9 Home Treatments for Blood Clots in Your Leg
- Leg Elevation and Compression Elevating the leg and wearing compression stocking is part of the deep vein thrombosis treatment. ...
- Regular Physical Exercise Regular physical exercise is very important for overall health, including the health of your legs. Moderate regular physical exercises will improve the blood circulation. ...
- Ginger Ginger is a natural salicylate, which is known to block the vitamin K and prevent blood clotting. Ginger also improves and promotes blood circulation in the circulatory system. ...
- Turmeric Turmeric is a spice with blood-thinning properties. The active ingredient of turmeric is curcumin, which prevents blood clotting. ...
- Garlic Garlic is known to help lower the blood pressure, but it also prevents blood clotting. ...
- Cayenne Pepper Cayenne pepper is a natural blood thinner which can help in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis as well. ...
- Fish Oil Fish oil is known for omega 3 fatty acids which have fibrinolytic properties and antiplatelet properties. ...
- Vitamin E Rich Foods Vitamin E is known for its anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties. For this purpose, vitamin E rich foods should be part of your daily diet. ...
- Take Your Medication
Should you elevate a leg with a blood clot?
Treatment Options It is possible for DVT to resolve itself, but there is a risk of recurrence. To help reduce the pain and swelling that can occur with DVT, patients are often told to elevate their leg (s), use a heating pad, take walks and wear compression stockings. Likewise, how do you dissolve blood clots naturally?
Can blood clots in legs be successfully cured?
They do not remove the blood clots that plug small veins in the leg. The body may eventually dissolve these clots by itself, but not in time to prevent permanent damage to the delicate structure of the vein. Interventional radiologists sometimes use infusions of clot-busting drugs such as tPA to dissolve DVT clots.
How do you treat a blood clot in the leg?
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Blood Clot In The Leg?
- Swelling around the area of the clot. If the clot is big, you may notice swelling in your entire leg.
- Subsequent onset of pain in the area of the clot
- Inflammation or redness
- A warmth around the clot
- Increased pain in the leg while trying to bend it
- Leg and calf cramps
- Reddish-blue or whitish discoloration of the skin on the affected area
How to dissolve a blood clot in leg?
To ease the pain and swelling of a DVT, you can try the following at home:
- Wear graduated compression stockings. These specially fitted stockings are tight at the feet and become gradually looser up on the leg, creating gentle pressure that keeps blood from pooling and ...
- Elevate the affected leg.
- Take walks.
What is the standard treatment for a blood clot in the leg?
Anticoagulants: The most common treatment for a blood clot is anticoagulants or blood thinners. They work by reducing the body's ability to form new clots and preventing existing clots from growing larger. Anticoagulants can be given in the form of pills or intravenous injections.
How long does it take for a blood clot in the leg to resolve?
Living with DVT It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling. Talk to your doctor about using compression stockings.
Does a blood clot in the leg require hospitalization?
Hospitalization is recommended for patients with massive DVT, with symptomatic pulmonary embolism, at high risk of anticoagulant bleeding, or with major comorbidity.
Can I dissolve a blood clot in my leg?
Thrombolytics are medications that dissolve blood clots. You can receive them through an IV, or directly into a blood vessel through a catheter. Currently, doctors use thrombolytics including: alteplase.
How should I sleep with a blood clot in my leg?
Raise your feet when sleeping To help promote circulation while you're sleeping, try elevating your legs. You can do this by putting a pillow under your feet or by raising the foot of your bed. It doesn't have to be a major lift — just a few inches will greatly help your circulation and reduce your risk of blood clots.
What medication is used to dissolve blood clots?
Anticoagulants, such as heparin, warfarin, dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban, are medications that thin the blood and help to dissolve blood clots.
Is blood clot in leg an emergency?
DVT is a blood clot in a vein located deep in the body. Veins in the legs are the most common place for a DVT to develop. A blood clot in leg veins is an emergency because it can lead to life-threatening complications.
How do doctors get rid of blood clots?
