Part of the clot, called an embolus , can break off and travel to the lungs. This is a pulmonary embolus PE. This can cut off the flow of blood to all or part of the lung. PE is an emergency and may cause death. If you have symptoms that may indicate a blood clot in the lungs, call or get emergency help. Symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs include chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing may cough up blood , a fast heartbeat, sweating, and fainting.
Two other complications of a blood clot are chronic venous insufficiency and post-thrombotic syndrome. Chronic venous insufficiency may happen following a blood clot in a leg vein. It means that a vein no longer works well. It is a long-term condition where blood pools in the vein instead of flowing back to the heart.
Pain and swelling in the leg are common symptoms. Post-thrombotic syndrome may also happen following a blood clot in a leg vein. It is a long-term problem with pain, swelling, and redness. Ulcers and sores can also happen. All of these symptoms may make it difficult to walk and take part in daily activities. Deep vein thrombosis may happen without symptoms. Blood-thinning medications make it harder for your blood to clot. People with upper extremity DVT may also benefit from this medication.
Thrombolytic drugs work by breaking up clots. Compression stockings reach just below your knee or right above it. Your doctor may recommend you wear these every day. This form of treatment helps prevent pulmonary embolisms by stopping clots from entering your lungs. Filters do have risks. Filters should be used for a short-term period, until the risk of thromboembolism is reduced and blood thinners can be used.
Your doctor may suggest surgery to remove a DVT clot in your arm or leg. This is typically only recommended in the case of very large blood clots or clots that are causing serious issues, like tissue damage. During a surgical thrombectomy, or surgery to remove a blood clot, your surgeon will make an incision into a blood vessel. In some cases, they may use a small inflating balloon to keep the blood vessel open while they remove the clot. When the clot is found and removed, the balloon is removed with it.
Risks include:. The longer you sit, the greater your risk of developing a blood clot. If you have to be seated for long periods, there are exercises you can do while sitting to keep your legs moving and help circulate blood. Bend your leg, and raise your knee toward your chest.
Wrap your knee with your arms for a greater stretch. Hold this position for several seconds, then do the same exercise on the other side. Place your feet flat on the floor. Keeping the balls of your feet on the floor, raise your heels.
Hold for a few seconds, then lower your heels. Raise the balls of your feet off the floor, keeping your heels in place. Hold for a few seconds, then lower the balls of your feet. Lift both feet off the floor. Draw circles with your toes in one direction for a few seconds. Switch directions, and draw circles for a few seconds. Once a DVT blood clot is diagnosed, your doctor will likely prescribe a medication to help thin the blood or break up the clot.
You can combine the prescribed medication with the following home remedies to prevent other complications and reduce the risk of future blood clots. If possible, take daily walks to improve blood flow.
Shorter, frequent walks are better than one longer walk. This is especially important for the legs. Blood can pool if your feet are on the ground all day. Medication is used to prevent and treat DVT. Compression stockings also called graduated compression stockings are sometimes recommended to prevent DVT and relieve pain and swelling.
These might need to be worn for 2 years or more after having DVT. In severe cases, the clot might need to be removed surgically. Immediate medical attention is necessary to treat PE. In cases of severe, life-threatening PE, there are medicines called thrombolytics that can dissolve the clot.
Other medicines, called anticoagulants, may be prescribed to prevent more clots from forming. Some people may need to be on medication long-term to prevent future blood clots. DVT does not cause heart attack or stroke. There are two main types of blood clots. How a clot affects the body depends on the type and location of the clot:. Both types of clots can cause serious health problems, but the causes and steps you can take to protect yourself are different. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
DVT deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein, usually the leg. DVT can be dangerous. Get medical help as soon as possible if you think you have DVT.
These symptoms also happen in your arm or tummy if that's where the blood clot is. DVT can be very serious because blood clots in your veins can break loose, travel through your bloodstream and get stuck in your lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism can be life threatening and needs treatment straight away.
There are also some temporary situations when you're at more risk of DVT. These include if you:.
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