A blood clot is a clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semisolid state. Clotting is a necessary process that can prevent you from losing too much blood in certain instances, such as when you’re injured or cut.
When a clot forms inside one of your veins, it won’t always dissolve on its own. This can be a very dangerous and even life-threatening situation.
An immobile blood clot generally won’t harm you, but there’s a chance that it could move and become dangerous. If a blood clot breaks free and travels through your veins to your heart and lungs, it can get stuck and prevent blood flow.
Types of blood clots
Your circulatory system is made up of vessels called veins and arteries, which transport blood throughout your body. Blood clots can form in veins or arteries.
When a blood clot occurs in an artery, it’s called an arterial clot. This type of clot causes symptoms immediately and requires emergency treatment. The symptoms of an arterial clot include severe pain, paralysis of parts of the body, or both. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
A blood clot that occurs in a vein is called a venous clot. These types of clots may build up more slowly over time, but they can still be life-threatening. The most serious type of venous clot is called deep vein thrombosis which is often called DVT especially when a clot forms in one of the major veins deep inside your body. It’s most common for this to happen in one of your legs, but it can also happen in your arms, pelvis, lungs, or even your brain.
Symptoms of a blood clot
Symptoms vary depending on where in your body the clot is. These include:
| Arm or leg | Brain | Heart | Abdomen | Lung |
| • swelling • soreness • sudden pains • warmth in one spot |
• changes in vision • seizures • speech impairment • weakness • changes in sensation in the face, one arm or leg, or one side of your body |
• shortness of breath • excessive sweating • chest pains that may extend down |
• serious abdominal pain • diarrhea • vomiting • blood in the |
• Sharp chest pains • a cough with blood • sweating • difficulty breathing. |
Who’s At Risk Of Blood Clotting?
You may be at risk for forming a blood clot if you:
Obese, a smoker, over the age of 60, take oral contraceptives, have a chronic inflammatory disease, have congestive heart failure, have fractures in your extremities, especially the lower extremities or pelvis, are pregnant, are unable to walk, sit for long periods of time, travel frequently.
Complications of a blood clot
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. This can result in heart attack and stroke. Kidney failure: Blood clots in the kidneys can cause damage and ultimately, kidney failure. Fluids and waste can build up causing a number of other complications including high blood pressure. Pregnancy complications: Blood clots that form in pregnancy usually occur in the veins of the pelvis or lower extremities. This creates a risk for pulmonary emboli and associated complications as well as secondary premature labor, miscarriage, and maternal death.
When to call a doctor
Diagnosing a blood clot by symptoms alone is very difficult. According to the CDC, almost 50 percent of people with DVT have no symptoms. That’s why it’s best to call your doctor if you think that you might have one.
Symptoms that come out of nowhere are especially concerning. Call your local emergency services immediately if you experience any of the following:
sudden shortness of breath chest pressure
difficulty breathing, seeing, or speaking
Your doctor or other healthcare professional will be able to tell whether there’s reason for concern and can send you for more tests to determine the exact cause. In many cases, the first step will be a noninvasive ultrasound. This test will show an image of your veins or arteries, which can help your doctor make a diagnosis.
