Blood Clot In Leg: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is the Blood Clot in Leg?

A blood clot in the leg is the clump of blood that has transformed from the liquid form to some semisolid or gel-like state. Generally, blood clotting happens to be a vital process that can prevent you from losing excess blood in certain instances including cuts or major injuries. 

When the blood clot happens inside the veins, it usually will not dissolve on its own. This could be immensely dangerous and can be sometimes life-threatening. The blood clot in the legs which turn out to be immobile will not harm you. However, there are chances that it might move across the body and could become dangerous over the course of time. If the blood clot in your leg or any other part of the body breaks free and travels through the veins to the lungs and heart, it could get stuck there and prevent proper blood flow. This turns out to be the case of a medical emergency. 

If you think that you have a major blood clot problem, then you must reach out for medical help as soon as possible. 

There could be different types of blood clots by the location. The overall circulatory system of the body consists of blood vessels referred to as the arteries & veins –responsible for transporting blood across the entire body. The blood clots can form in the arteries and veins. Some of the different types of blood clots by the location in the body include:

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This is the type of blood clot that happens when the blood clot develops in one of the major veins inside the body. This type of blood clot is most likely to occur in the legs. However, DVT can also occur in the arms, lungs, pelvis, and even the brain. 


The CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention) assumes that DVT along with pulmonary embolism –a specific type of venous blood clot occurring in the lungs; affects around 90,000 individuals in the United States of America annually. The DVT blood clots that occur in the legs are also known to be fatal at times. 


There is no exact way of telling whether or not you have blood clots in the legs without proper medical guidance. When you are aware of the common symptoms of blood clot in the legs along with the risk factors, you can come up with the best possible treatment for the same. It is possible to have blood clots in the legs without any obvious symptoms. When symptoms of the blood clot in the legs do appear, these might be similar to the symptoms of other diseases. 


  • Blood Clots in the Arms or Legs: One of the most common places for the blood clots to appear is the lower leg. It is usually not common to experience blood clots in the arms & legs at the same time. The chances of having a blood clot tend to increase when the symptoms related to the condition remain isolated to one arm or one leg. 

How Does Blood Clot in Legs Occur?

The blood clot in the leg or DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) happens when the blood clot referred to as “thrombus” occurs in the deep veins in the body –usually in the legs. The blood clots related to DVT can be the result of anything that prevents the blood from clotting or circulating normally. This could be due to some injury to the vein, certain medications, surgery, or limited movement of the body parts. 

What are the Symptoms of Blood Clot in Legs? How is it Diagnosed?

Some of the common symptoms of blood clot in leg include:

  • Swelling in the affected leg
  • Pain in the affected leg –starting from the calf and feeling like soreness or cramping
  • A sensation of warmth 
  • Discolored or red skin in the affected leg

Diagnosis

Depending on your specific symptoms of blood clot in the legs, the doctor might perform the physical examination of the affected area. The doctor might also suggest some tests including X-rays or non-invasive ultrasound for checking the image of the insides of your leg. 

What are the Complications of Blood Clot in Leg?

  • Chances of developing pulmonary embolism –lungs becoming blocked by blood clots
  • Postphlebitic syndrome –leading to skin discoloration, leg pain, skin sores
  • Risks of a heart attack in case blood clotting in heart arteries or veins

What is the Treatment for Blood Clot in Legs?

In some cases, the doctors might suggest treating blood clots in the legs through proper medications or blood thinners. Some of the other surgical treatments for treating blood clots in the legs include Thrombolytic Therapy, Compression Stockings, and Vena Cava Filters. 

Home Remedies for Blood Clots in Legs

  • Exercise daily
  • Quit smoking if you do
  • Try losing excess weight
  • Avoid sitting still for longer hours

Did You Know?

  • There is no specific symptom for DVT.
  • Blood clots are potentially fatal
  • Blood clots could have specific triggers 

Related Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL1iwhVn4ao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKr-74mo5E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7ZFPc_7TY



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