Venous thrombosis is an abnormal blood clotting in a vein, especially common in the legs. It may be deep or superficial and depends on the venous system involved.
Coagulation is a physiological and essential phenomenon for our body. However, when it occurs at the same time and in the wrong place, the blood creates a clot, called a blood clot. This leads to the venous thrombosis, a disease that can have serious consequences, such as pulmonary embolism.
What are some common venous thrombosis symptoms? Dr. Corrado Lodigiani, Head of the Humanitas Center for Thrombosis and Hemorrhagic Diseases, gave us the answers in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
Heaviness, swelling and pain
“The member affected by deep venous thrombosis feels heavier. The person affected by thrombosis may experience a feeling of heaviness that is typically associated with an increase in the volume of the member itself. Arms and legs may be affected by the blood clot. However, the legs are mostly exposed to the risk because blood clots tend to accumulate due to the force of gravity.
To the swelling and feeling of heaviness, you can add a pain of variable intensity. It is an unambiguous symptom because it feels like a cramp, or a muscle pain often attributed to an unknown trauma. The individual may experience a mild, intense, or unbearable pain. In this case, the extent of the clot may be such as to cause the compression of the artery and reduction of blood flow on the sides, with the consequent risk of requiring surgical intervention to prevent tissue necrosis”, says Dr. Lodigiani.
Venous thrombosis symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore
Thrombosis can occur even with the most superficial symptoms, explains Dr. Lodigiani: “The skin may turn red, sometimes becoming dark brown in combination with a feeling of intense heat.
The symptoms may appear simultaneously or not. The important thing is to be able to recognize and not underestimate them. Otherwise, the situation may worsen over a period of hours or days. At this time, deep venous thrombosis can evolve and result in a pulmonary embolism. If these symptoms occur, it is essential to go to the ER to confirm the clinical diagnosis and establish a lifesaving therapy as soon as possible”.
What is pulmonary embolism?
Pulmonary embolism is a pulmonary infarction. Dr. Lodigiani explains: “The evolution to the embolism is preventable, but in more than 80% of cases, deep vein thromboses are complicated and can become a pulmonary embolism”.
Today, it is said that they are two sides on the same coin, as pulmonary embolism can be silent, with no symptoms. This is a common phenomenon, especially in patients with other diseases and symptoms. Its most common symptoms are acute pain, described as a stab in the chest, change in breathing, feeling a sudden “hunger for air”, dry cough or with phlegm mixed with blood, palpitations and a rapid heart rate. Pulmonary embolism can also lead to a syncope, loss of consciousness and may even be fatal. If it is not treated quickly and correctly, pulmonary embolism can be complicated in the months or years to follow causing severe heart failure called chronic lung heart disease“.
