Private blood clot symptoms & treatment

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What are common blood clot symptoms?

Ordinary blood clots form and dissolve naturally and usually aren't noticeable. However, if problems arise, you may develop some of the following symptoms of a blood clot depending on where it's located:

• Arms and legs: Throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness, numbness and skin that is warm to the touch.
• Lungs: Sharp chest pain, breathing difficulties, breathlessness, coughing, coughing up blood, sweating and fever.
• Heart: Chest pain or tightness, pain in other parts of the upper body, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, light-headedness, nausea and breathing difficulties.
• Brain: Changes in speech, vision and behaviour, persistent headaches, dizziness and weakness or numbness in face, arms or legs.

When to call emergency services

Severe symptoms may be a sign that a blood clot is more significant and could be potentially life-threatening. You should call 999 immediately if you or someone else experiences any of the following:

• Severe breathing difficulties 
• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg
• Sudden slurring of speech or inability to speak
• Sudden confusion or inability to understand what's being said
• Loss of consciousness

What are blood clots?

Blood clots form when blood cells called platelets and a protein called fibrin clump together in your veins and arteries. These substances change from liquid to gel-like, semi-solid blobs which help to seal damaged blood vessels. 

This is your body's normal response if you've been cut or injured to protect you from losing too much blood. Once they've served their purpose, blood clots should dissolve naturally. However, complications can arise if they don't form or function as intended. 

If a blood clot develops without the presence of bleeding or doesn't dissolve as it should, this can cause blockages that disrupt the flow of blood to limbs and organs. This is called thrombosis. 

Blood clots can also detach and travel around the body, potentially obstructing blood flow elsewhere. When this happens, this is called an embolism.

What causes blood clots?

The cause of blood clots that form abnormally or don't dissolve can be difficult to identify. 

Your cardiovascular system sends signals to your body so it knows when and where to form a clot. Genetics can determine how quickly your body reacts to these signals and how effectively your blood clots. Any medications you're taking can also have a similar effect.

Conditions that may cause blood clots

Dangerous blood clots are uncommon in younger, healthier people. However, the risk may increase if you have any of the following conditions:

• Blood clotting disorders, such as Factor V Leiden and Hughes syndrome, either inherited from family or developed after birth
• Bleeding disorders, such as Von Willebrand disease, thrombocytopenia and haemophilia, either inherited or developed since birth
• Chronic inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn's disease or rheumatoid arthritis
• Atherosclerosis (plaque causing a hardening or narrowing of the arteries)
• Certain kinds of cancer
• Cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes

Risk factors for blood clots 

Other factors can also increase your risk of blood clots, including:

• Age (those 60 and above are more at risk)
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Lack of activity and movement
• Smoking
• Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy
• Previously having had a blood clot

What are the types of blood clots?

Blood clots can occur anywhere in the body. They're usually classified by how and where they're formed.

Thrombosis vs embolism

Thrombosis is when blood vessels are blocked by a clot that has formed in a particular location and remains there. An embolism occurs when a detached blood clot (emboli) travels through the body to cause an obstruction elsewhere.

What are the most common blood clot conditions?

Conditions related to a blood clot may be life-threatening, depending on where it's occurred and how significant the blockage is. For example, strokes and heart attacks are caused by a blockage in the blood vessels supplying the brain and heart and can both be fatal. 

However, with early diagnosis and prompt treatment, the damage caused by a blood clot can be minimised or even avoided.

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): This occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein somewhere in your body. This is usually in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis. The flow of blood can be partially or completely obstructed.
• Pulmonary embolism (PE): A sudden blockage in the pulmonary arteries that send blood to your lungs. This can happen when a clot formed in your deep veins (DVT) comes loose and works its way to your heart and then lungs. If untreated, this can be life-threatening. When DVT and PE happen at the same time, this event is called venous thromboembolism (VTE).
• Stroke: When a clot occurs in an artery supplying the brain, the blood flow is slowed or cut off, causing a stroke. The majority of strokes are ischaemic (caused by a blockage) and can be either thrombotic or embolic. The longer the brain's blood supply is cut off, the more damage is caused.
• Heart attack: When a clot forms in the blood vessels supplying the heart, particularly the coronary artery, the lack of blood can damage the heart muscle significantly. Heart attacks can be life-threatening, so urgent medical attention is needed.

How are blood clots diagnosed?

If a doctor suspects you have a blood clot, they may use one or a combination of methods to identify where it's located and provide an accurate diagnosis. Testing for blood clots can vary depending on the type that is suspected. However, the most common approaches include:

• A physical exam and consultation: Your consultant will ask about your health, previous history of blood clots and any risk factors. A physical examination will then help to assess the affected region or the part of your body where you're noticing blood clot symptoms.
• Blood tests: Blood work can help spot the signs of a suspected blood clot. A D-dimer test can detect if remnants of a clot are in your bloodstream. Other tests can determine the levels of each blood cell type in a sample to provide more information.
• Imaging tests: Ultrasounds or CT scans can locate an obstruction in the blood flow around your body caused by a clot. Alternatively, a venogram involves injecting a dye into your bloodstream which can be seen on an X-ray, showing any build-up of blood in your veins or arteries.

Even if you aren't having symptoms, testing for blood clots can be done if you're at a higher risk or are just keen to understand your cardiovascular health.

Blood clot treatment options

The treatment for problematic blood clots depends largely on the severity of the blockage and where it's located in the body. Most cases can be solved with the intervention of medication, and in more urgent circumstances, surgery. Lifestyle changes are also recommended to reduce the chance of blood clots occurring in the future.

Medicine for blood clots

Medicine is usually the initial treatment method used for blood clots of all kinds. Your consultant may prescribe: 

• Anticoagulants: Also known as 'blood thinners'. Medicines such as warfarin and heparin reduce the chances of clots forming or growing and can be taken as oral tablets or delivered via injections. You might need to take them for an extended period after a blood clot.
• Thrombolytics: If you've already suffered a clot that your body can't dissolve itself, you may be given thrombolytics (referred to as "clot busters") to help disintegrate it. This medication consists of enzymes that help to break down the fibrins (proteins) that are used to form clots.

If you're naturally at a higher risk of blood clots, you may need to take anticoagulants for the rest of your life to manage this risk. However, there's no way of preventing blood clots completely. 

Blood clot surgery

Urgent blood clots that threaten vital organs may require surgical intervention. The two main procedures are:

• Catheter-directed thrombolysis: A catheter (a long tube) is surgically inserted into the artery in your groin and moved to the location of the blood clot. Thrombolytic medication is then delivered directly to the clot to assist the dissolving process.
• Vena cava filter placement: For those who can’t take blood thinners but are at a high risk of blood clots, a small filter may need to be inserted into the vena cava (a large vein that brings blood back to the heart) using a catheter procedure. The filter traps blood clots and prevents them travelling to lungs where they could cause greater complications.
• Thrombectomy: If necessary, surgery to remove a blood clot may be used to restore blood flow in a vein or artery. However, some areas of your body can be too risky to operate on.

How can I prevent blood clots?

The chance of blood clots developing can never be avoided entirely. However, there are things you can do to reduce your risk:

• Stay active and keep your body moving 
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• Maintain a healthy weight for you
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid regular, excessive consumption of alcohol
• See your GP as soon as possible if you notice any blood clot symptoms