Blood Clot in Leg

The deep veins are the large veins located deep inside the muscles of the lower body. Deep vein thrombosis affects the deep veins. The blood clot causes hindrance to circulation of blood from the deep veins back to the heart. It can be a fatal condition, which is caused due to damage to the vein, or if the blood supply is reduced or stops completely. Blood clots in leg causes pain and swelling of the leg. But, the symptoms of blood clot usually go unnoticed till they assume gigantic proportions. If the blood clot detaches itself, it can travel to the heart or to the lungs causing blood vessel blockage. According to statistics, deep vein thrombosis is the third most common cause of death in the United States.

Facts About Blood Clot in the Leg

A blood clot is formed as a defense mechanism in the body, when a damage is caused to the blood vessel. The clot is formed so that the damaged area can be sealed with the clot, thus preventing the flow of blood out of the vein. When this clot moves away from the damaged area, it becomes dangerous to the vital organs. If a blood clot moves to the heart or to the brain, it can cause heart attacks, strokes, etc. Sometimes blindness is also associated by these clots, as they block the supply of blood to the eyes. The clots formed in the thighs have a tendency to break away and move to the other parts of the body than the clots formed in the calf.

A clot is normally formed among the deep veins in the leg around the calf area or the pelvis. The clot has the capacity of moving to other parts of the body. In rare conditions, a clot can form in the arms as well. The innermost veins are covered by a layer of muscle. These veins are located at the center of the leg. Deep vein thrombosis is at times confused with blood clotting that is noticed on the superficial veins on the topmost layer of the skin. However, the clotting of blood in the superficial veins is not as dangerous as deep vein blood clotting.

Causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Leg

Blood clots in the leg are most commonly caused due to sitting for long periods at a stretch. Dick Cheney, the former Vice-President of the United States of America, suffered from deep vein thrombosis due to extensive air travel during his visit to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Australia. Sitting on long haul flights was said to be the reason for the blood clot. Similarly, sitting for long periods during car travel can also lead to the formation of a blood clot.

Injury caused to the blood vessel can also result in blood clot. In some conditions, the blood vessel can be damaged, which in turn can give rise to the condition. Other than the trauma caused to the veins, blood clots can result from injuries to the bones of the hip, lower leg or thigh.

People, who are obese, are more prone to blood clot, as the excess weight is known to exert pressure on the veins. Similarly, women may suffer from blood clot after childbirth, due to the pressure exerted on the system by the growing baby.

Blood clots can also be formed due to a person's advanced age. Climbing high altitudes, use of birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, cancer, etc. are some of the other causes of blood clots in the leg. Dehydration is likely to give rise to such a condition, if the person does not consume adequate quantity of water consistently. This causes the blood to become sticky, which in turn leads to clots.

Blood clots have been formed due to change in the blood flow. It can arise out of turbulence, or blood supply can be blocked either partially or completely. A rare condition called hypercoagulability is also known to give rise to the condition. In this condition, the blood has an unusual tendency to clot often, that causes deep vein thrombosis.

Prolonged illness resulting in bed rest or immobility due to injury can also lead to the formation of a blood clot. Trauma to the lower body can also be responsible for clot formation. Blood clots after surgery, such as orthopedic, gynecologic, etc. are also common.

Blood Clot in Leg Symptoms

Most of the time, the small clots do not produce any kind of symptoms. Over a time, the defense mechanism of the body is able to breakdown these clots without leaving any long-term effects. However, this is true if the clots are small. The symptoms are displayed, when the clots are bigger in size.

The large clots are the dangerous clots, as they partially or completely block the supply of blood. The symptoms of the large clots are enumerated here:

1. There is a noticeable change in the skin color. Usually the skin color changes to red. In some cases, there can be discoloration of skin and the skin can either have bluish or white discoloration.
2. Swelling of the affected leg is the most common symptom of blood clot formation in the leg.
3. It becomes difficult to stand erect or put weight on the affected area due to pain and tenderness. This condition restricts one's daily movements as well.
4. Another symptom of deep vein thrombosis in the leg is that, the skin feels either hot or warm when touched.
5. Tightness or pain in the thighs can also be caused by blood clots. The pain is usually noticed while walking.
6. At times, the veins on the surface of the skin are widened due to the clots.
7. There will be a noticeable change in color of the skin around the blood clot.
8. People with blood clots in leg may suffer from cramps in the legs, especially during the night.

Treating Deep Vein Thrombosis

In most cases, the blood clot dissolves on its own. However, if the clot is big in size, then measures will have to be taken to get rid of the condition. Anticoagulants have an important role to play in treating this condition. It helps in thinning the blood, by altering certain chemicals in the blood, so that clots are not formed easily. Using compression stockings helps in preventing formation of any more clots.

After going through a medical procedure, it is important, that one walks around regularly. Walking ensures that the blood supply to the legs is normalized and reduce the risk of clot formation. If bed rest has been advised, at least for a few minutes the legs should be placed on an elevation, this will ensure that undue pressure is not exerted on the legs.

There are several reasons for the formation of a blood clot in leg. It is important not to neglect any of the symptoms as the clots can be fatal. However, it is most important to prevent the condition itself. If a person spends a number of hours a day sitting in a single place, it is best to take a break after every 30 to 45 minutes and walk around to increase supply of blood to the lower parts of the leg. Similarly, taking small walks on long journeys (either long flights or road journeys) at regular intervals is recommended. In most cases, before a medical procedure in the lower part of the body the patient is given an anticoagulant. Obese people should work towards reducing their weight in order to prevent deep vein thrombosis.