Blood Clots Diagnosis and Treatment
When you’re injured, your body forms blood clots to help you heal. The clots are made of cells, platelets and proteins and prevent you from losing too much blood. After you heal, your body breaks down the clots, and you expel them without any issues.
However, sometimes, the process doesn’t work as it should. Instead of forming to help you recover from an injury, your body might create clots for unknown reasons. When this happens, it might not break them down. Instead, the clots can travel to other areas of your body, causing serious medical problems, including strokes. Since you cannot see a blood clot, you need to be mindful of the symptoms that indicate you need medical attention. The symptoms you’ll experience depend on the type of blood clot you have.
Go to the ER for Deep Vein Thrombosis
First, you can develop a blood clot in the leg or arm. This is referred to as deep vein thrombosis. The symptoms of a blood clot in the leg or arm include:
- Skin that’s warm to the touch
- Swelling
- Discoloration
- Redness
- Pain that doesn’t have a known cause
You are at risk for developing deep vein thrombosis if you:
- Suffered an injury
- Recently had surgery
- Are over the age of 60
- Are overweight
- Are pregnant
- Sit for long periods of time
- Smoke
- Have cancer
- Have heart failure
If you are at high risk, keep an eye out for symptoms and head to the emergency room if necessary. Then, your doctor can provide fast treatment that might include anticoagulants.
Go to the ER If You Have a Pulmonary Embolism
If you form a blood clot in a deep vein, it can break off and travel to your lung. This is a pulmonary embolism, and it can be fatal without medical intervention. Visit the emergency room or call 911 if you have any of the following blood clot symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heartbeat
- Pain when taking deep breaths
- Excessive sweating
- Coughing up blood
Risk factors for developing a pulmonary embolism include:
- Recent surgery
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Clotting disorders
Again, be on the lookout for symptoms if you’re at high risk. If you notice any, visit Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care or call 911. Your doctor can then provide thrombolytics or other treatment to stop the clot from getting bigger. The treatment will also prevent other clots from forming.
Period Blood Clots—When to Call Your Doctor or Go to the ER
During menstruation, your body forms period blood clots to reduce blood loss. The uterine lining is also mixed into the blood, so the clots often appear even larger than they are. These blood clots are rarely emergencies. However, you do need medical attention if your symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain that is more severe than what you normally experience during a period
- Heavier bleeding than normal
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop for eight days
Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis are serious medical emergencies, and period blood clots can cause some complications. If you have any signs or symptoms of a medical emergency, call 911 or have someone drive you to Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care for immediate medical attention.
