Im a venous surgeon – here are three red flag signs of blood clots to spot
British Heart Foundation: Understanding blood clots
Blood clots are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they form in response to bleeding.
On the other hand, they can spell the onset of grave cardiovascular complications, especially when they form in your veins, also known as deep vein thrombosis.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can be serious once the clots that reside in your veins break loose.
The gel-like clumps can then travel through your bloodstream and get stuck, blocking your blood flow.
This can be a recipe for life-threatening problems, requiring urgent medical attention, the NHS warns.
READ MORE Popular non-alcoholic drink could dangerously spike your blood clot risk
Fortunately, Professor Mark Whiteley, Founder and Consultant Venous Surgeon from The Whiteley Clinic, shared the red flag signs to watch out for with Express.co.uk.
The expert recommended being cautious of the following symptoms:
- Painful calf
- Swelling
- Discolouration in legs.
The exact symptoms might depend on the position of the blood clot, according to Professor Whiteley.
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He said: “If the clot is in the lower leg, then the classic symptom is a painful calf, particularly when trying to stand on tiptoes.
“The discomfort can be sudden but is more likely to progress over a few hours to a day. There may be a bit of swelling.
“If the clot is above the knee, then there is usually a generalised ache of the leg, particularly the calf.
“If the clot completely blocks the vein, then there can be quite significant swelling of the ankle and lower leg.”
He added that the whole leg can swell and even turn dark blue in more “extreme” cases.
Once you notice these symptoms, it’s important to have an “urgent medical review in A&E”, the professor advised.
“As deep vein thrombosis can get bigger, and there is a risk of clot breaking off and reaching the lung, which is potentially fatal, this is [considered] a medical emergency.”
The NHS also notes that the gel-like clumps need to be treated “immediately”.
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