What is a blood clot?
![Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/how-do-you-know-if-you-have-a-blood-clot-in-your-leg.jpg?output-quality=75)
Blood clots are clumps of blood formed when the blood changes from a fluid to a semisolid form. Whenever you get a cut in your skin, your blood normally clots to prevent further blood loss from your body. However, when the blood clots inside your blood vessels (arteries and veins), it may lead to many medical conditions.
When a blood clot is formed in one of the large veins in the legs or arms, the condition is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
What are risk factors for getting a blood clot in the leg?
Risk factors for blood clots in the leg include:
- Pregnancy
- Prolonged hospitalization
- Confinement to the bed or a wheelchair
- Surgery
- Cancer
- Contraceptives or birth-control medications containing estrogen
- Age, especially 65 years and older
- Overweight or obese individuals
- Smoking
- Inactive or sedentary lifestyle
- Estrogen-containing hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Family history of DVT or blood clots
- Severe injury, especially if it involves a vein
- Chronic diseases, such as heart and lung conditions and diabetes
What happens if you have a deep vein blood clot in your leg?
- A blot clot in your leg can hamper the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the affected area.
- An untreated DVT may cause the clot to grow bigger and break in small pieces that can travel to other organs, such as the heart and lungs, causing serious consequences.
- The sluggish flow or stasis of blood in the affected area makes it more prone to infection.
- If the infection and the clot are not treated, they can cause the death of the tissues.
What are the first signs of a blood clot in the leg?
If you have a blood clot in your leg, you will have these signs and symptoms:
- Swelling of the affected leg
- Pain
- Reddish or bluish color of the skin
- The affected area is warm to touch
- Cramps
- Difficulty in walking
- If there is associated infection, there may be other symptoms such as fever and shivering
- If the clot has broken and traveled to other organs, there might be symptoms related to the target organ, such as chest pain, difficulty in breathing, nausea, vomiting, confusion, fainting, and/or headache
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/blood-and-bleeding-disorders/s3.jpg)
QUESTION
Sickle cell disease is named after a farming tool. See AnswerWhat is the treatment of blood clots in the leg?
7 Treatment options for a blood clot in the leg include:
- Anticoagulation medicines (blood thinners): These slow the process of formation of new clots and prevent the already formed ones from getting bigger. Blood thinners include:
- Unfractionated heparin (UFH)
- Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH)
- Warfarin
- Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) medications
- Thrombolytic therapy to dissolve the existing clots.
- Compression stockings.
- Surgery.
- Vena cava filters to prevent the spread of the clots to other body parts.
- Implantable devices.
- Management of risk factors, such as cessation of smoking, weight control and regular exercises.
How can you prevent having a blood clot in your leg?
- Adopt an active lifestyle with regular exercise.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Discuss with your doctor if you have any risk factors for blood clots.
- Quit smoking.
- Start a healthy diet.
- Before any surgery, talk with your doctor about blood clots.
- Recognize your symptoms and contact your doctor if you develop symptoms.
- Take a break to stand up and move around every two hours when traveling on a plane, train, or car.
Signs and symptoms of blood clots
Understanding Blood Clots
How to Spot and Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis
Top If You Have a Blood Clot in Your Leg Related Articles
alteplase (TPA, Activase, Cathflo Activase)
Alteplase is a drug prescribed to treat conditions caused by arterial blood clots such as heart attacks, strokes, chest pain from unstable angina, and pulmonary embolism. The most common and serious side effect of alteplase is bleeding. Minor bleeding is more common, but significant bleeding such as into the brain (intracranial hemorrhage) or fatal bleeding also occurs. Other important side effects include nausea and vomiting.Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are drugs that inhibit blood clots from forming in the veins and arteries of the body. There are a variety of uses for these drugs, which include the treatment or prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism), stroke, blood clots during AFib, and heart attacks.Eliquis (apixaban)
Apixaban is a medication prescribed to prevent blood clots in the heart and strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, and to prevent and treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The most common side effects of apixaban involves bleeding in the stomach, intestines, brain, and eyes. Bleeding due to apixaban may be fatal.Blood Clots (in the Leg)
Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract, and uterus. Risk factors include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Symptoms and treatment depend on the location of the clot.Blood Clots: 4 Signs You Could Have One
Blood clots can be deadly medical emergencies that can form in different parts of your body. Learn the warning signs that you might have one.clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix)
Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) is an antiplatelet drug prescribed for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes in high risk individuals. Review side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and pregnancy information prior to taking this or any medication.Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT, Blood Clot in the Legs)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in the deep veins, and can be caused by broken bones, trauma to a limb, immobility, medications, smoking, cancer, genetic predisposition, and cancer. Symptoms and signs of a deep vein thrombosis in a leg are swelling, tenderness, redness, warmth, and pain. Treatments for DVT include medications and surgery.DVT Quiz
Take the Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Quiz to learn causes, symptoms, and treatments for these two dangerous conditions.Healthy Eating: Foods That Help Increase Blood Flow Circulation
Good blood flow circulation occurs when you eat the right foods. Choose cayenne pepper, beets, berries, fatty fish, pomegranate, garlic, walnuts, grapes, turmeric, spinach, and citrus fruit to keep blood flowing.DVT Slideshow
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a dangerous and sometimes fatal blood clot that occurs deep within the lower leg or thigh. Understand the symptoms, treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).What Is the Difference Between a Thrombus and a Blood Clot?
