A blood clot is a lump of blood that can form in various body parts, including the legs, arms, lungs or heart. These clots can lead to severe health issues.
This article will examine what blood clots are, their causes and symptoms. It's important to note that 3 in 10 people who experience a blood clot may face another episode within a decade, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What is a blood clot?
A blood clot is a semi-solid mass made up of blood cells and other substances that forms within your blood vessels.
Normally, these clots help stop excessive bleeding when you're injured or have surgery, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But blood clots can also develop due to specific medical conditions, posing life-threatening risks. Here's where blood clots can occur:
Veins: Clots can form in the arms and legs
Arteries: They may develop in the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism
Brain: Clots obstructing blood flow to the brain can result in a stroke
Heart: Clots in the heart can lead to a heart attack
What causes blood clots?
Blood clots can develop for various reasons, according to Penn Medicine. Some common causes include:
Injuries: Clots are more likely after an injury
Medical conditions: People with cancer, obesity, liver or kidney disease are at higher risk
Smoking: Increases the risk of blood clots
Inherited conditions can also make you prone to abnormal blood clots. These include:
Factor V Leiden mutation
Prothrombin G20210A mutation
Rare conditions like protein C, protein S and antithrombin III deficiencies
Blood clots during hospitalization
Hospitalization, especially after physical trauma, surgery or extended immobility, heightens the risk of blood clots, according to the CDC. A clot occurring in a large vein, often in the leg or arm, is termed a deep vein thrombosis.
Nearly half of all blood clots arise during or within three months of a hospital stay or surgical procedure.
Coincidentally, a study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation reported that within a week after a COVID-19 diagnosis, the likelihood of experiencing an arterial blood clot was nearly 22 times higher than in individuals not affected by COVID-19. Arterial blood clots could result in a heart attack or ischemic stroke.
This risk significantly decreased in the second week, becoming less than four times higher, the study found.
"I do think that that is a new element to the story — that the risk is not only around the time of the acute COVID infection," Dr. Karen Furie, chief of neurology at Rhode Island Hospital and chair of neurology at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School in Providence, R.I., said in an article published by the American Heart Association.
Elevated risks persisted no matter whether an individual required hospitalization due to COVID-19, although risks were more pronounced in those who were hospitalized. Additionally, the research revealed that clot risks were higher in both Black people and Asian populations.
Blood clot symptoms
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) happens when a blood clot forms in one of your deep veins, often in your legs or occasionally in your arm. The National Blood Clot Alliance suggests keeping an eye out for these DVT signs and symptoms:
Swelling, typically in one leg (or arm)
Leg tenderness or pain, often resembling a cramp or Charley horse
Bluish or reddish skin discoloration
Warm leg (or arm) to the touch
These blood clot symptoms may resemble a pulled muscle or Charley horse but can differ as they might involve swelling, skin discoloration and warmth. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice these signs, as immediate treatment may be necessary.
Pulmonary embolism
Blood clots can dislodge from a DVT and travel to the lung, leading to a potentially fatal condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE). Be alert to these PE symptoms:
Sudden shortness of breath
Sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsens with deep breaths
Rapid heart rate
Unexplained cough, occasionally with bloody mucus
If you experience these PE symptoms, call 911 or seek immediate emergency room treatment via ambulance. Time is crucial when dealing with a possible pulmonary embolism.
What does a blood clot feel like?
An estimated 900,000 people in the U.S. will have blood clots each year, with 1 in 9 facing death, according to the University of Maryland Medical System. Recognizing the signs of a blood clot, particularly if you're at higher risk, is vital.
Sometimes, blood clots remain silent until they trigger a PE. A clot in the leg might mimic a pulled muscle, while one in the lung can feel like someone's weight pressing on your chest, making it hard to breathe.
To help remember these warning signs, use the acronym STOP (the) CLOT:
Swelling in the leg or arm
Tenderness or cramps in the leg
Out of breath, or shortness of breath
Passing out or feeling lightheaded
Chest pain or back pain when breathing
Leg discoloration, appearing red or blue
Overdrive, when your heart races
Time to call 911
Blood clot treatment
The treatment of blood clots depends on their location and severity. Different options are available:
For veins (deep vein thrombosis — DVT)
Treating blood clots in the veins involves measures to prevent clot growth and safeguard your health, including:
For arteries
Treatment for a blood clot in the arteries requires prompt action to reestablish normal blood flow and prevent complications.
Medication: Clot-dissolving medications and anticoagulants can restore blood flow to the heart or brain
Surgery: Surgeons may unblock, reroute or graft blood vessels to bypass blockages
For the brain (stroke)
Treating blood clots in the brain (stroke) demands immediate and targeted interventions to minimize damage and improve outcomes.
Emergency IV medication: Administered to break up brain clots, preventing spread
Anticoagulants: To reduce clot formation and increase recovery chances
Surgery: In complex cases, surgery removes clots and restores blood flow
Vena cava filters: If you have a blood clot that can't be removed, a doctor could place a filter in your vena cava, a large vein in the middle of your body, to protect against clots in the legs from moving to the lungs
For the heart and lungs
Treating a blood clot in the heart and lungs typically requires a combination of strategies.
Thrombolytics: These medications rapidly dissolve clots but raise bleeding risks
Surgery: May be considered to remove the heart clot, depending on the situation
Each treatment method addresses the specific needs and challenges associated with blood clots in different parts of the body.
Living with a blood clot
While pulmonary embolisms are a serious concern, most DVT patients learn to deal with the risk of recurrence. Blood thinners, often prescribed, may be temporary or lifelong based on the cause, demanding caution due to potential bleeding risks.
The American Lung Association explains that a hypercoagulability evaluation to assess your increased tendency to clot may follow your diagnosis, searching for genetic or other risk factors. In rare cases where blood thinners aren't viable, an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter can be considered to stop blood clots from going into the lungs. Its benefits and risks require thorough discussion with your physician.
References:
American Heart Association: Blood Clot Risk Remains Elevated Nearly a Year After COVID-19
American Lung Association: Living with DVT/Blood Clots
Cleveland Clinic: Blood Clots
Johns Hopkins Medicine: Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Placement
Nanavati Max: Blood Clot in Brain: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
National Blood Clot Alliance: Signs and Symptoms of Blood Clots
NHS Inform: Arterial thrombosis
Penn Medicine: What are Blood Clots?
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Hospitalization: A Major Risk Factor for Dangerous Blood Clots
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Impact of Blood Clots on the United States
University of Maryland Medical System: Know the Warning Signs of a Blood Clot
Yale Medicine: Blood Clot in Veins, Heart, and Lungs