The doctor will make a cut in the area above your blood clot. He or she will open the blood vessel and take out the clot. In some cases, a balloon attached to a thin tube (catheter) will be used in the blood vessel to remove any part of the clot that remains. A stent may be put in the blood vessel to help keep it open.
Do you have to be admitted for a blood clot?
Will you be admitted to the hospital or sent home? If a DVT is confirmed, you may be discharged and sent home with injectable or oral anticoagulant medication (sometimes called a blood thinner). That said, every patient is different, and you may be admitted to the hospital if the ER doctor believes it's necessary.
What dissolves clots naturally?
Natural Ways to Treat Blood Clots Eat natural pineapple or take a nutritional supplement with bromelain. Increase your intake of other foods and drinks that may help dissolve blood clots such as garlic, kiwi, kale, spinach, red wine, and grape juice. Drink more water. Increase your exercise.
Should you elevate leg blood clot?
Elevation: Elevating the legs can help to instantly relieve pain. A doctor may also instruct a patient to elevate the legs above the heart three or four time a day for about 15 minutes at a time. This can help to reduce swelling.
Can you walk with a blood clot in your leg?
For most people, walking or taking care of some housework are fine right after you find out you have DVT. It's also OK right after a pulmonary embolism. Your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner -- they may call it an anticoagulant -- and compression stockings. Those help blood flow in your legs.
What is the best treatment for blood clots?
The most common treatments for blood clots are anticoagulant medications, also known as blood thinners. These medications reduce the chances of new clots forming. They also help your body break up any existing clots.
Which vitamin is the best for clots?
Vitamin E. This vitamin is a mild anticoagulant. Some studies have found that vitamin D and vitamin E lower blood clot risk, but other studies have found they have no effect.
What is a thrombectomy?
A thrombectomy is a procedure where a surgeon removes a blood clot directly from your blood vessel. You might have a thrombectomy to remove particularly large clots or clots that are causing concerning symptoms.
How long does it take for blood clots to dissolve?
Blood clots can take weeks to months to dissolve, depending on their size.
How often do blood clots recur?
Approximately 10 percent of people with a blood clot in a vein will experience a recurrence within a year. It’s critical to contact a doctor if you notice any of the emergency symptoms above. It’s especially important to seek medical attention if you have any symptoms that may indicate pulmonary embolism, such as coughing up blood or chest pain that gets worse with deep breaths.
How do you get thrombolytics?
Thrombolytics are medications that dissolve blood clots. You can receive them through an IV, or directly into a blood vessel through a catheter. Currently, doctors use thrombolytics including:
Why do compression socks help?
Compression socks apply pressure to your foot and leg to help bring down swelling and improve blood flow.
How to break up a blood clot in a DVT?
In serious cases of DVT where there is a risk of pulmonary embolism, your doctor may blast the blood clot using a catheter. The catheter administers drugs directly to the clot to help dissolve the clot and break it up.
What is a blood clot in the leg called?
The medical term for a blood clot is a thrombus, and a blood clot deep in the vein of the legs is referred to as venous thrombosis. The journal Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics says that a blood clot is a congealing of platelets that stick together to form a thick mass.
How to know if you have a DVT?
Because deep vein thrombosis can have serious and potentially fatal consequences, you should seek emergency medical help if you have any of its symptoms. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that the signs of possible serious complications of DVT are: 8 1 Unexplained swelling in your calf muscle that is sore and red 2 Warmth in your lower leg 3 Chest pain that comes on suddenly or intensifies when you breathe deeply 4 Coughing up pinkish sputum with streaks of blood 5 A rapid pulse 6 Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
What causes redness in the lower leg?
A blood clot in your leg that is associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can cause your lower leg to be sore, swollen, and red. A blood clot that develops deep in the veins of one of your legs can result in serious complications. If the leg clot doesn’t dissolve naturally, it can travel through your veins, eventually reaching your lungs ...
Why do blood clots form in the legs?
Blood clots form in the legs due to poor circulation, injury to the veins, a side effect of medication, or complication after surgery.
