Blood Clots

Blood clots affect different areas of the body, so symptoms depend on where the clot is located. 

It’s also possible to have a blood clot and not have any symptoms. Most people do not notice symptoms until the clot breaks away and travels to the lung, which presents symptoms such as shortness of breath and coughing up blood.

These common symptoms of blood clots are according to the affected area:

• Lung blood clots cause shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing
• Abdominal blood clots lead to severe belly pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Brain blood clots cause stroke symptoms, including vision changes, speech problems and weakness
• Heart blood clots have heart attack symptoms including chest pain, sweating and difficulty breathing
• Leg blood clots cause symptoms from mild cramping and tenderness to numbness and a bluish discoloration
• Arm blood clots cause symptoms such as pain, cramping, warmth, and swelling

These symptoms signal a medical emergency, and we can provide the intervention you need.

When we receive a patient with symptoms of a blood clot, we work hard to reach an accurate diagnosis and provide personalized blood clot treatment. Blood clots in the vein may resolve with blood thinners, while arterial blood clots typically require advanced treatment. Our ER is equipped with the latest tools to dissolve blood clots, including catheter-based procedures to break down clots and emergency surgery to install blood filters.

Don’t let the symptoms of a blood clot go undiagnosed – we’re here to help. Not sure when to go to the ER? Learn more about the conditions we treat.

From poor circulation to structural abnormalities in the collarbone, a wide range of conditions lead to blood clots in the arm. Risk factors for blood clots include:

• Immobility, such as prolonged bed rest, having a cast or long periods of sitting or traveling
• Poor circulation, which allows blood to pool inside veins
• Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
• Injury to a vein’s inner lining from surgery or vasculitis
• Medical conditions that increase the blood’s ability to clot
• Structural abnormality in the collarbone area that puts pressure on the vessels
• Thoracic outlet syndrome

We treat blood clots in the arm with both noninvasive and medical treatments. Your personalized treatment can include:

• Compression sleeves to improve blood flow
• Thrombolytic medications to dissolve clots
• Blood thinners
• Vena cava filter to prevent a clot from reaching the lungs

Staying active to keep your blood flowing is one of the best defenses against blood clots.

Blood clots have a higher chance of forming when blood pools in the legs. Immobility is a leading cause of blood accumulating in the veins.

Other risk factors include:

• Injury to the inside of a vein from surgery, vasculitis and serious fractures
• Medical conditions that increase the blood’s capacity to clot
• Medications that increase the risk of clotting such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy

Emergency treatment for a blood clot may focus on stopping the clot from growing, preventing it from reaching the lung and lowering your risk for having another blood clot. Personalized treatment depends on your specific diagnosis. Our interventions include noninvasive compression stockings, inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and medications.

Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight and following your doctor’s recommendations for caring for a chronic condition can keep your veins healthy and help prevent blood clots.

Learn the following symptoms to quickly recognize an ischemic stroke:

• Drooping of the face, mouth or eyelid especially on one side
• Confusion, disorientation or difficulty understanding speech
• Difficulty walking or using the limbs on one side of the body
• Severe headache
• Passing out or losing consciousness
• Slurred or garbled speech or the inability to speak
• Sudden vision changes, weakness or numbness

The two primary causes of a blood clot in the brain are cerebral embolism and cerebral thrombosis.

• Cerebral thrombosis develops from atherosclerosis or plaque buildup in the brain arteries. This causes inflammation and narrows the vessel. Eventually, a blood clot can form and completely block blood flow to the brain.
• Cerebral embolism is a blood clot or cholesterol plaque that forms somewhere else in the body and travels to the brain. Tiny fragments of heart valve can also break away, travel through the bloodstream and lodge in an artery supplying blood to the brain.

Ischemic stroke is better treated at the first signs of it happening. Our emergency team prepares for patients’ arrival using remote activation systems that streamline patients’ information. When it comes to treating an ischemic stroke, we strive to administer clot-busting drugs within three hours of symptoms beginning.