Most of us have felt a sore calf after a long flight, a tough workout, or a day spent on our feet. You rub it, stretch it, and expect it to settle by morning. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it does not.
Up to 900,000 Americans develop a blood clot in a deep vein each year, according to the CDC. Between 60,000 and 100,000 of them die, often because the clot travels to the lungs.
Doctors call the clot in the leg deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. If a piece breaks loose and lodges in the lungs, it becomes a pulmonary embolism, a medical emergency. In about one in four cases, a lung clot kills without any earlier symptoms.
Who faces the highest risk
The risk rises sharply after major surgery of the hip, abdomen, pelvis, or legs. It also climbs during long stretches in bed and on flights or car trips over four hours.
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Pregnancy and the three months after giving birth are another high-risk window, the CDC notes. Estrogen-containing birth control pills, active cancer treatment, and older age raise the odds further.
The 8 warning signs to watch for
The CDC and Cleveland Clinic describe the following signs, which usually appear in one leg or arm.
- Swelling in one leg or arm, sometimes coming on quite suddenly.
- Pain or tenderness you cannot explain, which may only show up when you stand or walk.
- Warmth over the swollen or painful spot.
- Red or discolored skin in that area.
- Larger than normal veins just below the surface of the skin.
- A cramp or charley-horse-like ache deep in the calf.
- A heavy, dragging feeling in the limb.
- Symptoms on one side only, while the other leg looks and feels normal.
About half of people with a deep vein clot have no symptoms at all, the CDC adds. That is why the signs that do show up are worth paying attention to.
How it differs from an ordinary pulled muscle
A pulled or sore muscle usually eases with rest and feels better within a day or two. Light stretching and gentle movement tend to help.
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A clot behaves differently. The pain often sticks around or gets worse over hours and days. The leg may swell, feel warm, or look flushed, and the discomfort is usually on one side only.
If the ache came on without a clear injury, especially after surgery, a long trip, or several days of bed rest, it is worth a call to your doctor.
When clot symptoms turn into an emergency
A clot that reaches the lungs needs faster action than a leg clot. The CDC lists sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with a deep breath or cough, and a fast or irregular heartbeat as main warning signs.
Coughing up blood and lightheadedness or fainting are also on the list.
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Any of these calls for 911, not a wait-and-see approach. The CDC advises getting to an emergency room right away rather than hoping the symptoms pass.
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This article is made and published by Aksel Kryhlmand, who may have used AI in the preparation.