How to avoid venous clots?
The best way to avoid any complication of venous clots is to live a healthy lifestyle to prevent clots from forming. In fact, doctors on PubMed Health say that blood clots rarely cause problems in healthy people. 2
Where does blood clot pain go?
Dr. Kuashal Patel (quoted earlier) says that usually the pain of a deep venous blood clot in the leg is localized to the calf muscle. However, in some cases, you can feel the pain right up to your inner thigh. 12. Advertisement.
What is the best treatment for a clot in the leg?
For patients who are at high risk of developing clots in the deep veins of the legs—also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—preventive measures should be considered. In addition to or instead of blood thinners, intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices can be very effective. A cuff is placed around the leg, where it periodically fills with air and squeezes, helping move blood toward the heart.
How to treat blood clots?
Treatment for blood clots depends on where the clot is in the body, and the severity of the condition. Blood-thinning medications are commonly used to prevent blood clots from forming or getting bigger. Thrombolytic medications can break up existing clots.
Where is a thrombectomy tube used?
Surgical thrombectomy, in which the clot is surgically removed from the vein or artery, is often used in arms or legs, but can be used elsewhere in the body.
Can blood clots cause shortness of breath?
Blood clots can be very serious, so symptoms of blood clots should be evaluated by a doctor immediately. If not treated, a clot can break free and cause a pulmonary embolism—where the clot gets stuck in a blood vessel in the lung, causing severe shortness of breath and even sudden death.
What is the best treatment for blood clots in the leg?
Applying heat to the area and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), are frequently the only treatments needed for superficial blood clots in the leg. Blood clots may occur in superficial leg veins, near the skin surface. This progression may extend to involve the deep veins, ...
How to reduce swelling in legs after blood clot?
Leg elevation can help decrease swelling associated with a blood clot in the leg. In addition, doctors sometimes recommend fitted compression stockings to help decrease the risk of swelling that may persist even after the blood clot is gone. Walking, not bed rest, is encouraged when it is feasible.
What is a blood clot in the legs called?
How to Treat Blood Clots in Legs. Blood clots deep in the legs, called deep venous thrombosis or DVT, are a serious health concern. If a clot breaks free and travels to the lungs, it can be potentially fatal.
How long does it take for blood thinners to work?
Frequently, when a blood clot is first diagnosed, two blood thinners are used. One starts working within minutes, and other does not reach its full effect for several days.
What is the best medicine for blood clots?
Several newer pills are used to treat blood clots, such as rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis) and edoxaban (Lixiana). When using one of these medications, a shot or injection is not needed. Unlike warfarin, these newer drugs are effective when used alone. While warfarin has been used for decades and was standard treatment for blood clots ...
Where do blood clots occur?
Blood clots may occur in superficial leg veins, near the skin surface . These superficial clots are not as likely to break off and travel to the lungs. They do sometimes progress, however, involving increasing area within the vein. This progression may extend to involve the deep veins, although this is uncommon.
Can a blood clot cause pain in the leg?
A blood clot in the leg may cause warmth, swelling, redness and pain, though not all symptoms may not be present. However, any of these symptoms should prompt an immediate medical evaluation.
What is the best treatment for blood clots?
Thrombolytics: Thrombolytics are only recommended for individuals whose blood clots did not respond to basic anticoagulants or have extensive clots. They work by dissolving blood clots but can increase the risk of bleeding. Thrombolytics are only administered by a catheter or intravenous injections.
How to check if you have a blood clot?
If they suspect you have a blood clot, it will be confirmed using an imaging test called duplex ultrasonography. It uses sound waves to look at blood flow and detect blockages or blood clots in deep veins and arteries.
What happens if a blood clot goes unnoticed?
If a blood clot goes unnoticed, it poses the danger of dislodging from your leg and traveling up to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. The embolism can block blood flow to the lungs, causing permanent damage.
How do compression stockings work?
