, its swelling and edema. There are frequent cases of blood clots in women during pregnancy due to compression of the veins and arteries by the enlarged uterus.

      In addition, it has been proven that the presence of concomitant diseases such as atherosclerosis, leukemia, diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, and previous myocardial infarction are factors that directly affect the development of thrombosis.

      Why does detachment from the vessel wall occur?

      We mentioned earlier that in most cases the resulting clot resolves, especially if timely therapy with anticoagulants was carried out. However, many are interested in the question of what causes its separation, and is this always a sign of a person’s imminent death?

      The main reasons for the rupture of a blood clot are:

    • cases when it does not completely block the blood vessel;
    • when the blood outflow is very rapid and strong.
    • This suggests the conclusion that most often blood clots break off from the walls of the arteries, and not the veins, because the speed of blood flow in the arteries is twice as high as in the veins. If the detached clot breaks into several parts, simultaneous blockage of several vessels may develop. Signs of blockage of blood vessels by a detached blood clot may differ depending on the location of the blockage.

      Thus, if vein thrombosis occurs, swelling, blood stagnation, inflammation, and sepsis are observed. And if in an artery, the vessel experiences a lack of oxygen (ischemia), after which tissue necrosis of a certain organ to which this artery belongs gradually develops.

      When is the disease most likely to die?

      Since a detached blood clot can “float” throughout the body’s circulatory system, there is a risk of it stopping in the most unfavorable place: in the pulmonary artery. PE (pulmonary embolism) means a complete sudden stop of blood flow in an artery of the lung. Due to this condition, the death of a person is inevitable. Sure signs of blockage of the pulmonary artery by a detached blood clot are:

    • dyspnea;
    • lack of oxygen;
    • accelerated breathing;
    • rapid pulse;
    • dizziness;
    • convulsions;
    • pale skin;
    • dry cough.
    • With timely diagnosis and treatment of thrombosis, such terrible consequences can be avoided. At the first symptoms of the disease, you should immediately consult a phlebologist, who will conduct a thorough examination of the patient using instrumental diagnostics. To confirm or refute the diagnosis, it is enough to conduct Doppler sonography, duplex angioscanning of veins and arteries, and computed tomography. To prevent the formation of thrombosis, you need to donate blood to determine special markers in it that indicate a predisposition to high blood coagulation.

      Treatment of venous thrombosis

      How is thrombosis of veins and arteries treated?

      If a doctor has diagnosed this disease, depending on the degree of its development, comprehensive treatment will be prescribed, including:

    • mandatory hospitalization in a hospital;
    • taking local and systemic anticoagulants;
    • injections of drugs that help dissolve the blood clot;
    • in particularly difficult cases, surgical intervention may be prescribed;
    • adding a set of therapeutic physical exercises after improving the condition;
    • You should also follow a special type of diet that includes foods low in cholesterol.

      To prevent the unexpected development of thrombosis, we advise you to periodically visit a phlebologist, especially if you are at risk. Get tested regularly to determine D-dimer markers that increase the hemostatic potential of the blood. Follow a low-cholesterol diet and a healthy lifestyle, often spend time in the fresh air and exercise. During flights, trips and forced long periods of standing, use compression stockings and tights. All these measures will help prevent the development of thrombosis, and will also protect you from unwanted health problems.

      Blood clot in the leg: how it manifests itself, why it is dangerous

      The narrowing of the lumen of the veins of the lower extremities or their complete blockage, which occurs due to a stuck blood clot, is called thrombosis. In this article we will discuss the signs of a blood clot in the leg - symptoms, manifestations and treatment of such a pathology.

      What is thrombosis: causes and mechanism of development

      Thrombosis is a fairly common disease, with which every fifth adult on the planet is familiar in one form or another. It represents a blockage of the lumen of blood vessels. This happens under the influence of various internal changes in the composition of the blood, but you should focus on three main ones:

    • A substance is attached to the wall of the vessel; it can be cholesterol formations, the effects of vascular calcification or atherosclerotic plaques. Over time, they become overgrown with blood cells (leukocytes, platelets, red blood cells) forming a kind of “drop”, which, on the one hand, is attached to the wall of the vessel, and the other side “dangles” in the lumen of the artery or vein.
    • It happens that the blood becomes much thicker, this leads to cells sticking to one another, which forms a blood clot.
    • When the vessel wall is damaged, the body “turns on” the protective function and “sends” platelets and fibrin to the site of the violation, which cope with the task of clotting blood at the site of damage so that it does not leak out. After the “work” of these cells, quite often, blood clots remain, which circulate through the bloodstream, attaching to the walls and becoming overgrown with other blood cells.
    • Why do blood clots break off?

      As we have already found out, blood clots are clumps of cells attached to the walls of blood vessels. The diagnosis of thrombosis is made if such blood clots “grow” and completely close the lumen of the vessel or break off and, carried by the blood flow, clog other arteries. The most terrible consequences of such a separation include thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery, in which its lumen is clogged and death occurs.

