Blood clots can block blood vessels in the lungs, leading to death.

Blood clots in the legs

The Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)is the medical term for blood clots that form in the deep veins of the leg and can be very dangerous.

If a blood clot forms inside a blood vessel, the clot can block the vessel and prevent blood from going where it needs to go. When this occurs in one of the deep veins in the legs, blood can pool and cause pain and inflammation.

DVT can cause the following symptoms on the affected leg:

• Inflammation
• Pain
• Sensation of heat and redness

Clots sometimes form in veins that are closest to the surface of the skin, called superficial veins. These blood clots They cause a different set of symptoms, as they are more painful and cause redness or infection. They can also cause veins to harden, swell, and form ridges that look like cords; this is most common in veins below the knees.

blood clots in the lungs

Another problem with blood clots is that they can travel to other parts of the body and block blood vessels in those places. Blood clots that form in the legs, for example, can end up blocking blood vessels in the lungs. This can cause breathing difficulties and sometimes, when the clots are large, can lead to death. When clots travel to the lungs, doctors call it Pulmonary Embolism.

The blood clots in the lungs can cause:

• Gasping, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
• Sharp pain, like a stab in the chest when inhaling or straining
• Cough or cough up blood
• Fast heart rate

If you have any of these symptoms, particularly if they appear in a short period of time (hours or days) or worsen quickly, consult a specialist urgently. Blood clots in the lungs can cause deathTherefore, it is important to act quickly.

Treatment for Deep Vein Thrombosis

DVT is treated with medicines that prevent clots from getting bigger and moving to the lungs. Some of these medicines come in injection form and others in pill form.

Usually, people who have had clots receive medicine to prevent them. These drugs are called anticoagulants. Almost all patients receive a blood thinner that comes in pill form for at least 3 months (and usually longer).

Some people receive a medicine that is injected under the skin and is called Heparin. This may be for a few days or longer if for some reason they cannot take pills.

Anticoagulants do not dissolve existing blood clots, but they do prevent them from enlarging. They also help prevent the formation of new clots. Taking a blood thinner for a few months is important because it gives the body time to dissolve the old clot. It’s also important because people who have one clot are at risk of developing another one, especially in the first few months.

There are some medicines anticoagulants that come in the form of pill. These include:

• Warfarin (brand name: Coumadin)
• Rivaroxaban (trade name: Xarelto)
• Apixaban (trade name: Eliquis)
• Dabigatran (trade name: Pradaxa)

If your doctor prescribes a blood thinner, take it exactly as directed. If you forget or miss a dose, call your specialist to tell you what to do. When you start taking the blood thinner, you will need to have a blood test.

If you take Warfarin, you will need to have regular blood tests to check how your blood is clotting. If your health condition changes or test results vary, your doctor may need to adjust the dose.

If the dose is incorrect, the medicine may stop working or cause serious bleeding. In fact, bleeding is a risk of all anticoagulants, so you should always be alert for any signs of bleeding.

Treatments for patients who cannot take anticoagulants

Patients who cannot take medicines to treat clots or who do not improve enough with medicines may receive different treatment. This treatment is called Inferior Vena Cava Filter. The inferior vena cava is the major vein that carries blood from the legs and lower half of the body to the heart.

The filters of the inferior vena cava go inside it, filter and trap large clots that form below the place where the filter is. Your doctor may suggest one of these filters if the patient:

• You cannot take Warfarin or another anticoagulant
• Develop clots even when taking Warfarin or another blood thinner
• You have a dangerous bleeding problem while receiving Warfarin or another blood thinner
• His condition is so serious that if a clot travels from his legs to his lungs he could die.

In some cases, the clots are so severe that they cause Gangrene (an interruption of the blood supply to the leg). If that happens, doctors may give medicines to dissolve the clot, sometimes called clot dissolvers and are administered through a catheter (a small tube inserted into a vein). In some cases, surgery must be done to remove the clots.

How to prevent blood clots?

Sometimes clots form because a person sits still for a long time. People who take long plane trips, for example, have a higher risk of blood clots. Here are some steps you can take to help prevent a clot during a long flight:

• Stand and walk every hour or two hours
• Do not smoke just before the trip
• Wear comfortable, loose clothing
• Change positions while sitting, and move your legs and feet often
• Drink much liquid
• Wear knee-high compression stockings
• Avoid alcohol and medicines that make you sleepy, because these can affect your ability to walk.

Specialist in this condition

If you think you have a clot in your leg, see a doctor right away. Vascular surgeon. Blood clots in veins close to the surface of the skin are less dangerous, but clots in the deep veins of the legs are more serious. The specialist can carry out tests to find out if you have a clot that needs treatment.