Compression stockings are worn over the foot and extend up to the calves or groin; they work by helping blood flow move from the lower legs back to the heart. They are available over-the-counter or by prescription.
What is a blood clot?
Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), commonly known as a blood clot, occurs when a gel-like mass consisting of platelets and fibrin forms in the blood to stop bleeding. If a blood clot forms incorrectly inside a deep artery or vein, especially in your leg, it can hinder blood flow and create further problems.
What is the center for vascular medicine?
At the Center for Vascular Medicine, our mission is to help patients with their vascular diseases in a cost-effective and compassionate manner. We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of venous and arterial diseases in the legs, feet, and pelvis. Our world-class providers are the most experienced in the specialty and work with patients to develop a treatment plan that is custom-tailored to their unique situation.
What are the symptoms of an embolism?
Symptoms you're experiencing an embolism include chest pain, altered vision, difficulty breathing, and palpitations.
How to treat blood clots in legs?
Here are some tips and at home treatments which can help you deal with a blood clot in leg. 1. Leg Elevation and Compression. Elevating the leg and wearing compression stocking is part of the deep vein thrombosis treatment. This will help relieve the swelling and pain which characterized blood clot in legs. When wearing compression stocking, make ...
What foods can help with blood clots in legs?
Foods which are high in vitamin E are almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, olive oil, sunflower seeds, avocado, broccoli, spinach, etc. You can always take vitamin E supplement pills as well. 9. Take Your Medication. Here are some additional tips that can help you with the blood clot in leg treatment at home:
What happens if you have a blood clot in your leg?
Usually, the blood clot is gelatinous and solid. This condition leads to swelling, muscle ache, changes in the color of the skin, etc. Blood clots in the treatment can lead to serious problems when these clots dislodge themselves and travel through the circulatory system. If these blood clots reach into the lungs, then pulmonary embolism develops. Pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency, often leading to death. Is there any treatment at home?
What is the best blood thinner for thrombosis?
Cayenne Pepper. Cayenne pepper is a natural blood thinner which can help in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis as well. Capsaicin found in the cayenne pepper promotes blood circulation, preventing the formation of blood clots. This compound also reduces the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
What is the best medicine for deep vein thrombosis?
4. Turmeric . Turmeric is a spice with blood-thinning properties. The active ingredient of turmeric is curcumin, which prevents blood clotting. Turmeric also reduces the risk of atherosclerosis plaques in the blood vessels, another factor which contributes to deep vein thrombosis.
How to reduce swelling and pain from a swollen thigh?
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric will reduce the swelling and pain as well. You can either consume turmeric supplements or drink a juice of turmeric , milk, and honey once or twice a day. 5. Garlic. Garlic is known to help lower the blood pressure, but it also prevents blood clotting.
How to get blood flow in legs?
Lift the leg higher than the hip. 2. Regular Physical Exercise. Regular physical exercise is very important for overall health, including the health of your legs. Moderate regular physical exercises will improve the blood circulation.
What is the best treatment for DVT?
Blood Thinners. These drugs, also called anticoagulants, are the most common treatment for DVT. They can keep a clot from growing or breaking off, and they prevent new clots from forming. But they can't thin your blood, despite their name. And they won’t get rid of an existing clot.
How long do you have to take blood thinners after a DVT?
After a DVT, you'll take blood thinners for at least 3 to 6 months. Your doctor will tell you exactly how long to take these medications. It might be different based on which drug you use. You may need to take oral blood thinners for a longer time if the reason for your clot is still present in your body.
What to do if your vein is narrow?
If your vein seems narrow, they may widen it and help prevent future blockages by doing a balloon angioplasty or placing a stent. Medical Procedures. When taking blood thinners or clot-busting isn't possible or doesn't work well, your doctor may want to try a more involved procedure. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.
What does a DVT do for you?
What will treating a DVT, a blood clot deep in a vein, do for you? It will keep the clot from growing. It lowers the risk of long-lasting complications, such as leg pain and swelling . Treatment prevents future blood clots, too.
Where do blood clots move?
