Is leg pain a precursor to blood clots? What should we pay attention to in preventing deep vein thrombosis?

A friend told Huazi that she had leg pain in recent days, but she had no trauma, so she suspected that she had deep vein thrombosis. Huazi asked her why she thought so, and her friend said that she had looked up information on the Internet, "The legs are the first to know when thrombosis is coming", and leg pain is a precursor to thrombosis. She also saw someone die from pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis, which scared her a lot.

Huazi told his friend not to scare himself, deep vein thrombosis cannot be diagnosed by oneself, and going to the hospital for examination in time is the best choice.

1. Venous thrombosis is different from arterial thrombosis

When it comes to thrombosis, people will think of diseases such as cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction. In fact, these are thrombotic diseases that occur in the arterial system. In addition to arteries, thrombosis can also occur in veins.

If blood flow is restricted and accumulates in the veins, venous thrombosis may form under the action of coagulation factors, often affecting the deep vein trunk. However, venous thrombosis is different from arterial thrombosis and generally does not cause insufficient blood supply to important organs, so the initial symptoms are not obvious and the impact on physical health is relatively small.

However, once the venous thrombus breaks off, it will flow with the blood and block the smaller pulmonary artery, causing pulmonary embolism, which is life-threatening.

2. Leg symptoms when venous thrombosis occurs

The lower limbs are farther from the heart, and due to gravity, blood tends to accumulate in the lower limbs, so deep vein thrombosis in the lower limbs is more common. In terms of anatomical structure, the left common iliac vein is easily compressed by the right common iliac artery, so the left leg is more prone to venous thrombosis than the right leg.

Lower limb trauma, fractures, long-term bed rest, long-term riding in public transportation, etc., which can cause long-term immobilization of the lower limbs, are the main factors that induce deep vein thrombosis. Smoking, kidney disease, obesity, advanced age, oral contraceptives, etc. may also induce deep vein thrombosis.

People with relevant risk factors need to be alert to venous thrombosis if they experience abnormalities in their legs.

1. Swelling: If venous thrombosis occurs, blood flow back is blocked and will accumulate in the legs, causing leg swelling. Water in the blood will also seep out of the blood vessels and accumulate in the peripheral tissues, causing edema. The leg with thrombosis will be thicker than the other leg.

2. Pain: The pain caused by venous thrombosis is mostly chronic dull pain, or local pain occurs when the calf is squeezed or pressed. In addition, there may be an inflammatory reaction in the painful area, causing local fever, which feels hotter than other parts.

3. Discoloration: If the leg is severely swollen, the skin will become tight, white, and shiny; if there is an inflammatory reaction, it may appear red; if there is subcutaneous exudation and bleeding, the skin may appear bluish purple. It may also be accompanied by symptoms of skin desquamation and itching.

How to prevent deep vein thrombosis

Long-term immobilization of the lower limbs is the main risk factor for venous thrombosis, so the key to preventing venous thrombosis is "movement". Increase the amount of exercise and do not maintain the same posture for a long time. If you take public transportation for a long time, you can curl your toes 20 times every hour to prevent venous thrombosis.

If you have had lower limb surgery or fractures, are unable to move, or are elderly or in a hypercoagulable state, you can use anticoagulant factor drugs for prevention under the guidance of a doctor. If a blood clot has already formed, do not massage or rub vigorously to avoid causing the blood clot to fall off. A filter can be placed in the vein to prevent the blood clot from falling off and causing pulmonary embolism.

If you suddenly experience symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and chest pain, you should be alert to the possibility of pulmonary embolism and seek medical attention immediately for thrombolytic therapy.

In summary, leg pain caused by venous thrombosis is mainly characterized by distension and pain, which may also be accompanied by discoloration, itching, etc. If the lower limbs are immobilized for a long time and symptoms appear in the legs, you should go to the hospital for examination in time, actively treat the problem if found, and use drugs under the guidance of a doctor to prevent the occurrence of pulmonary embolism. If you have any doubts about the use of medicine, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.