Blood clots can be very serious and need to be treated quickly, the NHS says.
They can pose a number of risks on different parts of the body when they form, with the severity rising as they move through the bloodstream. It is therefore extremely important to identify the condition in its earliest stage.
One form of a blood clot is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which usually appears in the leg - and can be extremely dangerous, reports the Daily Record. The symptoms of these blood clots are often concentrated in the legs, that have formed deep inside the veins of the body.
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If you think you have a blood clot, you can ring 111 for advice or 999 in an emergency. According to WebMD, there are four key signs of a blood clot. These are given below.
Trouble breathing
As the clot begins to move from the legs and head to the lungs, patients may experience a bad cough and find it difficult to breath. As blood flow through the lungs begins to decrease, this then reduces the amount of blood that is flowing to the neighbouring organs.
Patients may also cough up blood or experience pain in their chest and even dizziness - all of which would require emergency medical treatment.
Swelling
If a clot slows or stops the flow of blood, it can build up in the affected vessel and create swelling. WebMD said: "If it happens in your lower leg or calf, it’s often a sign of DVT.
But you also can have a clot in your arms or belly. Even after it goes away, one in three people still have swelling and sometimes pain and sores from damage to the blood vessel."
Change of skin colour
If a person has been affected by a blood clot, the area where the clot is may start to turn red or blue. There are also cases where a person's skin could give off a discoloured white tone - telling you something isn't right.
Health platform Blood Clot Recovery has explained that "changes in skin colour, such as turning pale, red or blue or purple" could be a sign of DVT.
Pain
Another sign of a blood clot is throbbing or cramping pain in the affected area. The discomfort or pain in the leg or other area could feel like tightness, a pulled muscle or just general soreness. The affected area of the blood clot may also feel warm to the touch.
