Venous thrombosis is characterized by a bleeding disorder that can, in some cases, lead to death. What are the symptoms that should alert?
Thrombosis corresponds to the formation of a blood clot which can be venous or arterial depending on its location. It is also its location that will determine the nature of the symptoms on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the level of health risk.
In the case of a venous thrombosis, the health consequences will generally be less serious – depending on whether a deep or superficial vein is involved – than when an artery is affected. In the latter case, thrombosis can prove fatal with the appearance of the most severe complication, namely pulmonary embolism. This occurs when the blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.
Note that if thrombosis is sometimes accompanied by symptoms, it can in some cases occur without any warning signs for the affected person. Therefore, the best way to prevent it is to avoid risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol consumption.
Calf or thigh pain
The main symptom of thrombosis is pain in the calf or thigh. This is because clots usually form in the lower limbs of the body. A feeling of numbness may accompany this pain.
A localized thrombosis in an artery of the lower limbs of the body often causes sharp or violent pain, especially when the person walks.
Swelling in the leg
When thrombosis occurs in the calf, it will often swell and appear significantly larger than the other calf. This swelling, called edema, can rise above the knee in some cases.
Hardening of the skin
A hardening of the skin can also be felt on palpation at the level of the painful limb – the calf or the thigh. The skin may also appear shiny or tight at the affected site.
Redness or discoloration of the skin
The area where the clot formed may also turn a blue or purple color, like a bruise, or whitish. A simple redness can also appear, especially in the case of superficial thrombosis. A feeling of warmth to the touch is sometimes associated with this change in appearance.
A feeling of tightness in the chest
In the case of arterial thrombosis, the involvement of the coronary arteries leads to other symptoms in the upper body.
In this case, a feeling of tightness in the chest which is sometimes accompanied by difficulty in breathing can be felt -. The symptoms felt are those of a myocardial infarction.
Blurred vision and dizziness
When the blood clot forms in a cerebral artery, the symptoms are different. Thus, vision and speech disorders, as well as dizziness, may appear in the affected person. Partial paralysis and loss of consciousness also sometimes occur. The symptoms are then those of a stroke.