A blood clot can form in any blood vessel in your body. It can end up in the lungs, heart, brain, or other areas if it breaks away and travels through the blood. These migrations can lead to serious complications as the clot disrupts the flow of blood to important organs.
An unexpected clot can lead to serious problems and even death. In an artery, it can give you a heart attack or a stroke. If it happens in a vein, you can feel pain and swelling. A clot deep inside your body is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
You can get a blood clot if you break a bone or pull a muscle badly. But sometimes you may not know why it happened or even realize you have one. There are ways to identify blood cloth such as:
- Sitting for many hours on a flight or in a wheelchair
- Overweight or obese
- You are managing diabetes or high cholesterol
- Just recovering from surgery
EASY WAYS TO IDENTIFY BLOOD CLOTH
Difficulty in Breathing
This is a serious symptom. It could be a sign that you have a clot in your lung or your heart. You might feel your heart racing, or feel sweaty or faint.
Swelling
When a clot slows or stops the flow of blood, it can build up in the vessel and make it swell. If it happens in your lower leg or calf, it’s often a sign of DVT. But you also can have a clot in your arms or belly. Even after it goes away, one in three people still have swelling and sometimes pain and sores from damage to the blood vessel.
Changes in Skin Color
If a clot plugs up veins in your arms or legs, they may look bluish or reddish. Your skin also might stay discolored from the damage to blood vessels afterward. A PE in your lung could make your skin pale, bluish, and clammy.
Intense Pain
Sudden, intense chest pain could mean the clot has broken off and caused a PE. Or it could be a sign that a clot in your artery gave you a heart attack. If so, you also might feel pain in your arm, especially on the left. A clot often hurts where it’s located, like in your lower leg, stomach, or under your throat.
How to prevent blood clots
Blood clots can be treated with blood thinning medications. But it’s better to take steps to prevent blood clots from forming because complications can be serious and even fatal if not diagnosed early.
Work to control your risk factors so you can reduce your chances of developing a blood clot. Consider taking the following steps:
- lose weight if you are obese.
- stop smoking.
- tell your doctor about any family history of blood clotting.
It’s important to get treatment and follow your doctor’s instructions for lowering your risk factors. Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet high in omega-3 rich foods, fruits and vegetables, and foods rich in vitamin E may also help.
Be physically active. Immobility is a major factor that can lead to clots forming, especially in the legs. Make a point to get up regularly and walk around if you sit for long periods at a desk or if you travel frequently.
Be aware of any other conditions that may increase your risk for a blood clot, and talk to your doctor about strategies to reduce your risk.