As well as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), blood clots in veins and arteries can cause a number of associated medical conditions. Some common conditions that are caused by blood clots are mentioned below.
Always talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about these conditions or if you think you have symptoms of blood clots.
A sore and swollen leg after a deep vein
thrombosis
A condition known as ‘post-thrombotic syndrome’
(PTS) can develop in some people who have had a DVT.
It can happen months or years after the DVT and is
the most common complication of DVT. [1] The
symptoms can include pain and swelling, a feeling of
heaviness and skin ulcers. Although there are no
specific treatments for PTS, special stockings and
keeping the leg elevated are recommended.[1]
High blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs
after a PE
A condition known as ‘chronic thromboembolic
pulmonary hypertension’ is a serious complication of
PE. Usually a PE can be successfully treated.
However, if the clot does not fully dissolve or a
person suffers frequent recurrence of PE, the lungs
can become damaged and undergo harmful changes that
can result in high blood pressure in the pulmonary
arteries. [2]
Inflammation of leg veins located near the
surface of the skin
Superficial thrombophlebitis is the medical term for
inflammation of leg veins that are located just
under the skin. It is caused by a small blood clot
that forms in a vein and causes inflammation of the
vein wall and typically occurs in people with
varicose veins. [3]
Stroke
A stroke happens when the blood supply to a part of
the brain is interrupted and the brain cells do not
receive oxygen and die. This may happen if an artery
is blocked by a blood clot, called an ‘ischaemic’
stroke, or if a blood vessel bleeds in the brain,
called a ‘haemorrhagic’ stroke. [4]
The result from an arterial obstruction depends on which part of the brain is affected by the lack of oxygen and the extent of the blockage. Mild strokes or ‘transient ischaemic attacks’ are caused by limited blockage; they have the same symptoms as a stroke but usually last less than 24 hours before disappearing. Symptoms of mild strokes or strokes may include speech, swallowing and vision impairment as well as paralysis of one side of the body or partial paralysis. Stroke can cause permanent damage to the brain. The functional symptoms of a stroke may improve over time, although in some cases the brain may not fully return to normal function.
If a stroke is suspected, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. [4]
Symptoms of stroke
Heart attack
A heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI for
short) is the result of interruption to the blood
supply to the heart. [5] If a thrombus blocks an
artery which supplies blood to the cardiac muscle (a
coronary artery), a life-threatening heart attack
can occur. The heart muscle works continuously to
pump blood around the body and requires a constant
supply of oxygen-rich blood to nourish it. The
coronary arteries provide the heart with this
critical blood supply. If the blocked artery is not
reopened within a few hours, the consequence is the
death of cardiac muscle cells. [5] The damage to the
muscular tissue can affect the heart’s ability to
function normally.
Typical warning signs of a heart attack are discomfort and/or pain in the chest, which feels like heaviness or tightness. [6] Other common symptoms include discomfort in the arm(s), shoulder(s), neck, jaw or back as well as shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweat and dizziness. [6] These symptoms can come on suddenly and usually last for 10 minutes or longer. [6]
If a heart attack is suspected, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
