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Q: What are the symptoms of a blood clot in the lower leg?
A: Blood clots may occur in both arteries and veins. By definition, arteries are the blood vessels which carry blood away from the heart. This is in contrast to the veins, which are the vessels carrying blood to the heart. Usually, arteries carry highly oxygenated blood, in contrast to the veins, which carry blood with a low content of oxygen. The only exception to this rule are the pumonary(lung) arteries, which carry blood with low oxygen content, and the pulmonary(lung) veins, which carry blood with high oxygen content.
Blood clot formation may occur in both arteries and veins. The symptoms of a blood clot in an artery of the lower leg usually consist of pain, which may occur sudden or gradually, coldness of the extremity, numbness, and tingling. Also, the extremity appears pale, and weakness or paralysis of the affected extremity may occur. In addition, there are no pulsations which may be felt away from the block, in the direction of blood flow. Blood clot formation in artery generally occurs in patients who have arteriosclerotic changes in the wall of the artery. This occurs in patients having high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and in patients who smoke.
Blood clot in a vein of the lower leg may occur in either a deep or a superficial vein. The symptoms of a blood clot in a deep vein include pain in the calf and swelling. However, this may also occur without any symptoms, and, in fact, about 50% of patients with this disease do not have any symptoms. In addition to the swelling of the affected calf, there may be some widening of some superficial veins, the patient may have a fever, and the heart rate may be fast. Also, if one moves the foot of the flexion backwards, the patient may experience severe pain(Homan's sign). A blood clot in a deep vein occurs most frequently in patients who describe a hystory of heart failure, recent surgery, cancer, in women who take the pill, in patients who are inactive, and in patients who have varicose veins.
Blood clot in a superficial vein is characterized by hardening of the affected vein, redness, and pain along the affected superficial vein A blood clot in a superficial vein occurs most frequently in pregnant women or in women after giving birth, following trauma to the leg, in patients who had an intravenous line placed, or in patients with cancer.
Updated: 07/18/99
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