When you get a cut on your skin or a lesion inside your body, platelet blood cells and proteins in your plasma work together to form a clot and stop the bleeding. This healthy, natural process keeps you safe from excessive blood loss.
However, sometimes blood clots can cause more harm than good. For example, if a clot forms inside a blood vessel, it can block blood flow and cause life-threatening health complications such as a heart attack or stroke.
The symptoms of a dangerous blood clot depend on where the clot is located.
Blood Clot Near The Heart
Blood clots near your heart can potentially cause a heart attack.
Symptoms of a blood clot near the heart include:
- Chest pain or heaviness
- Upper body discomfort (such as arm or shoulder pain)
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Light-headedness
- Sweating
Blood Clot in the Brain
When a blood clot forms in one of the veins or arteries supplying blood to your brain and blocks the flow of blood, it’s called a stroke. The clot may have formed after a head injury, or it may have formed in another part of the body and traveled through the bloodstream.
Signs of a blood clot in the brain include:
- Sudden or severe headache
- Facial weakness, or weakness of the arms, legs, or body
- Difficulty speaking
- Vision problems
- Dizziness
Since a stroke is a medical emergency, it’s important to know the signs in case you or someone close to you needs help. Memorize the FAST acronym:
- Face: One side of the face droops. Ask the person to smile—it will be obvious.
- Arms: Can the person raise their arms usually, or are they too weak?
- Speech: Is the person’s speech slurred, stuttered, or confused?
- Time: Time is of the essence if the person shows any of these symptoms. Call 911 immediately.
Blood Clot in the Arms or Legs
A blood clot deep in the veins of your arms or legs is called a deep vein thrombosis. These clots can travel through the bloodstream and cause problems in other areas of the body.
Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include:
- Swelling
- Discoloration
- Soreness, dull aches, cramping, or severe pain
- Tenderness
- Warm skin
Blood Clot in the Lungs
If a blood clot breaks off from your deep veins and travels to your lungs, it’s called a pulmonary embolism. This can be very serious because it can block blood flow and respiration.
Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:
- Sharp chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart rate
- Coughing up blood
- Sweating
- Fever
Blood Clot in the Abdomen
Blood clots can also form in the veins and blood vessels that drain blood from your intestines.
Symptoms of an abdominal blood clot include:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stool
- Bloated feeling
No matter where a blood clot forms in your body, it’s important to seek medical help immediately if you have any of the above symptoms. Blood clots can be life-threatening, and the sooner you get treatment, the better your chances of making a full recovery.
