4 Signs of a Blood Clot

• Part 1: Blood Clot Pain: How to Get Rid of It?
• Part 3: Unclog Your Arteries Without Surgery -The Key Dietry Changes You Need to Make

Poor circulation is one of the most common causes of blood clots. Blood clots, or veinous thrombosis, occur when blood vessels constrict and become damages. Instead of moving freely through your body, a blood clot causes muscles to push blood back to the heart inhibiting its movement and the entire circulatory system. Blood clots can form anywhere from superficial veins to major arteries to the heart and brain leading to heart attacks and strokes. Some contributing factors for blood clots include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol as well as family history. Other times when clots may form are after surgery, during pregnancy and after sitting in one place for long periods of times like on plane rides and car trips. The following are 4 signs you may be experiencing a blood clot.

1. Leg Pain
Whether its superficial or deep vein thrombosis, leg pain is a strong symptom of a blood clot. The pain will be especially bad when you are on your feet all day or when you stand in one place for too long. If work retail or at a restaurant you need to take serious care of the clot since those occupations aggravate the clot. This pain is caused by the lack of blood flow.

2. Discoloration and Swelling

Sometimes it is easy to mistake a clot for varicose veins, but when there is a swollen purple bump on your leg it could be signs of a clot. This is formed from deposits of blood sitting in the vein that are not able to get past the clot.

3. Cold Feet

When your blood flow slows it can affect the hands and feet which are the furthest from the heart. If you are experiencing numbness in your feet it can indicate poor circulation that could be from a blood clot.

4. Slow Healing Wounds

If you have recently had surgery or if you have any wounds on your body, keep an eye on them and make sure they are healing at an acceptable pace. Loss of blood from a clot can slow the healing process.

All of these symptoms can indicate a severe clot and should not be taken lightly. The first step is to visit a vein specialist who can do an ultrasound of your leg and check for any clots or developing clots. They may also send you to a blood specialist to make sure you have no diseases of the blood such as being anemic. If the clot is to a serious artery than major surgery may be necessary to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Many times, however, the clot may be in a superficial vein that can be easily extracted through outpatient surgery. Either way it is important to consult a physician if any of the symptoms above exist and persist.

For more information on poor circulation click here.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.