Similar to how a scab forms to heal a cut on your finger, a blood clot is a mass of blood that moves through your bloodstream. Clotting is a normal and natural part of our blood's healing process. However, a blood clot inside your body can be hazardous. The American Society for Hematology lists several risk factors for blood clots:
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Prolonged inactivity over 4 hours (such as during a long flight)
- Smoking
- Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
- Cancer
- Injuries
- Certain types of surgery
- Being over the age of 60
- A family history of blood clots
- Chronic inflammatory diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis)
A blood clot traveling through your veins can become lodged and obstruct blood flow to tissues in your legs, arms, brain, or other organs. This blockage can lead to the gradual death of those body parts due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood. Here are 8 warning signs that you might have a blood clot, along with advice on when to seek medical help and how to prevent it.
8 SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE A BLOOD CLOT
1. Unexplained pain
Chest pain can manifest as a sensation of weight pressing on your chest, rather than a sharp, piercing pain. The presence of pressure or dull pain, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, may indicate a medical condition.
2. SWELLING
Similar to a kink in a garden hose, a clot exerts pressure on the vein behind it. This pressure can increase and cause an outward push, stretching the surrounding tissue. Swelling is most common in the legs.
3. SKIN TURNING BLUE OR PALE
A blood clot obstructing blood flow can cause the skin to turn pale and then blue as oxygen is depleted from the blood.
4. WARMTH SENSATION
A sensation of warmth often occurs in the arms or legs, potentially accompanied by sweating or tenderness in the area.
5. NUMBNESS OR TINGLING
Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs may indicate a clot, as it prevents blood from circulating to the area, akin to the sensation when a limb 'falls asleep' due to restricted blood flow.
6. HEADACHE AND VISION OR SPEECH LOSS
A blood clot in the brain is known as an ischemic stroke. While a headache is common and often not a cause for concern if it's the sole symptom, a brain clot can lead to eye issues and speech difficulties.
7. VOMITING AND DIARRHEA ACCOMPANIED BY ABDOMINAL PAIN
Vomiting symptoms could indicate food poisoning or an abdominal blood clot. The latter can cause intense pain, which is distinct from the dull ache associated with other clot types.
8. SHORTNESS OF BREATH COUPLED WITH PAIN
A blood clot in the lungs is termed a pulmonary embolism, or PE. Similar symptoms can also present with a heart clot. Shortness of breath, an inability to catch your breath, chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, sweating, fever, and coughing up blood are all indicators of a lung clot.
Seeking medical attention promptly is crucial, particularly if you exhibit symptoms of a blood clot in the brain, heart, abdomen, or lungs. A doctor can perform a non-invasive ultrasound to detect clots in the limbs and a blood test to measure clotting factors.
Treatment for blood clots often involves medications that thin the blood and break up clots. Drug therapies and anticoagulants like aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), and heparin can significantly reduce the risk of serious blood clots.
However, this does not imply that one should self-prescribe non-prescription medications like aspirin to prevent blood clots. It is crucial to consult a healthcare professional before taking aspirin, as there may be other health issues that could be exacerbated when combined with a blood thinner.
The Mayo Clinic suggests proactive measures to prevent blood clots, including:
Avoid prolonged sitting. When traveling by airplane, walk the aisle periodically. For car trips, stop and walk around regularly.
Be active. The sooner you move after surgery or bed rest, the better.
Adopt a healthier lifestyle. Work on losing weight, managing high blood pressure, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly.
Additionally, increasing your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids through fish oil supplements can help reduce blood clot risk. Omega-3s offer numerous benefits, as discussed in our article "This One Thing Will Help You Live Longer." Vitamin E and Evening Primrose oil also act as anticoagulants, making blood less prone to clotting.
Engaging in massage, walking, and consuming a healthy, low-fat diet rich in whole grains and vegetables can also facilitate easier blood circulation. Adding garlic, onion, ginger, turmeric, ginkgo, bilberry, cayenne, and pepper to your diet can further decrease the likelihood of blood clots.
