What Are Blood Clots?
Any time blood stops dripping or running through your blood vessels it has “clotted,” – blood clots.
This is a good thing when you are bleeding and your body forms a clot, or a scab. Blood clots that form in arteries or veins can cause big problems, sometimes life-threatening or limb -threatening problems. Blood clots can occur anywhere in the body that you have blood vessels which means just about anywhere. The most common place a clot occurs is in the brain, neck, legs and arms.
A clot in the brain can cause a stroke and should you have signs of a stroke you should IMMEDIATELY CALL 911.
A blood clot that travels into the brain region can cause a stroke. This is a serious condition where the brain tissue starts to die as blood flows either stops or is severely reduced and the brain goes without oxygen. The fatalities of strokes are much less in this day and age compared to the past due to faster diagnosis and treatment.
SYMPTOMS OF STROKE
These symptoms of a stroke include: onset of weakness that is primarily on one side of your body, facial droop, difficulty speaking, balance issues & sudden dizziness or problems walking. This is a medical emergency and you should call an ambulance to get you to a hospital-based emergency room as rapidly as possible.
A blood clot in the arteries can cause a limb-threatening emergency. If you have fairly rapid, sudden pain in your hands or feet, it is getting cool to the touch, bluish in color and you cannot feel a pulse you should seek care immediately in an emergency room.
We're available Sunday-Thursday, 11AM-10PM and Friday-Saturday 11AM-11PM
DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS, also known as DVT, is a term for blood clots most commonly found in the leg veins, although there will be similar symptoms if you have one in the veins of your arm. We care about DVTs because they can break off and go to the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism which can be life threatening emergency.
SYMPTOMS OF DVT:
- increased discomfort with movement
WHO IS AT RISK?
Anyone who has experienced the following is at risk for blood clots:
- leg fractures
- major trauma
- stroke with decreased ability to move
- cancer patients
- use of hormones or oral contraceptives (greater risk if you smoke as well)
- travel without much movement for 8 hours or more
HOW DO WE DIAGNOSE A DVT?
An ultrasound of the legs is used to diagnose DVTs
HOW DO WE TREAT DVTs?
Blood clots are treated with anticoagulants which we can start you on in our Urgency Center.
Pulmonary Embolism is a condition that occurs when a blood clot travels to one or both lungs. The symptoms may vary depending on the affected lung or lungs, the size of the clot, and your overall health. Some of the common symptoms of the condition include:
- Breathing troubles that come on quickly and occur while the patient is in action or resting.
- A cough with a blood-tinged sputum or mucus
- Chest pain that worsens with coughing and deep breathing
The less common symptoms include:
- Swelling in the legs
- Feeling faint
- Weak pulse
- Excessive perspiration
Pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening when not treated early. When treated with the right medications, the condition can be resolved with few ill effects.
When a blood clot gets lodged in a tiny vessel that leads to the heart muscle, the result could be a heart attack. The symptoms of heart attack can differ in each person. In fact, one person may feel a severe chest pain while another may feel indigestion symptoms. The most common symptoms of heart attack include:
- Pain in the chest that spreads to the back, neck, and jaws
- Breathing trouble
- Clammy skin
- Indigestion including nausea, pain or heartburn
Severe chest pain is usually a cause for a trip to the emergency room. But most of the time, subtle symptoms may appear beforehand. If you have more than one of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately.
If you are experiencing symptoms of blood clots and you can safely come to ER Specialists, we would love to help you. If you are alone or have any doubt about getting to our facility safely, or, believe you are experiencing a medical emergency please call 911.
CALL WITH BLOOD CLOT QUESTIONS
Our staff is ready for you Sunday-Thursday from 11:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M. and Friday and Saturday 11:00 A.M.- 11:00 P.M.
- What is a Blood Clot?- Any time blood stops dripping or running through your blood vessels it has “clotted.” This is a good thing when you are bleeding and your body forms a clot, or a scab. Blood clots that form in arteries or veins can cause big problems, sometimes life-threatening or limb -threatening problems. … Read More