What makes a thrombus different from a blood clot? Learn about the differences between a thrombus and a blood clot, and how these conditions are treated.What Is the Difference Between Thrombus and Embolism?
What is the difference between thrombus and embolism?DVT and Birth Control Pills (Oral Contraceptives)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that has traveled deep into the veins of the arm, pelvis, or lower extremities. Oral contraceptives or birth control pills can slightly increase a woman's risk for developing blood clots, including DVT. DVT symptoms and signs in the leg include leg or calf pain, redness, swelling, warmth, or leg cramps, and skin discoloration. If a blood clot in the leg is not treated, it can travel to the lungs, which can cause a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) or post-thrombotic syndrome, both of which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Increased risk factors for DVT and birth control pills include over 40 years of age, family history, smoking, and obesity. Other medical problems that increase the risks of blood clots, for example, lung or heart disease, or inflammatory bowel disease or IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Other options for preventing pregnancy include IUDs, birth control shots, condoms, diaphragms, and progestin-only oral contraceptives.DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) During Pregnancy
Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a condition in which a blood clot becomes embedded in one of the deep veins of the arms, thighs, pelvis, or lower legs. Warning signs and symptoms of DVT include pain, warmth, redness, swelling, leg cramps, and worsening leg pain in the affected extremity.
Many conditions and other factors can cause DVTs, for example, during pregnancy including postpartum (6-8 weeks after delivery of the baby), obesity, heart attacks or heart failure, cancer, birth control pills (oral contraceptives), recent surgery, high altitudes, and advanced age.
Treatment guidelines for DVT diagnosed during pregnancy is anticoagulation (anti-clotting) drugs, usually, low-molecular-weight heparins. DVT treatment may need to be continued postpartum. Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) should not be used to treat DVT during pregnancy because it can harm the developing fetus.
fresh frozen plasma
Fresh frozen plasma is administered as an intravenous transfusion based on ABO blood group compatibility. The uses of fresh frozen plasma include managing and preventing bleeding, replacement of coagulation factors, and plasma exchange in adults with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Common side effects of fresh frozen plasma include transfusion-transmitted infections and septic reactions, hemolytic transfusion reactions that destroy red blood cells, feverish (febrile) non-hemolytic reactions, transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD), transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), and allergic reactions.Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload)
Hereditary hemochromatosis (iron overload) is an inherited disorder in which there is excessive accumulation of iron in the body. Check out the center below for more medical references on hemochromatosis, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.rivaroxaban
Rivaroxaban is a blood thinner prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation (not due to a heart problem), treat and reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) and blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism), and to reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs of patients who have just had hip or knee replacement. You should review the side effects, drug interactions, dosage, storage, and pregnancy safety information prior to taking this medication.What Are the 3 Rarest Blood Types?
The red blood cells or RBCs present in the blood carry certain molecules, called antigens, on their surface that determine what blood group you have. The antigens depend on the genes you inherit from your parents. These antigens may be grouped in various categories to form a system for blood typing called the ABO system. The EldonCard blood type test kit uses the basic forward antibody technique of blood hematology for quick and simple determination of your blood type.When Are Elbow and Above-Elbow Amputations Performed?
The surgical removal of an elbow or the arm above the elbow joint is called elbow amputation. Elbow and above-elbow amputations may be performed for the following reasons: peripheral vascular disease (PVD), risk factors include diabetes and blood clots, osteomyelitis (an infection in the bones), severe injury or accidents, surgery to remove tumors or infected area from bones and muscles. The complications are generally prevented or successfully managed.