Blood Clot in Arm

Symptoms of Blood Clots in Arm

Although it is a rarer condition than blood clots in legs, people can develop blood clots in arm as well. These kinds of blood clots are called embolisms and can form in any vein in any part of the body. There are several risk factors associated with blood clots, which include being overweight, breaking a bone, being on birth control pills, and sitting for extended periods of time.

It is essential to understand the symptoms of blood clots in arm because if they are not treated promptly, they can lead to death. This is because the clots will eventually travel from their point of origin to either the heart or the lungs and can cause a heart attack, a stroke and death.

There are three basic symptoms of blood clots in arm. Any one of these symptoms should be examined by a physician as soon as possible for immediate treatment if there are clots present.

Swelling

When blood clots are present in an arm, the area will likely swell. In addition, the hands and fingers might also swell, based on the size of the blood clots and their location. The swelling will probably be worse during the day and will improve at night and could cause difficulty in moving the arm. If the swelling gets too severe, it will become difficult to detect a pulse, or the pulse might be very weak.

Changes in the Skin

The skin over where the blood clots in arm have developed could become reddish in color. The skin might also feel warm when it is touched by another person. The hand and fingers, in contrast, may be cold both to another person and to the sufferer. As blood flow decreases to the affected area, the part of the arm below the blood clots could become pale. In the event that immediate treatment is not received, the skin on the arm may begin to blister, turn dark and even flake off. This is all due to the lack of blood flow to the arm.

Pain

Many people who have blood clots in arm will also experience pain or discomfort in the area. Sometimes, muscle spasms are also associated with blood clots. When the affected region is touched, it might become sore. Certain sufferers may also have tingling or numbness in their arm.

Concerning the symptoms of blood clots in arm, the bottom line is that anyone experiencing any of these symptoms needs to get to a physician right away. Blood clots in arm can be treated successfully and fairly easily, particularly if they are caught early.