      Why do blood clots break off and how to avoid it? It should be noted that initially a blood clot is a soft substance, which becomes denser over time and under the influence of certain factors. Under the pressure of the blood flow, the formed thrombus breaks off and migrates through the circulatory system. People at risk of developing thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities are:

    • over 40 years old, especially women;
    • having excess weight;
    • patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities;
    • those working in a sedentary job;
    • leading a sedentary lifestyle;
    • individuals with bad habits.
    • Signs of a blood clot in the leg: symptoms, classification, types

      Before we talk about the signs of a blood clot in the leg and its symptoms, it should be noted that blood clots in the lower extremities have different patterns of formation.

    • Caused by a disorder of hematopoiesis.
    • Appear due to stagnation.
    • They arise as a consequence of the inflammatory process (thrombophlebitis).
    • How to recognize the presence of blood clots in the leg - symptoms of the disease

      If there are blood clots in the lower extremities, how to recognize the disease? The following symptoms indicate the presence of blood formation in the leg:

    • sudden noticeable pain in the area of ​​​​the formation of a blood clot, which intensifies with physical activity;
    • feeling of bloating, heaviness in the legs;
    • severe swelling that occurs below the area with the blood clot;
    • the skin at the site of the lesion darkens (turns blue) and becomes rough.
    • You should not make a diagnosis yourself; it is better to undergo a thorough diagnosis, which includes: laboratory tests, ultrasound scan of the affected area.

      Symptoms indicating blood clot rupture

      After the blood clot breaks away from the wall of the vessel, it begins its migration through the human circulatory system. At the same time, it slows down the flow of blood in areas of the circulatory system where the lumen of the vessels is much smaller. This provokes an increase in heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure. The blood supply to the cells of all organs becomes worse. Depending on the place where the blood clot “stopped”, different symptoms may be present:

    • loss of consciousness;
    • urinary retention;
    • speech disorder;
    • pain in the chest, head or abdomen;
    • shortness of breath;
    • infarction pneumonia;
    • increase in body temperature;
    • hemoptysis.
    • How to recognize thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities - signs of the disease

      Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory disease that develops in the vessels and veins of the lower extremities. Inflammation occurs due to the formation of a clot that blocks the lumen of the vein. The first stage of changes in medicine is called phlebothrombosis. At this stage there is no development of inflammation yet.

      Since veins do not have their own muscle tissue, any injury can lead to the appearance of phlebothrombosis. Typically, blood clots formed in superficial veins do not break off, but continue to grow, causing dysfunction of blood flow in the affected area of ​​​​the limb.

      Signs and symptoms of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities, if it develops in the superficial veins, can be noticed by external changes, since in most cases it appears due to varicose veins. Deep veins are affected by this pathology much less frequently.

      A sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work provoke the growth of a blood clot in the lower extremities. Thrombophlebitis develops gradually. Initially there is slight redness. As the disease progresses, the reddened area spreads along the vein. Sometimes the inflammatory process can occur in the form of a cobweb, spreading through small veins adjacent to the main affected area.

      Quite often, with thrombophlebitis, the symptoms are not pronounced and appear locally.

    • At the site of the inflamed vein, the skin thickens, becomes hot and painful on palpation.
    • Blood circulation is impaired, which can lead to blue discoloration of the lower limb.
    • The skin swells, itching, throbbing pain, and a burning sensation appear.
    • Fever gradually begins, which is expressed in an increase in body temperature to 38 C.
    • If an infection is added to the inflammation, the general condition worsens, and an abscess with an accumulation of pus may develop under the skin.
    • If you notice signs of a blood clot in the leg, and the symptoms clearly indicate its rupture, then immediately provide the patient with bed rest, with complete rest. Since it is impossible to predict where a blockage of the lumen of the vessel will occur, it is better to call an ambulance. The doctor will administer the necessary medications to avoid a crisis and hospitalize the patient. Afterwards, the following actions are performed based on the diagnosis and the location of the blood clot.

    • Surgery involving removal of a blood clot.
    • Installation of a venous cava filter, which is aimed at “intercepting” a detached clot.
    • Introduction of anticoagulants that can dissolve migrating tissue.
    • If a complication is present, the doctor may prescribe surgery to remove part of the diseased vein. This intervention is performed under general anesthesia, and after the operation the patient is on bed rest and a special diet.

      Are the signs and symptoms of a blood clot in your leg bothering you? This is just great. But... Do not forget that about 90% of the adult population are predisposed or already have the initial stages of varicose veins, which becomes the “first step” to the development of the disease. Don’t forget about prevention, move more, eliminate bad habits, use compression garments, eat right, and then you will be able to avoid “acquaintance” with blood clots.

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