A leg blood clot (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) cannot be safely and solely treated at home; it requires immediate medical attention and a prescribed medical treatment plan. Home remedies and lifestyle adjustments are complementary to medical care and help manage symptoms and prevent future clots.
Not all blood clots in the leg lead to pulmonary embolism; some resolve on their own. But if you notice signs that you may have DVT, seeing a doctor quickly may help you avoid dangerous complications.
Anticoagulants, such as heparin, warfarin, dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban, are medications that thin the blood and help to dissolve blood clots.
Avoid Sitting For Long Periods Of Time
Instead, make sure to get up every now and then and take a walk around. Stretch your legs and even wiggle your toes to help get the circulation flowing again. If you are already suffering from blood clotting, make sure to never cross your legs while sitting down.
Don't massage the area: Rubbing or massaging the area over a blood clot may increase inflammation. And there have been rare case reports of leg massage causing the clot to break off and travel to the lungs.
Most people notice improvement in symptoms within days to weeks after starting treatment. While active treatment usually lasts about 3 months, complete healing can take up to a year or more for clots to fully dissolve and blood flow to return to normal.
What to Expect in the ER
Well, aspirin helps prevent blood clot formation, but it doesn't break up the blood clot. This means if DVT has already occurred, it won't dissolve a blood clot that's already there. However, there is some evidence that aspirin is helpful in preventing DVT.
The five key warning signs of a deep vein blood clot (DVT) often include swelling, pain/tenderness, warmth, redness/discoloration, and sometimes visible veins, usually in one leg or arm, while signs of a pulmonary embolism (PE) like sudden shortness of breath or chest pain are medical emergencies. Recognizing these symptoms early is crucial, as DVT can travel to the lungs, causing a potentially fatal PE.
If left untreated, the clot may become larger and cause significant swelling or pain in your arm or legs. An embolism can also break off and travel to your lungs, causing breathing difficulty, chest pain, and putting stress on your heart.
Superficial thrombophlebitis can be treated by applying heat to the painful area and elevating your leg. You may also take drugs to relieve swelling and irritation and wear compression stockings. From there, it usually improves on its own.
Symptoms of DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
Blood-thinning medications are commonly used to prevent blood clots from forming or getting bigger. Thrombolytic medications can break up existing clots. Catheter-directed treatments, such as percutaneous transcatheter treatment, are done by inserting a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin.
This process happens incredibly fast. According to Pulmonary Physiology, blood cells typically move through the pulmonary circulation in just four to five seconds, meaning a clot can lodge in the lungs mere moments after detaching. Once in the lungs, the clot can block blood flow, leading to a pulmonary embolism (PE).
It's important to call your provider right away or go to the emergency room if you have deep vein thrombosis or PE symptoms. Don't wait to see if your symptoms go away. Get treatment right away to prevent serious complications.
If you visit a vein clinic or hospital for a blood clot and blood thinners are suggested to you, taking aspirin may be an option, instead. It is not for everyone, and will not be enough in all cases, but it does have a similar effect and may work well to reduce the chances of another blood clot in the future.
Certain drugs can break up and dissolve some types of clots. But they have to be given within a few hours of when symptoms start. A type of surgery called a thrombectomy can be used to remove clots in large blood vessels. It can be used even if people don't get to the hospital in time to receive clot-busting drugs.
Home Remedies to Help Dissolve Blood Clots
Doctors will often only admit patients for a blood clot or DVT if they believe further monitoring is needed in case the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, if another underlying health issue is causing the clots to form, or if current treatment seems to not be working.
Common Blood Tests at Urgent Care:
D-dimer Test: This is a point-of-care test often used in urgent care settings to help rule out blood clotting disorders, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. It provides quick results, which is crucial in emergency situations.
The surgeon will make a cut in the area above your blood clot. The surgeon will open the blood vessel and take out the clot. In some cases, a balloon attached to a thin tube (catheter) will be used in the blood vessel to remove any part of the clot that remains.
Don't: Sit Too Long
Try not to stay seated for more than 2 hours at a time -- get up and walk around regularly. If you had a DVT in one of your legs, don't cross your legs when you sit down. That position can affect your circulation. Be mindful of this when you're on long flights or driving for a long time.
According to the American Lung Association, some people with PE may experience sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, which could be a sign of the clot moving and obstructing blood flow in the lungs.
Thrombolytic therapy is a treatment that dissolves blood clots. At Tampa General Hospital, our cardiovascular specialists often use this technique in emergencies when the threat of a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism is imminent.