3 signs of silent, life-threatening blood clots

Blood clots, also known as thrombosis, don't always cause severe pain. Many start with vague symptoms. If ignored, blood clots can cause pulmonary embolism, stroke, or damage to blood vessels in the legs.

Here are the silent signs of a blood clot.

Swelling and heaviness in one leg

This is a typical sign but is easily overlooked. If a blood clot appears in the leg veins, it is called deep vein thrombosis. Typical symptoms include pain, swelling, warmth and redness of the skin on one side of the leg, which can progress over several hours to several days, according to the health website Verywell Health (USA).

Persistent headache and blurred vision on one side can be a sign of a blood clot affecting the blood vessels in the brain.

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When a blood clot blocks a deep vein, blood from the leg returning to the heart is blocked. Pressure in the vein increases, causing the leg to swell, feel heavy, tense, and sometimes painful when standing for long periods or walking. Some people only feel unusual tiredness in one leg. Therefore, they easily think it is due to exercise or sitting too much.

The danger is that deep vein thrombosis may not have obvious symptoms. Many cases are only discovered by chance or after a pulmonary embolism has occurred. Therefore, people need to pay attention to symptoms such as swelling of one leg, especially the calf or thigh, the skin is warmer or slightly redder than the other side, pain when touching or bending the leg.

Mild shortness of breath, chest pain

Pulmonary embolism occurs when part of a blood clot, usually from a thrombus in the leg, travels through the bloodstream to the lung and blocks an artery. Shortness of breath is the most common symptom, followed by chest pain that gets worse when breathing deeply, coughing, rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness or fainting.

What makes this symptom difficult to detect is that in the early stages, the patient may only feel a little weak, out of breath when walking a short distance or climbing a few stairs. The chest pain is vague, unclear location, easily confused with muscle pain, stomach pain. A little dizziness, rapid heartbeat for no apparent reason. Because these symptoms are quite general, many people think it is due to lack of sleep, stress or poor physical condition.

Persistent headache, blurred vision on one side

Cerebral venous thrombosis is quite rare but particularly dangerous, more common in young people, especially women using hormonal contraceptives, pregnant or postpartum.

Unlike strokes caused by arterial blockage, cerebral venous thrombosis often progresses more slowly. The American Heart Association (AHA) says headache is the most common symptom, which can be persistent and gradually increase, unlike a normal headache.

People should pay attention to symptoms such as persistent headaches, painkillers that do not relieve pain, especially when changing positions. In addition, some cases also have convulsions, weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking.

If you suspect you have a blood clot, go to your doctor or the emergency room. Describe when and where your symptoms started, how they changed, and any recent risk factors. Blood tests and imaging scans can help detect blood clots early and prevent life-threatening complications, according to Verywell Health .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/3-dau-hieu-cuc-mau-dong-am-tham-nguy-hiem-tinh-mang-185251127141216106.htm