Blood clots often form because of inactivity. This may happen to people who have been hospitalized over a long period or travelers who sit in the same position for a long time in a car, bus or plane. People in these situations should get up or move around whenever possible with assistance if necessary. Just changing a position may help. Certain surgeries and other medical factors may also increase the risk of blood clots, which are dangerous and should be treated immediately.
Swelling and Soreness
A new swelling in your legs or thighs, redness or discoloration of the skin, soreness and pain in the leg or a warm spot on the leg may be signs of a blood clot, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. There may be swelling in one or both legs. Pain may often appear in the calf muscle and may increase with walking or putting pressure on the leg muscles. A swollen leg may be the only sign if the clot is in the thigh, according to the Physicians Desk Reference. Unfortunately, some people have no symptoms.
Wake Up Signs
Some people have conditions that warn them of the possibility for deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot that usually occurs in the leg veins, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. People with varicose veins may be at risk for getting clots. Being overweight or obese also increases the risk for clots. An injury or surgery that reduces blood flow to a certain area may increase the risk. Some people inherit a condition that causes the increase in blood clotting. Women who are pregnant or have recently given birth may have an increased risk, as do people who have had cancer or are being treated for it. Taking birth control pills or hormone therapy for postmenopausal symptoms may increase the risk. Age is also a factor. People who are 60 or older have an increased risk for blood clots.
Life or Death Signs
Blood clots can be life threatening. The clots can break off the vein in your leg and travel to other parts of the body, including the lungs, causing an often fatal pulmonary embolism. Signs of a blood clot moving to the lungs include shortness of breath, a sharp and stabbing chest pain, fast heartbeat, coughing or coughing up blood, mild fever and fainting spells. It is essential to get to the emergency room immediately if these symptoms occur. Blood clots can be treated with blood thinning medication. People who have had blood clots should raise their legs six inches above their heart now and then, wear compression stockings if prescribed by a doctor and perform exercises the doctor may have suggested.
