Signs That Your Loved One May be Dealing with a Blood Clot

March 2, 2016

Caregiver in Los Gatos CA

Deep vein thrombosis is a condition that impacts approximately 900,000 people each year throughout the United States. Of these, up to 100,000 of them will die from the condition and half of those who survive will experience long-term consequences related to the clot, such as pain, swelling, and discoloration on the affected limb. This March, find out more about the condition and what you can do within your caregiver experience with your elderly loved one to help protect him from experiencing a deep vein thrombosis, how you can detect if your parent is dealing with this type of condition, and what you can do to help him cope with the clot if it does happen. It is important to note that many people do not experience any types of symptoms when they have developed deep vein thrombosis and may not know that they have a blood clot at all until the consequences have become dire or it is detected by a doctor. This can be an extremely dangerous situation, and for up to 25 percent of people who die from deep vein thrombosis, their sudden death is the first sign of a problem. This is why prevention is the most important thing that you can do to keep your senior safe from the effects of deep vein thrombosis. Even if you do take precautions to help prevent a blood clot when your parent will be at particular risk of developing one, such as if he is going to be bedbound due to an illness, injury, or medical procedure, or is not going to be able to move around much such as when he is traveling for a long distance, it is vital that you evaluate your parent carefully over the hours and days following the risk to make sure that he does not begin to show the signs of a clot. Signs that your parent is experiencing a deep vein thrombosis can include:

Swelling in the affected leg
Swelling in both legs
Pain in one area of the leg
Cramping or tightness in the leg

Because the blood clot itself may not cause any readily recognizable symptoms, it is important to also know the signs of pulmonary embolism. This is the condition that occurs when the thrombus, or blood clot, within the vein comes loose or breaks apart and pieces come loose and travel through the bloodstream, eventually becoming lodged in the lungs and causing serious complications. This is the condition that actually leads to death much of the time. If your parent has been at risk of developing a blood clot and is exhibiting any of these symptoms, get emergency medical attention as quickly as possible:

Coughing up blood
Lightheadedness
Dizziness
Shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to another condition or issue
Fainting
Chest pain
Discomfort in the chest that progressively gets worse when your loved one coughs or takes in a deep breath
Rapid pulse that cannot be attributed to another cause

If you or an aging loved one are looking for caregiver services in Los Gatos, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care. Call today!Santa Clara County: (408) 600-2760 San Mateo County: (650) 458-0140Santa Cruz County: (831) 325-0890 Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis/basics/definition/con-20031922 http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/data.html

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