Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the issue of blood clots occurring deep within the body, generally in the veins in the lower leg. It puts people’s health and even their fate at great risk. Luckily, there are some very recognizable early warning symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. To avoid complications and maybe even possible fatalities, it’s important that you know when and how to look for clots, how they appear, and what the early warning symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are. This is important since DVT left untreated and unchecked can be very dangerous. Here’s how to identify blood clots in the body:

Tightness and Swelling
One of the earliest warning symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include tightness and swelling in the leg. One might have a throbbing, persistent, cramp-like feeling in their leg. One could also end up experiencing tenderness or pain when one is walking or standing. This could end up happening at the exact same spot where the blood clot forms, or one’s entire arm or leg could puff up.

Change in Skin Color and Temperature
If the blood clot worsens, the skin surrounding the clot area could often end up becoming either discolored or red. It could even end up taking a blue tinge. What’s more, it could feel warm to the touch and could even feel itchy.

Lower Leg Cramp
If the DVT clot is in the lower leg or the calf, then you could feel a cramp or a charley horse. That feeling is a sure shot indication of you having a DVT clot in your body.

Pain
If the clot worsens, one may end up getting hurt and might even feel sore. The feeling could range from a dull ache to what becomes an intense, continual pain.

Trouble Breathing
If one begins to have trouble breathing, it could indicate that the clot might have moved up from the leg or the arm to the lungs. In fact, one might end up coughing very badly and could even end up coughing blood. What’s more, one could feel pain in the chest or even feel a bit or a lot dizzy. This is a classic case of the clot having worsened and one needs to call 911 and get medical help immediately.

Even if the early warning symptoms of deep vein thrombosis appear mild and one is unsure whether one has a clot or not, one should discuss them immediately with their doctor. This particularly true if one is at an increased risk of getting DVT. Also, waiting to get treatment could end up leading to pain, varicose veins, and ulcers in the leg from continued swelling.

Also, while most clots dissolve on their own, it is possible for the clot to break apart and end up traveling to the lungs. When this happens, it can end up causing something known as a pulmonary embolism, which is a potentially fatal complication. Signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include coughing up blood, pain when one takes in deep breaths, and unexplained shortness of breath.