Blood clots that move from place to place (mobile thrombus) DVT in your inferior vena cava and iliac veins. These are the veins that run from your heart to your lower body and pelvis. There are two types of IVC filters. One stays in your body permanently.
How often do you need to take heparin?
You may have to keep taking shots once you’re home, once or twice daily . When you get heparin by IV, you'll need blood tests, too.
Is it better to take blood thinners or X-rays?
But it's riskier than taking blood thinners. You have a higher chance of bleeding problems and stroke. You'll go to the hospital to get it done. Using an X-ray as a guide, a specialist will put a thin tube called a catheter into your vein and work the tip of it into your DVT.
What is the best way to prevent blood clots?
Green Tea. Green tea is not just a great source of anti-oxidant, it also helps in prevention of blood clot in the body. The special chemical compound, rutin, which is primarily found in green tea helps blocking the function of the enzyme responsible for the clotting of the blood.
How long does a blood clot last on the leg?
Even after administering the medicines and such, there are chances that the symptoms of blood clot on the leg might last for as long as six months depending on the severity of the situation. If it it being treated in the initial stage, it is most likely not going to take much time but if it is the advanced stage, it would need precision with the outcomes and that sure takes months to heal.
How to tell if you have a blood clot in your leg?
The major signs and symptoms of a blood clot in leg or DVT include: Swelling and inflammation in the area adjoining the blood clot. Persistent pain in and around the clot, especially in the entirety of the affected leg. Redness around the area is also a characteristic sign of the possible blood clot in the area.
How does a blood clot in your leg feel?
When it comes to explaining how a blood clot in leg actually feels like, the answer will more or less skirt around the common terms of pain, inflammation and tenderness around the affected area. Many people who have experienced this kind of condition have explained they started off thinking the pain was due to a muscle pull or cramp but when the pain didn’t go down even after keeping the leg elevated for an hour or so, they found the possible alternative, which is DVT.
Why are clot busters used?
Clot busters are sort of used as the last requisite if none of the pre administered drugs work or fails to dissolve the clot in the blood. These clot busters often have a number of side effects which is why they are not readily used and kept as the last resort if everything else fails.
How long does it take for blood thinners to work?
On administering the medicine, the first dosage, which is often given intravenously, simply thins out the blood within minutes of injecting. The second dosage is given in an oral form which takes around 5 days to administer its effects on the body.
What is the name of the inflammation in the leg?
These blood clots often result in the formation of inflammation in the area which is known as thrombophlebitis. The signs of a blood clot in leg should be immediately recognised and not neglected for this can often restrict the smooth blood circulation.
What to wear for swelling in legs?
Wear compression stockings. They’ll help prevent swelling and keep blood from pooling in the legs.
What happens if a deep vein clot breaks off?
If part of that deep-vein clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, a PE occurs. "The clot gets stuck in blood vessels in the lung, you stop getting enough blood flow there, and that part of the lung dies. You have shortness of breath and chest pain when you take in a deep breath," Dr. Scovell says.
What is it called when blood clots in the veins are painful?
A blood clot in the superficial veins. This is called a superficial venous thrombosis (SVT). "It causes redness, tenderness, or pain over varicose veins," Dr. Scovell says. "Sometimes, an SVT can grow and become a deep-vein thrombosis."
Why does blood pool in my legs?
having blood pool in your legs because valves in a superficial vein don’t work properly (a varicose vein)
What app can I use to check for DVT?
There are apps available to help you determine your risk for getting a DVT. Dr. Scovell recommends an app called "Caprini DVT Risk," available on iOS devices, such as an iPhone.
What happens to blood after arteries?
After your arteries bring oxygen-rich blood to your legs, your veins send the blood back up to your heart and lungs (for more oxygen ).
Can a blood clot in the veins cause swollen legs?
"When you get a blockage, the blood can’t leave your leg easily. That leg can become swollen rather suddenly, and painful," Dr. Scovell says. If your legs don’t normally get swollen, but one leg becomes swollen over a few days, that may be a sign of danger.
