Can you live with a blood clot and not know it?

Some people may have a blood clot without noticeable symptoms. But if you do have symptoms, they may depend on where in your body the blood clot is located, whether the arm/leg, lungs, heart, or brain.

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Can you have blood clots for years and not know it?

“But about 30–40% of cases go unnoticed, since they don't have typical symptoms.” In fact, some people don't realize they have a deep vein clot until it causes a more serious condition. Deep vein clots—especially those in the thigh—can break off and travel through the bloodstream.

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Can you have a blood clot without symptoms?

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that occurs in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm. A DVT can occur without any symptoms, but it is often accompanied by swelling, pain, and redness of the skin.

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What happens if a blood clot goes unnoticed?

If a blood clot goes unnoticed, it poses the danger of dislodging from your leg and traveling up to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. The embolism can block blood flow to the lungs, causing permanent damage.

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How long can you have a blood clot untreated?

It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling. Talk to your doctor about using compression stockings.

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Understanding blood clots – Diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (PE) at just 22

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How long does it take for a blood clot to become fatal?

About 23% of people with PE will die within 3 months of diagnosis, just over 30% will die after 6 months, and there is a 37% mortality (death) rate at 1 year after being diagnosed.

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What are the first signs of a blood clot?

Symptoms of a blood clot include:
  • throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm.
  • sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or coughing up blood.

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Can a blood clot go away on its own?

Blood clots usually dissolve on their own. If not, the clots can potentially lead to life-threatening situations. There are two main types of blood clots: thrombus (clot does not move) and embolus (clot breaks loose and moves). If the clot is immobile, it generally won't harm you.

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Do blood clots ever resolve on their own?

Typically, your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed. Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These situations can be dangerous and require accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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Can blood clots be silent?

A blood clot in the legs may be completely asymptomatic or “silent” within the affected vein, which is extremely dangerous. However, there are visible symptoms to look for, including: Sudden Leg Swelling. Pain, Aching, or Fullness and Pressure In the Leg.

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How do you check for blood clots at home?

This evaluation, known as Homan's Test, consists of laying flat on your back and extending the knee in the suspected leg. Have a friend or family member raise the extended leg to 10 degrees, then have them squeeze the calf. If there's deep pain in the calf, it may be indicative of DVT.

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Can a blood clot stay in your leg for years?

As many as half of those who get a DVT in their legs develop symptoms of intermittent leg pain and swelling that may last months to years. These symptoms are called post-thrombotic syndrome and can happen because of damage to the valves and inner lining of your veins leading to blood “pooling” more than it should.

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Can you live with a blood clot?

While a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening, most patients survive DVT and need to learn how to live with the risk of recurrence. Your healthcare provider will probably prescribe anticoagulants, or blood thinners, which may be needed for as little as three months but can be lifelong treatment.

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Do blood clots make you tired?

It's also worth mentioning that the most common symptom after a blood clot is exhaustion and fatigue. So, be kind to yourself and rest when you need to. For the first couple of months, you might not feel like yourself; you might feel like resting is all you can do, and that's okay because that's part of this disease.

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Can you recover from a blood clot without treatment?

Can deep vein thrombosis go away on its own? Though the clots associated with DVT often dissolve on their own, some diagnosed with DVT may need treatment to avoid serious and fatal complications such as pulmonary embolism.

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What dissolves blood clots fast?

Anticoagulants. Anticoagulants, such as heparin, warfarin, dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban, are medications that thin the blood and help to dissolve blood clots.

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How do you know if a blood clot is serious?

Get medical help right away if you notice any of these symptoms:
  • Swelling. This can happen in the exact spot where the blood clot forms, or your entire leg or arm could puff up.
  • Change in color. ...
  • Pain. ...
  • Warm skin. ...
  • Trouble breathing. ...
  • Lower leg cramp. ...
  • Pitting edema. ...
  • Swollen, painful veins.

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Does a blood clot hurt all the time?

Does blood clot pain come and go? Unlike the pain from a charley horse that usually goes away after stretching or with rest, the pain from a blood clot does not go away and usually gets worse with time.

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What does a minor blood clot feel like?

A blood clot can form in the veins or the arteries, interrupting blood flow. It can cause pain, swelling, and red or dark, tender skin. The area around the blood clot may feel tight or sore like you have a muscle cramp or charley horse.

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What are the 5 warning signs of a blood clot?

A great way to remember the signs of a blood clot is by using the acronym STOP (the) CLOT.
  • Swelling in the leg or arm.
  • Tenderness or cramps in the leg.
  • Out of breath, or shortness of breath.
  • Passing out or feeling lightheaded.
  • Chest pain or back pain when breathing.
  • Leg discoloration, either a red or blue hue.

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What are the 3 stages of a blood clot?

1) Constriction of the blood vessel. 2) Formation of a temporary “platelet plug." 3) Activation of the coagulation cascade.

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What are the chances of dying of a blood clot?

10% – 30% of people will die within one month of diagnosis. Among people who have had a DVT, one third to one half will have long-term complications (post-thrombotic syndrome) such as swelling, pain, discoloration, and scaling in the affected limb.

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What are the chances of a blood clot killing you?

If a clot in an artery breaks free and travels through the circulatory system, it can cause blockages affecting the heart, lungs, and other organs—potentially shutting them down. The results can be deadly. Thrombosis affects up to 900,000 people in the United States per year and kills up to 100,000.

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How do doctors check for blood clots in legs?

Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in the veins. It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT. A D-dimer blood test measures a substance in the blood that is released when a clot breaks up.

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What happens if you ignore blood clot in leg?

You should never ignore DVT. As with any medical condition, complications can develop when you have DVT. One in 10 develop a pulmonary embolism (PE), which happens when a clot in the leg works loose, moving through the bloodstream to the arteries in the lungs.

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